Richardgb Posted July 19, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 19, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'll be brief... I bought my first M9 in July 2010. In 2011 the sensor was replaced because of a defect in it or its cover glass. (As with any such faults, whether the fault was visible depends on the subject). In 2012, the camera started producing images with coloured streaks, owing, I (and Leica) now understand, to poor battery management. (I posted a thread in the Forum about this at the time. The electronics were replaced, and you will remember a subsequent firmware update to cure this problem...) For reasons not material to this story, I never received my repaired camera and it was replaced by a new M9 in July 2012. By June 2014, it was apparent this second M9 also had a sensor problem - and it was getting worse. Basically, a line of pixels was faulty across the image (plenty of examples posted elsewhere). The camera has now gone back to Wetzlar - 8 weeks has been given as the likely repair time. Now, you could say that I'm just another unhappy user. There is a thread in the Deutsches Forum (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/forum-zur-leica-m9/338016-riesenprobleme-mit-der-m9.html) about M9 problems in which some otherwise well respected Forum members say well, such problems are unquantified - are they 1 in 100? 1 in 1000? 1 in 10,000? - seemingly as a 'these things happen' excuse . While numbers may be, proportionately, smalI this is no consolation for the unlucky user who has spent a considerable sum on the camera and lenses. And the fact that Leica carries out repairs under warranty with few questions is little compensation. A camera (like any consumer good) is produced to be used, not to be repaired. There have been other comments, though perhaps not entire threads, on Leica's quality control (cameras, lenses) and the 'learning curve' the company has gone through - and is evidently still on - in trying to produce home-grown digital cameras (think sensors software, and firmware). Now, I have a bag of M lenses looking for a suitable 'back-up' mate. Searching the Forum threads has thrown up some ideas but also some disappointments. Some might say the safest route would be to get a T, but let's not forget with M mount adaptor and EVF, this would be rather more than £2000. Why should Leica get any more of my money? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 19, 2014 Posted July 19, 2014 Hi Richardgb, Take a look here Lightning strikes twice, thrice.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
timde Posted July 19, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 19, 2014 Safest and cheapest route would be a Fuji camera with a Fuji M-Adapter. They are all internally the same, more or less, and work very well together. The E2 and T1 have the most up to date EVF. The T probably needs some time to sort out its software design a bit more. I wonder if the M-E will have these same problems as the M9? Has Leica actually fixed the problems with the M9 or are they just replacing parts... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2014 Share #3 Posted July 19, 2014 You certainly have a right to be unhappy; however it is only fair to point out that dead/hot pixels and pixel lines are acquired defects that are brand indepent. I got a NEX7 asabackup, for the price. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 19, 2014 Share #4 Posted July 19, 2014 A Fuji.. a friend of mine has a pair (X Pro + a XE2 bought used for cheap) and he continuosly praises them... and asks me lenses to lend him... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp58 Posted July 19, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 19, 2014 +1 for the Fuji. When I am not using my m8 or m9p, I happily use my Leica lenses with the LM to FX adapter on my XE-2. The focus peaking makes manual focusing is pretty easy. It is a wonderful option to have, especially if the lighting conditions make it less than optimal for using the m9p. I use the Leica at 640, sometimes going to 800 or 1000, but after that, I will use the Fuji (easily to 6400 iso). The Leica (rangefinder) will always be my first choice, but I am grateful to have the Fuji, too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptZoom Posted July 19, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 19, 2014 Read this article (actually read the whole series) before deciding your camera purchase. I think Roger Cicala makes a good argument about sensor stack thickness on lens performance. This has implications for adapting non-native lenses. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 19, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 19, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recently was in the market for an emergency backup, and researched and tried several, including a couple Fujis, and the Sony A7 and A7R, Nex7 and Nex6. Of them all the one that handled all my wide and ultrawide rangefinder lenses with the least problematic issues is the Nex6. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted July 19, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 19, 2014 M2, M6 or, if you prefer digital, a well used M8. All, infinitely preferable IMO to a NEX, T or some other EVF based camera. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2014 Share #9 Posted July 19, 2014 The M8 does not take R lenses. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted July 19, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 19, 2014 The M8 does not take R lenses. The OP wrote: "Now, I have a bag of M lenses looking for a suitable 'back-up' mate". Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 19, 2014 Share #11 Posted July 19, 2014 Depending on which lenses you have you could get a Sony A7. Same angle of view and same resolution. It does have issues with many wide Leica M lenses, excluding the WATE, so you'll need to check the lenses you have are OK with it. If you want a complimentary camera the a6000 is hard to beat for the money. If you're happy with a bit less resolution in trade for low light performance the A7S is definately worth a look. It seems to behave rather well with Leica wide lenses. Personally I dislike the Fuji X-trans sensor. Although I do like the cameras. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 19, 2014 Share #12 Posted July 19, 2014 The OP wrote: "Now, I have a bag of M lenses looking for a suitable 'back-up' mate". The OP does is not the only one reading Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richardgb Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted July 20, 2014 Many thanks for all the replies. Concerning using a Fuji X-E2 as a backup camera, I looked at one recently (see http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/331587-fuji-x-e2-m-lenses.html) and held back from purchase. I may revisit this, acquiring a wide-angle Fuji lens in place of using the wider M lenses (many years ago I had a good experience with their quality on a medium-format (film) Fuji camera). The older Sony NEXs (5, 6, and 7) seem to have disappeared from dealers. A built-in EVF which leaves the hot-shoe free for a more powerful flash is highly desirable (minus point for the T...). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted July 20, 2014 Share #14 Posted July 20, 2014 I had two M9's, that were supposed to back each other up, but both had shutter and/or sensor problems. I was without a digital M for about 6 months, no fault to Leica as the repaired both for free and, quite quickly, I might add. I ended up replacing them with a M240 as it shares no parts with the M9 that I had issue with. I also added a MM, but that's a different topic. So far so good, no problems...(knock on wood) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayewing Posted July 20, 2014 Share #15 Posted July 20, 2014 I have used my Ricoh GXR with M Mount as backup, mainly because I have one. In its favour it is the only non Leica camera with a sensor specifically designed for rangefinder lenses. It has of course an APS-C sensor of only 12 Mpx but Sean Read compared it with the new Leica T using the same M lenses and preferred the Ricoh images in a recent (paid for) review. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richardgb Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted July 24, 2014 <snip> The camera has now gone back to Wetzlar - 8 weeks has been given as the likely repair time. <snip> Although the turn-round is slightly shorter than the 3 months told in http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/332007-m9-back-solmes.html, I have just received notification that the repair time is now uncertain owing to 'problems with supplier'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted July 26, 2014 Share #17 Posted July 26, 2014 Currently, a couple of weeks after relocating from Solms to Wetzlar, Customer Care is struggling badly. Turn-around times of eight weeks or more for simple repair tasks are normal right now. It will get better eventually ... but right now, they are up to their necks in orders. So if you have something to fix and it isn't utterly urgent then better wait until after this year's Photokina. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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