a new M8 issue: The coffee ring

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by brill64

try a few of days in a dehumidifying cabinet with the bottom off. partially removing the top plate may also help if you are brave enough to tackle it. since it's 2 years and not in or nearly out of warranty and the mon is one of the most difficult parts to access in the m8, it's going to be an expensive repair from leica

Not true, it's very easy to access to the LCD and replace it. I had a nice conversation with a technician at Solms concerning my upgrades and he told me that.

It's much more difficult to access the 6bit code reader...

[jbfilm]

Originally Posted by canlogic

Nonsense it is simply a preview of what the full frame M9 sensor area will show compared to the current crop area.

Will you guys ever get it? There will NEVER be a full frame digital M.
If you are still waiting, you better get yourself an analog M (while you still can) and a good scanner :-)

[canlogic]

Originally Posted by jbfilm

Will you guys ever get it? There will NEVER be a full frame digital M.
If you are still waiting, you better get yourself an analog M (while you still can) and a good scanner :-)

Now Now Jean it sounds like you are trying to convince me to buy a M7 like Jeff.

[cbretteville]

Originally Posted by jbfilm

There will NEVER be a full frame digital M.

'Never' is a very, very long time and has been the source of many famous last words.

- Carl

[jbfilm]

Originally Posted by cbretteville

'Never' is a very, very long time and has been the source of many famous last words.

- Carl

Well, tonite, I can confirm the demise of the R system, lenses included. An eventual Leica digital 24x36 D-SLR would not look like nor would it be considered a continuation of the R9 !
If a full frame M one day sees the light, it would be in a whole new series. Not an M9, nor M9.2 ! :-)
Cheers,

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by ArtZ

Not true, it's very easy to access to the LCD and replace it. I had a nice conversation with a technician at Solms concerning my upgrades and he told me that.

It's much more difficult to access the 6bit code reader...

I'm not sure I'd say it's "very easy". To get to the LCD, you need to remove 14 screws to split the clamshell, 6 more to remove the DSP board, disconnect at least 5 flex prints and then 6 more screws to remove the LCD display. You also have to replace the camera "leather" cover since it has to be peeled back to expose some of the screws. That cover is very much a consumable item.

I certainly agree that the 6 bit code reader along with the circuit board which drives it is probably the most difficult part of the camera to replace. In addition to the above, you have to remove the shutter, sensor, light meter, battery housing/lens throat, lens mount and so on.

In these two pictures, you can see the LCD "package" between the mounting plates and also the lens sensor where it connects to the circuit board.

Clamshell Rear without DSP.jpg

Frame Selector 2.jpg

[ArtZ]

Originally Posted by marknorton

I'm not sure I'd say it's "very easy". To get to the LCD, you need to remove 14 screws to split the clamshell, 6 more to remove the DSP board, disconnect at least 5 flex prints and then 6 more screws to remove the LCD display. You also have to replace the camera "leather" cover since it has to be peeled back to expose some of the screws. That cover is very much a consumable item.

I certainly agree that the 6 bit code reader along with the circuit board which drives it is probably the most difficult part of the camera to replace. In addition to the above, you have to remove the shutter, sensor, light meter, battery housing/lens throat, lens mount and so on.

In these two pictures, you can see the LCD "package" between the mounting plates and also the lens sensor where it connects to the circuit board.

Mark,

I haven't opened any M8 yet, so you're in a better position to have an accurate opinion

I've just repeated what the technician from Leica told me. Maybe at Leica they consider these operations as normal work.

Cheers

[dudedog]

I had the exact same thing surface on my LCD a week ago. Mine is a little smaller, and a little more oval, but the exact same issue. Very visible on light colored background shots.

I was glad to see this post because I thought I had done something to cause the damage. I take extremely good care of my equipment and have been trying to figure out what I did. At least I know it isn't something I did.

Hopefully Leica will find a solution and take care of it. One more trip to NJ or Solms...

[M. Valdemar]

Uh, oh, now EVERYBODY'S going to find a "coffee ring".

[sfokevin]

Originally Posted by M. Valdemar

Uh, oh, now EVERYBODY'S going to find a "coffee ring".

Yeah... Kinda like crop circles...

[csg]

Uh oh. I just found one on mine. Same coffee oval. One more for the crop circle crowd.

[jaapv]

Time to get in the press and Discovery Channel

[volkerhopf]

Hi,
This was the response from Leica:

Dear Mr. Hopf,

We have seen this problem in the past and the only solution is to replace the LCD screen. This work can be done here in Solms.

mit freundlichen Grüßen / best regards



Leica Camera AG / Customer Service
Solmser Gewerbepark 8 / D-35606 Solms


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Gesendet: Montag, 9. Februar 2009 10:19
An: Wagner, Gerald
Betreff: WG: Ghost image of sensor on LCD



-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Gesendet: Montag, 9. Februar 2009 02:53
Betreff: Ghost image of sensor on LCD

Good morning,
I own an M8 for more than 2 years now and I am very happy with the results I am getting.
Recently I found an odd ghost image on my LCD when I was doing test images with my newly acquired Summicron 75. It looks like the outline of the sensor projected on the LCD. I attach 2 photos which show the effect reasonably well.
This does not impact the quality of the pictures but it is a nuisance and I am concerned that it might get worse. Do you have any experience with this problem? If yes what would you suggest I should do?
I hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards

-----------------------------------------------------Second mail asking what would happen if I don't change the LCD. For the english speaking community:

"Nothing just an inconvenience"
Hallo Herr Hopf,

Normal ist das natürlich nicht und wir sind dabei, die Ursache zu ergründen. Passieren kann weiter nichts, wobei wir noch keine Erfahrung haben über die Zeit. Da es aber lokal am LCD liegt, ist die Kamerafunktion weiterhin gewährleistet.

mit freundlichen Grüßen / best regards

Leica Camera AG / Customer Service


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Gesendet: Montag, 9. Februar 2009 18:25
Betreff: Re: WG: Ghost image of sensor on LCD

Hallo,
Danke fuer die schnelle Antwort. Keine guten Nachrichten.
Was wird passieren, wenn ich mit der Kamera so weiter arbeite?
Ist es normal, das das nach zwei Jahren passiert?

Beste Gruesse


---------------------------------------------------------------
Volker Hopf, PhD
Director
Blome YVH Pty Ltd

[Falk61462]

Does any of the M8 users, who detected the "coffee ring", permanently use a LUIGI or LEICA or any other leather case?

If so, the ring could stem from the humidity/dye/leather care in the case's leather creeping under the LCD cover.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards

Falk61462

[Olsen]

Originally Posted by Falk61462

Does any of the M8 users, who detected the "coffee ring", permanently use a LUIGI or LEICA or any other leather case?

If so, the ring could stem from the humidity/dye/leather care in the case's leather creeping under the LCD cover.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards

Falk61462

It could indeed be humidity, but not from any dye/leather care. I have never had a half case. I even live in a country where humidity is normally between 35 to 65%. Really, not very high. But I have brought my M8 along skiing. Under such circumstances it is impossible to keep the camera perfectly dry.

[sfokevin]

I do not think the cause of the coffee ring is from the use of any case...

The cause is from a break in the air tight seal of the LCD crystal to the camera...

[marknorton]

Originally Posted by sfokevin

I do not think the cause of the coffee ring is from the use of any case...

The cause is from a break in the air tight seal of the LCD crystal to the camera...

I'm afraid I think you are right.

[Edit: Looks like it's made in Taiwan by this company: http://www.tpo.biz/index.htm]

[jipnb]

To be confirmed by others, but it seems to almost disappear if you set the screen's brightness higher than standard

[LotharZhou]

Mine has exactly the same problem, and it's in Solms now, hope to get it back in a few weeks.

[atufte]

Originally Posted by jbfilm

Will you guys ever get it? There will NEVER be a full frame digital M.
If you are still waiting, you better get yourself an analog M (while you still can) and a good scanner :-)

Hahaha...that's a good one, are you related to Bill Gates?