Sensor Replacement Policy 2017

Reading all the posts on this subject made me rather anxious. My M9 had been diagnosed with the sensor problem when I tried to get the sensor cleaned, so I feared the worst. Then I saw the announcement a few days ago and rang Leica UK customer care. I was walked through my options and told about the upgrade policy.

Long story short, less than 24 hrs later I was walking out of the Leica Mayfair store with a new Monochrom. The trade in offer on my M9 meant I had lost less than £300 on my used cost, purchased over three years ago.

The cost of ownership was approx £1.50 a week... for so much joy.

Yes I know I am lucky to be able to trade up, but top marks to Leica UK for their faultless treatment of my problem.

It's my first forum post, so go easy on me.
 
I too had an offer to upgrade my M9 at this time of needing a new sensor. They offered a very fair trade-in price, but unfortunately, the monochrom 246 are at a 'premium' price here in Japan and it just could not happen for me.

Oh well, the M9 will be back in a few weeks and like new as a consolation.
 
Reading all the posts on this subject made me rather anxious. My M9 had been diagnosed with the sensor problem when I tried to get the sensor cleaned, so I feared the worst. Then I saw the announcement a few days ago and rang Leica UK customer care. I was walked through my options and told about the upgrade policy.

Long story short, less than 24 hrs later I was walking out of the Leica Mayfair store with a new Monochrom. The trade in offer on my M9 meant I had lost less than £300 on my used cost, purchased over three years ago.

The cost of ownership was approx £1.50 a week... for so much joy.

Yes I know I am lucky to be able to trade up, but top marks to Leica UK for their faultless treatment of my problem.

It's my first forum post, so go easy on me.

Thanks for your post. It seems some of us feel lucky and fortunate. Glad it was good for you

Cal
 
When I got my M9 a year ago or so I noticed that the sensor had quite a bit of dust on it, which was not that big of a deal as I could simply clone it out (too lazy to do it/send it in). In light of this new policy, I did the typical 'stop down and shoot a wall' type thing and looked at the image at full size. There's a few dust spots (diffuse 'blobs') but also these jet black, pinpoint spots that look completely different from your garden variety dust spot. I emailed Leica about the issue to get their opinion if I should send this in. We'll see.
 
Buying a nice used digital Leica is a pretty good way to go, from a financial perspective. I've had my used MM for a couple years now, and I'd lose about the same as you if I sold it. With retirement approaching, barring some unexpected good fortune, I doubt I'll buy new again.

Congrats on your own good fortune.

John

Reading all the posts on this subject made me rather anxious. My M9 had been diagnosed with the sensor problem when I tried to get the sensor cleaned, so I feared the worst. Then I saw the announcement a few days ago and rang Leica UK customer care. I was walked through my options and told about the upgrade policy.

Long story short, less than 24 hrs later I was walking out of the Leica Mayfair store with a new Monochrom. The trade in offer on my M9 meant I had lost less than £300 on my used cost, purchased over three years ago.

The cost of ownership was approx £1.50 a week... for so much joy.

Yes I know I am lucky to be able to trade up, but top marks to Leica UK for their faultless treatment of my problem.

It's my first forum post, so go easy on me.
 
When I got my M9 a year ago or so I noticed that the sensor had quite a bit of dust on it, which was not that big of a deal as I could simply clone it out (too lazy to do it/send it in). In light of this new policy, I did the typical 'stop down and shoot a wall' type thing and looked at the image at full size. There's a few dust spots (diffuse 'blobs') but also these jet black, pinpoint spots that look completely different from your garden variety dust spot. I emailed Leica about the issue to get their opinion if I should send this in. We'll see.

Art,

Now is the time to take advantage of the remaining "good will."

Good luck.

Cal
 
so, for those looking for a secondhand M9, they should be looking at the ones with firmware version 1.204 to be 100% sure that it has a new sensor.
am I correct?
 
so, for those looking for a secondhand M9, they should be looking at the ones with firmware version 1.204 to be 100% sure that it has a new sensor.
am I correct?

I think you can update to the latest firmware whether you have the new sensor or not. But perhaps I am mistaken. The latest version is 1.210.
 
DanskDynamit, that is incorrect. Many M9s had their corroded sensors replaced with the older version of the sensor and simultaneously updated with the 1.204 firmware.
 
DanskDynamit, that is incorrect. Many M9s had their corroded sensors replaced with the older version of the sensor and simultaneously updated with the 1.204 firmware.

E,

Thanks for the clarity. This thread is mucho important to so many.

Cal
 
DanskDynamit, that is incorrect. Many M9s had their corroded sensors replaced with the older version of the sensor and simultaneously updated with the 1.204 firmware.

So, how does one know if a replacement sensor is the new or old? My M9 was replaced in Sept 2015, just around the time the new sensor was available, and the firmware is 1.204 Thanks, Jean-Marc
 
So, how does one know if a replacement sensor is the new or old? My M9 was replaced in Sept 2015, just around the time the new sensor was available, and the firmware is 1.204 Thanks, Jean-Marc

Jean-Marc,

I would contact Bill the Service Manager at Leica New Jersey. Have your serial number.

Cal
 
So, how does one know if a replacement sensor is the new or old? My M9 was replaced in Sept 2015, just around the time the new sensor was available, and the firmware is 1.204 Thanks, Jean-Marc

The start of upgrades was announced on 9/1/2015. And supposedly the 1.204 firmware installed on upgraded cameras was not made available to the general user community. So it sounds like you're good. But like Cal suggests, why not give Leica a call?

John
 
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