Sensor Replacement Policy 2017

Rayt said:
I suppose it may be less obvious with wide aperture b/w shots. No doubt the marks are there.
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Ray,

In my case it was not obvious and only appeared in some shots. I have a 27 inch EIZO and really only saw traces in some prints and not others. Know that magnification is a factor. Some of my prints are 20x30 on 24x36. I lived with the corrosion for a few years. The marks/defects always appeared in the same locations. Only minor spot healing was required: no big deal.

Light is funny that way. How many times do we pop off two shots of the same image yet one image catches the light differently and is mucho better.

Cal
 
dreamsandart said:
Just a positive update from this side of the big pond...

Had my M9's sensor replaced and back to me a couple weeks ago after a 2-month wait while at Leica Japan service. The hold-up was the availability of the sensors from Leica Germany. Now the work is finished, an 'as new' camera, maybe better in overall function than it was new.

And... just got an email that monochrom sensors are now in stock and they have asked me to send in my monochrom for service, estimated time 2-weeks for the complete work. Although this is past the August 15th cut-off date, they had said to keep my camera till the sensors were available. Very helpful and thoughtful.

In some ways - the sensor problem has not really affected my photography - it's been a blessing in disguise. Digital cameras that are still relevant after 8 and 5 years and again, basically like new (well, except a few outside blemishes ;-)
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D,

I feel I got a free overhaul and retrofit with the updated sensor on a camera that is now over 5 years old. How can I not be happy.

Cal
 
I spoke with Leica the other day and was told that the time frame was five months from the time the camera is first sent to them. In my case, they received my M9 towards the end of June. I estimate that I will get it back, with the new sensor, just in time for Christmas. What a great Christmas present that will be 🙂
 
ornate_wrasse said:
I spoke with Leica the other day and was told that the time frame was five months from the time the camera is first sent to them. In my case, they received my M9 towards the end of June. I estimate that I will get it back, with the new sensor, just in time for Christmas. What a great Christmas present that will be 🙂
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Ellen,

All the best.

I know being without your beloved camera is now painful, but having a retrofitted and overhauled fresh camera in the end is really a blessing.

The cost being zero is a bonus.

Cal
 
I sent Leica (NJ) my M9 around June 20th. It looks as if Ellen and I will get back our cameras towards the end of the year.I agree with Cal that the wait is worth it.
 
ornate_wrasse said:
I spoke with Leica the other day and was told that the time frame was five months from the time the camera is first sent to them. In my case, they received my M9 towards the end of June. I estimate that I will get it back, with the new sensor, just in time for Christmas. What a great Christmas present that will be 🙂
Click to expand...

raid said:
I sent Leica (NJ) my M9 around June 20th. It looks as if Ellen and I will get back our cameras towards the end of the year.I agree with Cal that the wait is worth it.
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I dropped mine off at Schiller's one month later than Ellen and Raid sent theirs. So it looks like I'm into January. I guess I will have it by Groundhog day, or so. Hope it's a nice day.
 
raid said:
We could buy a new battery, but the body and the shutter will remain "old"!
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Raid,

I have three "old" batteries. One came with the camera, a second one I bought new, and the third was gifted to me by a friend who upgraded to a M10.

I never experienced the huge battery drain others have reported. My guess is that I don't chimp a lot. Only a few times have I had to change batteries during a day's worth of shooting.

I'm pretty good with not overcharging them and cycling them to avoid memory.

I love my MM. Some of the best money I ever spent. Also this camera definitely made me into a better photographer. The MM is likely the most unforgiving cameras to shoot. If you blow the highlights there is no possible recovery like in a color camera, and the M-246 honestly holds the highlights better with it's CMOS sensor.

Cal
 
Cal,
I own 2 original batteries (one for M9 and one for M8), plus 4 back-up non-Leica batteries. I need to get some Leica batteries. They work better than the after market ones.
 
raid said:
Cal,
I own 2 original batteries (one for M9 and one for M8), plus 4 back-up non-Leica batteries. I need to get some Leica batteries. They work better than the after market ones.
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Raid,

I have heard that the OEM batteries are mucho better. All of mine are OEM.

I was not expecting my batteries to last so long. The gifted battery is from a M9, and the other two I have used heavily. I am very careful not to overcharge them and to cycle them. Perhaps because of this I have not noticed any deterioration or rapid bleeding of fully charged batteries yet.

I'm really surprised because these batteries are now five years old or older. To monitor your batteries health/condition check how they hold a full charge. Abused or tired batteries will "self discharge" due to the buildup of "internal resistance" that draws current and allows current to flow, even with the camera off.

Thanks for the reminder. I should fully charge my spare batteries because I'm sure they have likely self discharged a bit, and I want to condition them by bringing them back up to full charge. I also need to cycle and rotate the battery I have been using. I have been lazy...

Cal
 
Cal,
Are you Aware of any concerns with overcharging M9 batteries? I believe it is ok to leave lithium batteries on charge. Instructions for some say you can leave them on or top them off all you want. I think the worries are from the days of Nicads and NiMH types.
 
I'll add my own, in-progress experience to the thread. My Monochrom didn't show any obvious signs of sensor corrosion but I wanted to have it checked and confirmed prior to the August 16th cut-off date none the less. I sent it in to Leica NJ on August 4th with delivery confirmed on Aug. 8th.

I didn't hear anything by the 17th so I wrote a note of inquiry. I heard back last Monday, the 14th with an apologetic note about the tardiness of the response and a confirmation that yes, my sensor was going to be replaced. Whether they found evidence of corrosion that I couldn't or they're simply replacing all possibly affected cameras, I have no clue. I'm glad either way.

Apparently a required part is on back-order and that will "delay completion of the repair by a few weeks". At this point, I'm optimistic.
 
Calzone said:
I know being without your beloved camera is now painful, but having a retrofitted and overhauled fresh camera in the end is really a blessing.
The cost being zero is a bonus.
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely. I honestly could not see any signs of damage to the sensor no matter how hard I looked at my images of blue sky, yet I sent in my M9 anyway. I am very thankful they are doing the repair. Fortunately, I have several other cameras I can use until I get my M9 back presumably sometime this winter.

BTW, I did ask the person I spoke to if the cameras were being sent to Germany for the repairs. He said that he believed the repairs were being done in-house [meaning at Leica in New Jersey].

Ellen
 
Rob-F said:
Cal,
Are you Aware of any concerns with overcharging M9 batteries? I believe it is ok to leave lithium batteries on charge. Instructions for some say you can leave them on or top them off all you want. I think the worries are from the days of Nicads and NiMH types.
Click to expand...

Rob,

As I remember Leica recommended not to store batteries fully discharged nor fully charged, and my take for longevity it is best to deeply cycle batteries. I remember how the first few initial charges kinda conditioned the battery.

I do know from experience with Lithium Ion batteries in Mac computers. I have a loaded Mac Powerbook that dates back to 2012 and the battery is still great. The battery holds a charge and does not "self discharge" and this battery is over 5 years old. I tend to cycle my batteries deeply, and I tend to run them down to fully cycle them before recharging.

Meanwhile I deal with "Woman Factor" with my gal who leaves her computer charging all the time. Her computer's batteries develop internal resistance and self discharge and also have lost capacity due to her lack of care, even though I warned her. The same with her phone. It takes about 2 years and she basically kills an Iphone.

Anyways I have found with Lithium Ion batteries it is best to deeply cycle them and not to trickle charge them.

Cal
 
I recharge only after a battery is down to about a 25% charge when I am home. When I am shooting it usually is a surprise to me when the camera dies due to low charge battery.
 
raid said:
I recharge only after a battery is down to about a 25% charge when I am home. When I am shooting it usually is a surprise to me when the camera dies due to low charge battery.
Click to expand...

Raid,

A few months ago I fully charged all my batteries. The two that were not in use I checked in my camera to see how leaky they were as far as "self discharging. One was at 75%; and the other 80%. I figure I let them discharge some more, closer to your 25% before cycling them.

I really believe deep cycling prolongs battery service life. The one battery that was slightly lower was the older M9 battery. I took note that two are the same, and determined to odd one must be the M9 battery that was gifted to me.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Raid,

A few months ago I fully charged all my batteries. The two that were not in use I checked in my camera to see how leaky they were as far as "self discharging. One was at 75%; and the other 80%. I figure I let them discharge some more, closer to your 25% before cycling them.

I really believe deep cycling prolongs battery service life. The one battery that was slightly lower was the older M9 battery. I took note that two are the same, and determined to odd one must be the M9 battery that was gifted to me.

Cal
Click to expand...
Quite the opposite; deep cycling reduces life on Li-Ion batteries considerably:

The largest capacity loss occurs when discharging a fully charged Li-ion to 25 percent SoC (black); the loss would be higher if fully discharged. Cycling between 85 and 25 percent provides a longer service life than charging to 100 percent and discharging to 50 percent The smallest capacity loss is attained by charging Li-ion to 75 percent and discharging to 65 percent. This, however, does not fully utilize the battery. High voltages and exposure to elevated temperature is said to degrade the battery quicker than cycling under normal condition.
Click to expand...


http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries
 
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