Jump to content

Leica Upgrade program for M9 ( corrosion of sensor)


Stefan Daniel

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 480
  • Created
  • Last Reply

The percentage of cameras affected is very low, to the extent that Leica prefers to exchange the sensor twice if needed over waiting for a final solution, although they are obviously working hard on it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The percentage of cameras affected is very low, to the extent that Leica prefers to exchange the sensor twice if needed over waiting for a final solution, although they are obviously working hard on it.

 

I sincerely doubt there is any certainty on either issue.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I sincerely doubt there is any certainty on either issue.

I'm sure it can be sorted out technically, as ever, it's just a matter of cost.

 

What I really wonder is where the fault lies contractually between Leica and the sensor manufacturer (ergo who is paying), it may not be Leica's problem at all or, more likely, there has been an agreement to share the problem to keep everyone in the best light possible... under the circumstances.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been wondering the same thing. If it's a specification issue, integral to Leica's design, then the supplier may have an out. Much will depend on what was discussed during the design development and specification of the order. I suspect Leica made the decisions and the cover glass manufacturer simply filled the order.

 

The commercial relationship is more likely to rule the day than any legal rights.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've been wondering the same thing. If it's a specification issue, integral to Leica's design, then the supplier may have an out. Much will depend on what was discussed during the design development and specification of the order. I suspect Leica made the decisions and the cover glass manufacturer simply filled the order.

 

The commercial relationship is more likely to rule the day than any legal rights.

 

Someone, somewhere must have given some specification for the glass though... or maybe not, I suppose. Possibly thinking about light transmission and other things, rather than its resistance to corrosion.

 

Ultimately it is unlikely that we will every really know.

 

Mike.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I booked mine in in December, and was then asked by Wetzlar last week to send it either to them, or to the local distributor. It's on its way, but to be honest I have no expectations as to when it will be dealt with. If you consider the number of M9s, M-Es and Monochroms sold, this is an open ended hole that Leica is standing over. Some patience is in order, I'd say. They have said they'll fix the problem, and I believe we can trust that assurance.

 

This issue has dented people's confidence in the CCD sensor based cameras (it has dented mine), but the reality is as Jaap says - you can keep using your camera, and in most cases a bit of post-processing will fix the problem. When it gets too much, Leica has said they will fix it, or give you a deal on an upgrade, and I think you can rely on that. I don't think rushing to get your camera assessed will really achieve anything other than increasing your stress.

 

Cheers

John

 

Update - my M9 has been assessed as "beyond economic repair". I've been offered an "upgrade" at a fair price (works out as about €3,000 towards a new camera, which I can't complain about).

 

So, Leica has acted promptly, as promised and in a more than fair manner. I can't complain - the problem has been resolved and I remain a loyal customer (though perhaps a little nervous about their digital products - I still have three of them).

 

Cheers

John

Link to post
Share on other sites

Update - my M9 has been assessed as "beyond economic repair". I've been offered an "upgrade" at a fair price (works out as about €3,000 towards a new camera, which I can't complain about).

 

So, Leica has acted promptly, as promised and in a more than fair manner. I can't complain - the problem has been resolved and I remain a loyal customer (though perhaps a little nervous about their digital products - I still have three of them).

 

Cheers

John

 

For the sake of clarity, was your problem just a sensor corrosion issue?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes.

 

Well, I'm a bit lost then. How can it be "beyond economic repair"? There either must have been more to it than that or the Leica offer to change the sensor as often as necessary is not as straightforward as it appears to be.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

Mike

Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't know. It may be the way that Leica deals with customers who've expressed a preference for an "upgrade".

 

Here is my experience.

 

I discovered that my sensor was affected - 4 scratch like lines on the sensor with the white bubbles along them. I advised Leica of the issue, and I told them I wanted an "upgrade". They asked me to send the camera in. I sent it to Wetzlar, and in a few days they came back to me saying the camera was beyond economic repair, and they gave me two options - (1) an attractive trade (as a goodwill gesture) or (2) return the camera to me as is. Interestingly, replacing the sensor wasn't an option.

 

The camera was in immaculate condition (signs of light use), and you could really only see the damage to the sensor at f/22 and infinity against a plain background like the sky. But, it was also deteriorating.

 

I don't know why repair wasn't offered as an option - maybe they don't have sensors at the moment, or more likely they were responding to my request for an upgrade price. I have no doubt that had I gone back to them insisting on a sensor replacement, they would have come to the party.

 

I hope this clarifies my experience. Leica was prompt and helpful.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Update - my M9 has been assessed as "beyond economic repair". I've been offered an "upgrade" at a fair price (works out as about €3,000 towards a new camera, which I can't complain about).

 

So, Leica has acted promptly, as promised and in a more than fair manner. I can't complain - the problem has been resolved and I remain a loyal customer (though perhaps a little nervous about their digital products - I still have three of them).

 

Cheers

John

 

Out of curiosity and lack of USD equivalents... Did you "upgrade" to the M or the M-P? What are those currently selling for (not MSRP) in NZ?

 

Thanks!

Jeff G.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Like the Digilux 2. It would be a good idea for Leica to buy possible surplus sensors in 2020 for next to nothing, to ensure serviceability well into the second, maybe third, decade.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Like the Digilux 2. It would be a good idea for Leica to buy possible surplus sensors in 2020 for next to nothing, to ensure serviceability well into the second, maybe third, decade.

 

Gosh... :p speaking of the '30s (in the sense of 2030s) as a not so distant timeframe, makes me feeling someway old... :o... but I think that on Dec. 31 2029 I will welcome those '30s with a picture taken with a "century" lens of mine... Hektor 73 # 129.006 could be the right one... (no doubt that there will be, and I will have, some camera to fit it onto :cool:)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...