S2 Screen destroyed by screen protector?

[glenerrolrd]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

After hearing of another S2 having a problem with a screen protector ....I pulled off my Screen Patronus screen protector last night . Bottom line is that the screen protector appears to have permanently etched the screen on my S2 with a very fine cloudy pattern . S2 screen replacements go for almost $2K .

 

It does not appear to be glue residue (as reported on the M threads) ....I tried the white spirits on an edge as well as several other recommendations . It doesn t smear at all . And after inquiring my Leica dealer reported a similar problem with another S2 .

 

So its off to Solms for replacement . No word when I contacted Screen Patronus guess its not a priority for them .

 

Worth knowing if you have an S2 .

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[darylgo]

Hi Roger,

 

Sorry to hear that you need a replacement screen. My S2 purchased used had a similar situation, screen protector damage. After replacement my dealer told me to use the screen bare or use one of the cheap phone protector screens. I wonder if Leica would put a sapphire screen on an S2 non P, negating the need for a protector.

[albertknappmd]

Over the years, I have purchased LED screen plastic protectors from a company in New Jersey called Screenpatronus Policies of ScreenPatronus, Screen protector - the difference is amazing. for my M8, M9P, R8-9 DMRs and most recently my S2. The clear plastic protectors were adverstised as safe and guarranteed against workmanship defects.

 

I would apply them prior to a trip and then removed them when storing the camera.

I recently returned form 10 days in Icleand with my S2 and found that the protector had left a very perceptable and indellible film on the LED.

 

I sent the camera to Leica as the film was very obvious and even they could not remove it! I ended up having to replace the LED which cost about $1200.00 (USD)

 

I contacted Screenpatronus and explained the problem. At first, they stated that I was not in their "customer base" and had never purchased the item from them. I emailed a copy of the purchase order and then they "found me". I then forwarded a detailed screed stating how and when the protector was applied, how previous protectors ahd never had a problem and, as a physician, how meticulous my technique has and had always bee.. The representative at Screenpatronus eventually responded to my inquiry stating that I had probably misapplied the screen protector and that the film/residue was "my fault". Furthermore, they stated that I had purchased the product several years ago and that it was not under warranty. In fact, the "warranty" was only for 30 days after purchase!

 

To add insult to injury, they then implied that if I told my story to the camera community they would refer the issue to their attorneys.

 

I informed the hapless Screenpatronus representative that I was weighing my legal options and was not going to be cowed by their clumsy threats... Furthermore, I reminded them that the First Amendment to the Constitution still applies!

 

Please draw your own conclusions and caveat emptor! http://cdn.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/images/smilies/mad.gifhttp://cdn.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/images/smilies/mad.gifhttp://cdn.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/images/smilies/mad.gif

 

Albert

[glenerrolrd]

Wonder has anyone found a good solution for a screen protector for the s2 ...that they have successfully removed ?

[albertknappmd]

no!

And I would not even risk it!

Albert

[darylgo]

I pulled back my screen protector and it has had no damaging effect on the Leica screen. The protector was a cheap phone screen I purchased for $5 and cut to fit the S2, it was placed about 3 months ago and now has a few scrapes and gouges.

[peterv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Sorry to hear this Roger, it's one of those troublesome unlucky stories you don't ever want to happen to you, or anyone else. I hope Leica gets this fixed fast and at a reasonable price.

 

Albert, really an unbelieveble story. I mean outrageous. How dare they threaten you, after putting you up with a product like that. I hope you get things sorted out in a satisfying manner.

 

All this leaves me wondering, does this happen to screens from CaNikon, Sony, etc? Or is this a Leica screen only problem?

 

All the best,

 

Peter

[marknorton]

I assume the original S came in two versions, one with a polycarbonate LCD cover "glass" and the other with a mega-expensive sapphire cover glass. The first will be prone to scratching and it sounds as if there is some sort of chemical reaction taking place between the screen protector and the plastic material.

 

What about the second generation body? Does that still use plastic or have they gone the same route as the M and used gorilla glass which while not as tough as sapphire is better than plastic.

 

I do not know about Canon, but Nikon professional cameras use some sort of toughened glass similar, I would think, to gorilla glass and over several years use on a D3 and D3x, it has proved very effective.

[albertknappmd]

The S (type 006) uses gorilla glass.

[jaapv]

Which is not immune to scratching.. (or shattering for that matter:o) Just have a look at any well-used iPhone.

[Jon Pop]

Screen Patronus can get bent with their puffed up legal language - good luck trying to bring legal action against someone for voicing an opinion on the internet. For what it's worth, on my M9 I bought a screen protector by Vikuiti/3M and it's been great. Hopefully it won't leave a film/etching.

[AlanG]

 

I sent the camera to Leica as the film was very obvious and even they could not remove it! I ended up having to replace the LED which cost about $1200.00 (USD)

 

Am I to understand that the cover glass over the LCD costs $1200 to be replaced? Why is that?

 

It seems to me that this is a smart way to engineer it:

 

5D - Broken LCD Protector Repair Tutorial - Canon Digital Photography Forums

[wildlightphoto]

Alan, there has always been something cheaper than a Leica. What's your point? That a Leica should be re-engineered to mimic a mid-grade Canon?

 

Here's one reason why the S should not mimic the Canon:

 

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/leica_s2_field_report.shtml

 

There's a reason your 5D is cheaper.

[AlanG]

Alan, there has always been something cheaper than a Leica. What's your point? That a Leica should be re-engineered to mimic a mid-grade Canon?

 

Here's one reason why the S should not mimic the Canon:

 

Antarctica 2009 - What Worked

Leica S2 Field Report

 

There's a reason your 5D is cheaper.

 

What are you talking about? This is simply a clear cover over an LCD. Leica doesn't make any of that stuff but simply buys various kinds of clear material and mounts it on the back over the LCD of its cameras. Why would it be better for the end user to make it harder and more expensive to replace than on other cameras? (And possibly more vulnerable to be affected by adhesive from a "protective" cover due to their choice of material.) Does the S2 have to be disassembled for the cover glass to be removed and replaced via a similar type of adhesive as on the 5D? That 2009 report is hardly relevant to the issue.

 

I am simply trying to get confirmation if the cover glass alone cost $1200 or if the the LCD was also replaced and why. The poster called it an LED. Your reply did not clarify this at all.

 

BTW in 12 years of using 1D series and all of the 5D models and numerous lenses under fairly heavy pro use the only failures or hiccups I have had have been breaking two USB connectors via hard use and physical bending while shooting tethered. (I am more careful now.) This includes rain, cold and several times that tripod mounted cameras were knocked over. (Including a 5DIII with 17TSE onto a wood floor.) I did physically damage two lenses (dented barrels that jammed focus) that fell out of my bag about 4 feet onto a concrete surface. (15mm, 100-400) Total cost of those repairs was around $350 and took less than a week. Amazingly when my 100-400's manual focus ring was jammed the AF still worked and I was able to keep using the lens on that shoot. My 24-105 also fell out of the bag at the same time but just got a couple of scratches on it. (The bag was being passed over a wall and I didn't realize it was open.) My 16-35 has been dropped twice onto a tile floor with no damage. But none of this was my point and is simply to counter your assertion that Canons are poorly made and are not durable.

[wildlightphoto]

Alan, did you read the links I posted? The S2 is built to a different standard. The weather sealing requires different design and manufacturing techniques that will almost always be more costly. The 5D's design and construction standard resulted in a 25% failure rate in a cold drizzle. Do you consider that acceptable?

[AlanG]

Alan, did you read the links I posted? The S2 is built to a different standard. The weather sealing requires different design and manufacturing techniques that will almost always be more costly. The 5D's design and construction standard resulted in a 25% failure rate in a cold drizzle. Do you consider that acceptable?

 

Yes I read them and had read them previously. Talk about going off onto a tangent. Where does this come from and why should we go down this road?

 

First of all, you don't seem to know if the LCD was replaced on that S2. Second do you have some kind of evidence that Leica mounts the cover glass into its cameras in a way that seals it significantly better than Canon does it? And if so, does that approach and engineering justify a $1200 fee to make this repair of a damaged cover glass? Third, if Leica's construction standards are so much higher, why did the screen get etched by the adhesive in the first place? Are there examples of this happening on 5D or other cameras?

[wildlightphoto]

Yes I read them and had read them previously. Talk about going off onto a tangent. Where does this come from and why should we go down this road?

 

First of all, you don't seem to know if the LCD was replaced on that S2. Second do you have some kind of evidence that Leica mounts the cover glass into its cameras in a way that seals it significantly better than Canon does it? And if so, does that approach and engineering justify a $1200 fee to make this repair of a damaged cover glass? Third, if Leica's construction standards are so much higher, why did the screen get etched by the adhesive in the first place? Are there examples of this happening on 5D or other cameras?

 

Alan, YOU brought the 5D into the thread, and YOU said the 5D way was how to engineer it. Based on my training and experience as an engineer, I'm offering an explanation for the difference in cost and a reason NOT to do anything the 5D way.

[AlanG]

Alan, YOU brought the 5D into the thread, and YOU said the 5D way was how to engineer it. Based on my training and experience as an engineer, I'm offering an explanation for the difference in cost and a reason NOT to do anything the 5D way.

 

Actually what I was asking was for more information on what was done since the OP said the LED was replaced.

 

I used a link to the 5D repair only to illustrate that replacing a cover glass on some cameras is not exactly a $1200 job. I was not comparing the cameras in any way. So how does Leica attach the cover glass and do you know if the LCD also need replacement?

 

Other cameras may be similar.

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/sis.html?_kw=Nikon+DSLR+D700+Outer+LCD+Screen+Display+Window+Glass+Replacement+Repair+part

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[wildlightphoto]

I only showed a link to the 5D only to illustrate that replacing a cover galss on some cameras is not exactly a $1200 job. I was not comparing the cameras in any way. So how does Leica attach the cover glass?

 

I agree that replacing a cover glass on a mid-grade, sort-of-weatherized, mass-production camera isn't a $1200 job. I'll bet the cost of putting the mirror back in the S2 costs more too, but on the S2 side of the comparison there aren't a lot of data points.

 

I don't see how anyone can logically compare the cost of a repair on the 5D with a superficially similar repair on a larger format, smaller production volume, top-of-the-line camera with demonstrably better field toughness and weather resistance. The field toughness and weather resistance is a direct result of different construction and different construction means different service and repair.

[AlanG]

I agree that replacing a cover glass on a mid-grade, sort-of-weatherized, mass-production camera isn't a $1200 job. I'll bet the cost of putting the mirror back in the S2 costs more too, but on the S2 side of the comparison there aren't a lot of data points.

 

I don't see how anyone can logically compare the cost of a repair on the 5D with a superficially similar repair on a larger format, smaller production volume, top-of-the-line camera with demonstrably better field toughness and weather resistance. The field toughness and weather resistance is a direct result of different construction and different construction means different service and repair.

 

I hope you'll post again when you can answer my questions.