Sensor was NOT toast

[victoriapio]

On April 16, I joined the "I guess my sensor is toast" thread thinking my sensor failed. On April 17 I overnighted my M9 to Leica NJ as my wife and I are going to Spain in July.
I was shocked when a UPS truck driver knocked on my door this afternoon (May 8) and there, in a well packed box, was my m9. Looking at the work sheet, the sensor did not fail.
1. Necessary service charge 3 Hrs
2. Leather covering replaced
3. Circuit M9 REV 4 + 5
4. Sealing ring, 1 X 1,5

It sounds like a circuit board failed. I was not charged for the service.

 

[Contarama]

Looks like the Leica is going to Spain with you. Awesome. Makes me want to buy one.

 

[xyz3450]

Good news! Enjoy Spain!

 

[sleepyhead]

Great for you! And great service from Leica.

 

[Huss]

I think the sensor, if i recall correctly, is part of the circuit board. So if they replaced that they also replaced your sensor.

 

[Godfrey]

Looks like the Leica is going to Spain with you. Awesome. Makes me want to buy one.

Makes me want to go to Spain! I'd love to go to Salamanca again with a camera in my hand... 🙂

I think the sensor, if i recall correctly, is part of the circuit board. So if they replaced that they also replaced your sensor.

Is that true? Seems to me the sensor assembly should be separable from the circuit board. Why would they package them together?

G

 

[victoriapio]

I agree that it was outstanding service from Leica, regardless of what the problem was. I assumed it was a sensor issue, but when I saw the worksheet assumed it was a circuit board. I didn't think about the sensor and the circuit board being one unit. The image is a cell phone snap of a photo on the rear camera screen. That was the problem I had.
If it was a sensor issue, then I really salute Leica for such a rapid turn around. BRAVO...

Victoriapio added: Funny addendum, I was literally a click away from buying a used MMono when the delivery man knocked on the door.

 

[Huss]

Is that true? Seems to me the sensor assembly should be separable from the circuit board. Why would they package them together?

G

From what I remember, when my M-E (M9) had it's sensor replaced, the paperwork said circuit board.

 

[victoriapio]

From what I remember, when my M-E (M9) had it's sensor replaced, the paperwork said circuit board.

Good to know. Given the short turn around, was the sensor in stock in NJ? Perhaps they have a supply of them to install now?

 

[Huss]

They must have a supply of them on hand, because mine took forever with the reason they were out of stock.
It is actually much better that you do have the new sensor now, as you will (hopefully) be good for a long time .

 

[Roger Hicks]

Great news!

Cheers,

R.

 

[sevres_babylone]

I The image is a cell phone snap of a photo on the rear camera screen.

That looks quite different from usual bad sensor problem (which sometimes initially looks like "dirt" on the sensor. Regardless, great service, and I'm also glad things have worked out for you.

 

[willie_901]

If the circuit board responsible for the failure happens to be part of the sensor assembly, then the sensor component (cover glass layer, micro-les assembly, color-filter array assembly and photo-diode bed) was replaced. Unless you already had the second-generation M9 sensor, a sensor assembly replacement would be good news.

Surely Leica can share with you the details about what a "Circuit M9 REV 4 + 5" replacement entails.

 

[victoriapio]

If the circuit board responsible for the failure happens to be part of the sensor assembly, then the sensor component (cover glass layer, micro-les assembly, color-filter array assembly and photo-diode bed) was replaced. Unless you already had the second-generation M9 sensor, a sensor assembly replacement would be good news.

Surely Leica can share with you the details about what a "Circuit M9 REV 4 + 5" replacement entails.

I purchased the camera new in 2009 so no work had been done on the sensor. After I overnighted the camera I called Leica NJ several times to confirm the camera was in the repair process and never heard a word from them. I doubt I would have any luck trying to find out what "Circuit M9 REV 4+5" is. 😕

Addendum: this does sound like circuit board replacement according to this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160405