Sell or Fix...Please Help!

I

iyuzhulan

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Jul 4, 2012
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It's a sad moment. My 6 year old M9 sensor start to show signs of corrosion. Cosmetic condition is superb, corrosion is not bad at all, 4 spots. Fixing it would cost 1000 bucks. I could also sell the camera, add maybe a little more than 1000 to get a M240.

Can someone kind and smart point me to the right direction? Sorry if this topic has been discussed over and over.

Best,
Z


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I think you may find it hard to sell an M9 with a corroded sensor. Who is going to want to pay a $1000 and wait six months for a repair? There are plenty of M9s with replaced sensors and M240s out there.
 
i understand how imperfections can put a damper on using tools, toys, instruments. but depending on how bad or intrusive the signs of corrosion are, i'd say keep shooting it, after all, it is an M9. and if/when it gets too bad to use, send it in and have it repaired.
good luck
 
I don't think you will sell this good it and find M240 this cheap to pay only little more than 1000. Close to 2000, rather.

In meanwhile my M-E (M220) photo was asked today to be added to M240 Group on Flickr. :)
 
My suggestion is to continue to use your M9. Mine had many corrosion spots, but they did not show up in my images. With four spots they can be easily corrected if they do show. If you are happy with the images from your M9 at your normal ISO settings, I doubt you will find an M240 to be noticeably better at the same settings. I didn't.

The current long wait time for sensor replacement is due to the glut of bodies sent in and the shortage of the new sensors. Sometime in Spring/Summer of 2018 replacement times should return to normal. Mine took a month in December 2014 which included the one week Christmas shutdown at Leica NJ.

I think it will be very difficult to get much for your M9 in its current condition. Best price will be for bodies with corrosion proof sensors (and documentation to that effect). Next will be bodies with original sensors, but no corrosion. These will likely be heavily discounted since everyone believes they will eventually corrode. My guess is that what you can get for your M9 with a new sensor will more than compensate for what you paid for replacement.
 
The fixing time is reported here on RFF and at LUF. Last time I checked, it was 28 or so weeks with Leica NJ. It is due to the rush of August 2017, which was for free deadline announced too short to it.

I'm waiting for this backlog to be sorted out and then will be sending mine 2015 made M-E for new sensor...
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I don't think you will sell this good it and find M240 this cheap to pay only little more than 1000. Close to 2000, rather.

In meanwhile my M-E (M220) photo was asked today to be added to M240 Group on Flickr. :)
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Actually, a good M240 will cost about 3000 - 3500 from a dealer with guaranty, so it will always pay to have the M9 fixed. Normally Leica will support digital cameras for 10 years after production stops at least. Often longer, the M8 is still mainly supported, with exception of the LCD on some series. The other side of the coin is of course that a repair on cameras of that age may not be worth the cost, but that is another story.
As the ME production stopped only a few years ago, you are looking at the mid 2020ies.

iyuzhulan said:
Thanks! That makes sense! Any idea how long Leica will maintain the service for M9?
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iyuzhulan said:
It's a sad moment. My 6 year old M9 sensor start to show signs of corrosion. Cosmetic condition is superb, corrosion is not bad at all, 4 spots. Fixing it would cost 1000 bucks. I could also sell the camera, add maybe a little more than 1000 to get a M240.

Can someone kind and smart point me to the right direction? Sorry if this topic has been discussed over and over.

Best,
Z


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

How can you tell its corrosion and not just dirt?
When mine was repaired I thought it looked just like dirt and even now it may have been but once leica got it they changed the sensor anyway.
If I was you why not look back at your pics and see if you can notice it from a pic dated before the cut off date (whenever that was) email that to Leica explaining when it started happening and you never know you might be lucky.
good luck.
 
So, I went threw something similar about 2 months ago. My M240 is currently in the queue in NJ for some adjustments and I won't get it back till January or February. Ugh, anyway I recently picked up a 1st generation Monochrom with sensor problems. I knew going into it that it had said problems and paid accordingly (including knowing there is currently a backlog and how much it was going to cost to have it fixed). I am currently using it till the m240 comes back. The sensor problem that I have from the sounds of it worse then 4-5 spots too, but using Lightroom and Photoshop I can "fix" most everything fairly easily so having this camera hasn't been a problem.

So what you should ask yourself here is:
Is the time spent fixing spots at this time really taking away from the images that I'm making, if so either sell or have fixed, if not, then keep and keep till it does become a real problem.

Hope that helps.
 
filmtwit said:
So what you should ask yourself here is: Is the time spent fixing spots at this time really taking away from the images that I'm making, if so either sell or have fixed, if not, then keep and keep till it does become a real problem.
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You might also want to factor in that the replacement sensors won't be available forever, so if you want to get it fixed, it would be prudent to do so sooner rather than later.
 
I grew to love the pics out of the M9 but sadly could no longer use a rangefinder with any focus reliability. I sold it last month with a replaced sensor no problem and for more than I paid for it. M9-P’s seem to have increased in value. I personally think that it’s scaremongering regarding these sensors and driven by a few on various forums who seem to be the self proclaimed M9 pricing and sensor experts. The truth is that the M9 will continue to make beautiful images with or without the new style sensor.
The only thing that I am disappointed by is the stopping of the free replacement service. It’s an endless arguement by detractors and supporters alike but the fact is that In ‘some’ and not ‘all’ M9’s the sensor was defective and it’s still a disgrace that Leica will not honour this defect.
If I could focus properly I’d still be using mine.
 
Fraser said:
How can you tell its corrosion and not just dirt?
...
Click to expand...

If the artifacts slowly change shape over time, it's probably not dirt.

Also, a proper wet cleaning will remove dirt. I suggest a well-know technician who will follow Leica's wet cleaning directions. Of course, skilled amateur can do more good than harm.
 
My M9 has been at Leica NJ since August, when I sent it in for an electrical circuit problem (it would power up or down by itself and when I wasn't looking would drain the battery). Leica NJ says the circuitry problem is associated with the sensor so it's in wait for sensors to come from somewhere. I was told today that there are backed up all the way to last June with sensor replacements, but still don't have any new sensors to install. I like the pictures it takes. Just chiming in to share my news about the six-month-plus waiting time. It could be nine months, I suppose.
 
Some people here occasionally ask should they get 10+ yo digital Canon or Nikon fixed. Think it's same answer here: do you expect to be using it for a good while still?
 
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