Digilux 2 sensor replacement no longer free (moved from Do Digilux 2 photos ..)

[Pthkah]

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Hello, this is my first post on the forum. Am currently reading page 81 of 117 pages on this thread so I don't know if this has already been posted.

I am actively searching for a D2 and contacted Leica UK the other day asking about free sensor replacement. Was told by Customer Services that;

 

' up until quite recently, sensor replacement on the Digilux 2 was carried out free of charge, but as of 2013 this is no longer the case '

 

So there is now a charge and it was suggested that this would be under £200.

My apologies if I am posting something you all already knew...

[elgenper]

Hello, this is my first post on the forum. Am currently reading page 81 of 117 pages on this thread so I don't know if this has already been posted.

I am actively searching for a D2 and contacted Leica UK the other day asking about free sensor replacement. Was told by Customer Services that;

 

' up until quite recently, sensor replacement on the Digilux 2 was carried out free of charge, but as of 2013 this is no longer the case '

 

So there is now a charge and it was suggested that this would be under £200.

My apologies if I am posting something you all already knew...

 

If the info you received is indeed correct, it is rather important news to the D2 community! To spread it more effectively, may I suggest you start a new thread here, with a title that draws attention to this change of policy?

[williamgm]

In a recent post I started ('My first Leica camera, a Digilux 2) I referred to a Digilux 2 I had purchased (from a UK Leica dealer) in June this year. As you will read in my post, it turned out that the camera needed both a new sensor & a printed circuit board. I sent emails to both Leica UK & to Germany (Customer Services).

Leica Germany (Solms) responded first (my contact was with Kirstin Masney); she (a) confirmed my camera sensor had not been replaced and ( also confirmed that Leica still replaces failed sensors under the extended warranty. After emailing a couple of images to her, she sent a UPS pre-paid address label for me to send the camera to Germany.

The camera is now repaired, fully checked and in excellent condition (the printed circuit board was covered by the dealer warranty).

 

The other point of interest is that Leica UK (when they actually got around to replying) told me that the sensors are no longer replaced at the factory under warranty! (When their email did arrive, my camera was already at the factory for repair.....under warranty.

 

I think the answer is, always contact Customer Services in Solms.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Geoff

[Pthkah]

Further to my earlier post regarding D2 sensors being charged for I contacted Leica Solms and this is the reply I received this morning Tuesday 13 August 2013;

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

No, the replacement of the sensor is not completely free of charge anymore.

The sensor as spare part will not be charged, but the labour costs will be charged with about € 150,- plus VAT.

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards

Andrea Frankl

Leica Camera AG

Customer Care

Solmser Gewerbepark 8 / D-35606 Solms / Germany

 

I have started a new thread on this topic: Digilux sensor charge.

[Pthkah]

I enquired from Leica Solms as to whether Digilux 2 sensors were still being fitted free of charge. This is their reply which I received today 13 August 2013.

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

No, the replacement of the sensor is not completely free of charge anymore.

The sensor as spare part will not be charged, but the labour costs will be charged with about € 150,- plus VAT.

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards

Andrea Frankl

Leica Camera AG

Customer Care

Solmser Gewerbepark 8 / D-35606 Solms / Germany

[williamgm]

How strange - if this is now the case, then the policy has only changed in the last 6 weeks.

I checked on my emails from Leica Solms (I dealt with Kirstin Masney) & in an email dated 1 July her reply included this....' However, in addition to the faulty sensor, which we repair free of charge....' The sensor in my camera was repaired free of charge, the dealer warranty covered the circuit board.

 

If the situation has changed, and you are looking to buy a Digilux 2 then obviously it would be advisable to find one with an updated sensor, or a dealer warranty. Check the UK Leica dealers, I think there were one or two on the Leica Manchester web site (Stephens) when I looked recently. They are quite expensive though, but will (I assume) have a warranty.

[Pthkah]

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Thank you,

I am awaiting delivery of a D2 with the newer sensor, should receive it tomorrow..

[wilfredo]

Further to my earlier post regarding D2 sensors being charged for I contacted Leica Solms and this is the reply I received this morning Tuesday 13 August 2013;

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

No, the replacement of the sensor is not completely free of charge anymore.

The sensor as spare part will not be charged, but the labour costs will be charged with about € 150,- plus VAT.

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards

Andrea Frankl

Leica Camera AG

Customer Care

Solmser Gewerbepark 8 / D-35606 Solms / Germany

 

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If this is the case it sucks! I bought a used D2, the sensor has never failed and I've been at ease with the fact that it would be replaced by Leica if it did. I hope it is not the case but if it is, then screwing the consumer has no limits and Leica is looking to exploit the used D2 market.

[pop]

If this is the case it sucks! I bought a used D2, the sensor has never failed and I've been at ease with the fact that it would be replaced by Leica if it did. I hope it is not the case but if it is, then screwing the consumer has no limits and Leica is looking to exploit the used D2 market.

 

 

Please do consider: The Leica Digilux 2 was introduced in February 2004 and was on sale for about two years.

 

There can't be too many consumer goods (or, indeed, any goods) around where the manufacturer offered a seven to nine years warranty on selected parts and labour. Even so, the warranty on the parts remains in effect, it appears.

 

How long do you expect anyone to replace parts of obsolete products absolutely free of charge?

 

The quotation for the replacement is in no way exploitative. I've paid much more to Panasonic to replace the cover sheet of the display of my LC1 only a year ago or two. And that's just the bit of transparent plastic which is glued to the back side of the body to protect the display.

[elgenper]

Please do consider: The Leica Digilux 2 was introduced in February 2004 and was on sale for about two years.

 

There can't be too many consumer goods (or, indeed, any goods) around where the manufacturer offered a seven to nine years warranty on selected parts and labour. Even so, the warranty on the parts remains in effect, it appears.

 

How long do you expect anyone to replace parts of obsolete products absolutely free of charge?

 

The quotation for the replacement is in no way exploitative. I've paid much more to Panasonic to replace the cover sheet of the display of my LC1 only a year ago or two. And that's just the bit of transparent plastic which is glued to the back side of the body to protect the display.

 

I agree completely. While most of us are eloquent about the unique quality of the D2, the strictly economical life of the model probably expired years ago.

 

In some ways, used D2´s are direct competitiors for some current Leica models; the Vario X is clearly targeted as ´an improved D2´. I don´t think any other manufacturer would actively help to keep such old products going. Just keeping a stock of these now obsolete sensors is an uncommon level of customer care; providing them for free is even better. The work needed for putting new sensors in the affected cameras is a direct cost, so charging for it is certainly not immodest in any way.

[ho_co]

Philipp--

As I understand, the problem was a defective Sony sensor that appeared in a particular run of cameras. Your camera may not be one of the affected batch.

 

I say, don't worry about replacing the sensor until you must.

[marknorton]

I think if the sensor was going to fail because of the production defect, it would already have done so. Mine failed and was replaced free of charge.

 

It's interesting that the Digilux 2 is still a great camera, if you can live within its limitations of slow operation, modest high ISO and a poor EVF. The lens makes all the difference and you are right to try to find a good copy.

 

This picture which is my PC wallpaper was taken with one.

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[calshot]

I have the LC1 and it is still going strong,so I guess I am going to be alright.

Still a jolly good camera and whenever I think of getting something else I stop myself and think why? It does all that I require. Interestingly the Elpro is probably worth twice the value of the Panasonic version LC1

[marknorton]

Yes, other specific accessories worth keeping an eye out for - though not as rare as the Elpro - are the remote release, the lens filter (non-standard size) and the case which was not a triumph of design because of the tight fit but quite nice nonetheless.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Further to my earlier post regarding D2 sensors being charged for I contacted Leica Solms and this is the reply I received this morning Tuesday 13 August 2013;

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

No, the replacement of the sensor is not completely free of charge anymore.

The sensor as spare part will not be charged, but the labour costs will be charged with about € 150,- plus VAT.

 

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards

Andrea Frankl

Leica Camera AG

Customer Care

Solmser Gewerbepark 8 / D-35606 Solms / Germany

 

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

If this is the case it sucks! I bought a used D2, the sensor has never failed and I've been at ease with the fact that it would be replaced by Leica if it did. I hope it is not the case but if it is, then screwing the consumer has no limits and Leica is looking to exploit the used D2 market.

 

It's worth repeating that all Digilux 2 cameras with SNs 3000000 onwards were assembled using the later modified sensor.

I was fortunate to buy a secondhand D2 this year with SN 3013XXX

 

Best wishes

 

dunk

[marknorton]

That seems correct, mine which did need a new sensor is 2994xxx

[corson]

Hi Guys,,,,,,newbie here and can't figure out how to create a new post.I wanted to buy a Digilux 2,but I received this email today,,,,,,,

 

On Tuesday, 30 September 2014, 10:31, Jimmy Hughes <Jimmy.Hughes@leica-camera.co.uk> wrote:

 

 

Dear Mr Corson,

 

Thanks for getting in touch. I enquired about the cost and availability of Digilux 2 sensors with Germany yesterday, and was told that these are no longer available. As a result, service is now withdrawn for this camera due to the lack of spare parts.

 

I realise this news is going to come as a shock for the many D2 owners out there (and I speak as one myself!), but realistically one has to accept that the camera is now over ten years old, which is a very long time in the world of digital cameras. It seems Sony no longer have stocks of the sensor, and it is presumably not cost-effective (or even possible) to make more.

 

Kind Regards

 

Jimmy Hughes

 

Client Care Team

Leica Camera UK

34 Bruton Place

Mayfair

London

W1J 6NR

www.leica-camera.co.uk

 

I'm a bit annoyed.

[Toshack10]

Time to start buying LC1s for their sensors?

[dkCambridgeshire]

Hi Guys,,,,,,newbie here and can't figure out how to create a new post.I wanted to buy a Digilux 2,but I received this email today ,,,,,,,

 

 

I'm a bit annoyed.

 

 

It's unreasonable to expect spare sensors to be available for 10 year old cameras and even if they were, the cost of replacement would likely be as much if not more than the camera is worth.

 

It's not clear from your post whether you want to buy a used D2 or have an existing D2 repaired - the reply from Leica Mayfair suggests the latter.

 

Used D2 cameras with SNs above 3XXXXXX are regularly offered for sale so it's worth browsing UK dealers' used camera offerings to try and find one.

 

OTOH might be better to move on and consider a later Leica digital compact … e.g. this afternoon I saw a Leica X1 listed by a UK Premier dealer for £425. Very different to a D2 but capable of results as good as those from a Leica digital rangefinder.

 

dunk

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Lux

[wda]

Many D2 cameras have the new sensor retro-fitted. Mine was and mine was one of the first cameras made. So, among the many available or existing D2 cameras, a high proportion probably have the newer sensor fitted or replaced.