Would you pay more?

BillBingham2

Registered User
Local time
3:21 AM
Joined
Jun 23, 2005
Messages
6,254
Ok, just coming back from a few years in other places I notice a lot of folks talking about having the sensors scratched, cleaned and replaced.

So here's my question......

Would you pay $200 USD more for an interchangeable RF style body that provided you with a curtain that you could close when you are changing lenses and open when you want to shoot?

Perhaps it's a set of metal doors, half of which goes up, the other half goes down as curtains might be too much mechanical in an already over filled body.

I know I would and that would get me off the fence with plunking down big cash (when I get back there again) to purchase a removable lens RF camera.

What are your thoughts?

B2
 
I don't know about the solution you proposed, but I'd certainly pay a small premium if Leica could figure out how to implement ultrasonic sensor cleaning. I'm guessing the reason they haven't done it yet is 1) good old Leica reticence to adopt new technology and 2) the thin IR filter on top of the sensor.
 
Sensors get dirt and other stuff, get yourself a good cleaning kit and use it properly...as anything in life sensors will wear.
 
I don't think there is an old fashion shutter in them.

The link below clearly show that the M9 has an old fashion shutter.

http://vimeo.com/6551861

Not positive but pretty sure the sensor is enclosed in some kind of clear casing and its this casing that gets damaged from dust/scratches. As to why the sensor needs to be replaced if only the cover is scratch? The most logically reason is the sensor supplier only provides Leica with complete sensor units rather then the individual parts. Which means damage/failure of any of the individual parts make it necessary to replace the entire sensor unit.
 
I don't think there is an old fashion shutter in them.
All Leica M cameras have shutters.

...Not positive but pretty sure the sensor is enclosed in some kind of clear casing and its this casing that gets damaged from dust/scratches. As to why the sensor needs to be replaced if only the cover is scratch? The most logically reason is the sensor supplier only provides Leica with complete sensor units rather then the individual parts. Which means damage/failure of any of the individual parts make it necessary to replace the entire sensor unit.

Correct - there's a cover glass/IR filter. Problem is, they're assembled together as one unit... So if you scratch it, the whole thing has to be replaced.
 
I don't think there is an old fashion shutter in them.

Of course there is a shutter. And even if there were not, dust does not jump from the lens to the shutter. It floats around for a while before it settles on the sensor by electromanetic attraction, making protection at the time of lens change an illusion.
 
The shutter is always closed in M8, M9, MM, ME unless during exposure.
These do not have live view - unlike the new M.

Just my wild guess:
Any digital RF (with a mechanical RF mechanism) will NEVER come with sensor cleaning.
The tolerances for sensor position will simply prohibit any vibration of the sensor.
If that's not really the technical reason, the camera body would be thicker and an outcry would swamp Leica why the heck the latest camera is not exactly the same size like the M3 :D.

I always shut off the camera before I change lenses, occasionally I forget it but let's say 90+%. I can not imagine how you could scratch your sensor. If you decide to clean it yourself, you should better read up some info on how to do it. It's a hell lot of money for that camera body, so if you aren't handy, give it to someone who does this for a living.
 
Automatic sensor cleaning is not such a big invention that it can cope with the size of a full frame sensor. So the idea of just inventing, or buying in the technology isn't as easy as many believe it should be.

V
 
Ok, just coming back from a few years in other places I notice a lot of folks talking about having the sensors scratched, cleaned and replaced.

So here's my question......

Would you pay $200 USD more for an interchangeable RF style body that provided you with a curtain that you could close when you are changing lenses and open when you want to shoot?

Perhaps it's a set of metal doors, half of which goes up, the other half goes down as curtains might be too much mechanical in an already over filled body.

I know I would and that would get me off the fence with plunking down big cash (when I get back there again) to purchase a removable lens RF camera.

What are your thoughts?

B2

As others have said, a Leica does already have metal doors (the shutter), and changing lenses is for most people second nature. There are some around that fear cleaning their sensor should it get some dust on it, so they also put the fear into others and promote only changing lenses in an airless room or have the Leica dealer do it for them (only joking...I hope). But sensor cleaning is easy, changing lenses shouldn't be avoided, and all most people need is common sense to achieve both. Give it a go, there's nothing to worry about.:)

V
 
If a sensor has a scratch I assume a production failure. How on earth can a user scratch a sensor or the sensor glass? Do people "clean" it with a pair of scissors?
Let's just say that some people shouldn't be changing lightbulbs, let alone cleaning a sensor. :angel:
 
Back
Top Bottom