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Leica Upgrade program for M9 ( corrosion of sensor)


Stefan Daniel

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could someone kindly review how i check the m9 for a sensor problem? How do i shoot a frame looking for it,and what should i see?

 

Use a pinhole 0.2 mm diam, from eBay, on your bodycap. shoot moving the camera around a +1 stop surface. ie 1 extra exposure of clear blue sky. Clouds, white walls, ceilings, anything is OK though...just move that camera for those seconds.

 

The pinhole can make you paranoid. It shows up everything!!! Can review in-camera zoom on LCD...do another clean if needed. It should show sensor faults on the computer very well...perhaps someone will do the experiment for us.

 

Leica M Dusless Pinhole Lens Rangefinder Bessa R2 R3 M9 M8 M6 M4 M5 M7 | eBay

 

 

cheers Dave S :)

 

PS easy to make yourself, with aluminium from a soft drink can, and a dressmakers needle, sandpaper, scissors.

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Here is an image of my M8 sensor checked with a body cap pinhole. The sensor has been cleaned as good as ...except for an errant fibre...which finally blew off with a Rocket blast.

 

The clean (?) sensor, 0.2mm pinhole..and a 2:1 enlargement of the offending fibre.

 

cheers Dave S :)

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Here is an image of the sensor before cleaning. The pinhole method hugely sharpens and defines any spots at about f 200.

As I said can make you paranoid.

These spots on an f22 test ...many would pass.

 

cheers Dave S :)

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These spots on an f22 test ...many would pass.

 

 

It seems you are already a bit paranoid. Too aggressive cleaning may lead to sensor problems, once in a month the Rocket Blower seems on average ok to me, unless you cover the Gulf War

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It seems you are already a bit paranoid. Too aggressive cleaning may lead to sensor problems, once in a month the Rocket Blower seems on average ok to me, unless you cover the Gulf War

 

 

Agree. I have had my M-E for almost two years and have probably cleaned it with the Arctic Butterfly three times, and only because it felt like a good idea, not due to dust on the pictures. I change lenses frequently but luckily I haven't had any problems with dust on the sensor.

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Agree. I have had my M-E for almost two years and have probably cleaned it with the Arctic Butterfly three times, and only because it felt like a good idea, not due to dust on the pictures. I change lenses frequently but luckily I haven't had any problems with dust on the sensor.

 

I did that also about 3 times in 2 years with the arctic butterfly. Since the delamination problem however, I decided to let it clean by my dealer so he can do the MRI scan for that too. I stay away as far as possible from a responsibility that Leica has.

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Hi Heman, Jono, Otto and Brian

 

Agree...totally a*al. Especially seeing I use most of my lenses at f8 or less...never f16...:D

 

The point being, I suppose, is the ease of using a pinhole bodycap...you can check in-field..no computer.

My sensor had some grease marks so gave it a good clean with Sensopen, vacuumed chamber, and light brush with charged sensor brush.

 

Attached are some images with the pinhole (0.2mm diam). By the way a dressmaking pin is 0.6mm...even that would do.

 

Pinhole photography is much better with 4"x5" negs...but I digress.

 

The images are OOC, M8 sensor (of course) first at 31 seconds, second at 63 seconds; very early morning light 6:00 am. We'd love to see some M9 images with pinhole. You'll see spots which need cloning if you zoom in enough. Infinite depth of field from pinhole.

 

cheers Dave S :)

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I had a problem with my M8 last June. I would get only half f each frame exposed. Leica NJ replaced the board and the sensor (free parts, $500 labor). It seems that a defect on the board caused the sensor to go bad.

 

Raid

 

One thing that is not yet clear is whether or not Leica is replacing the sensor with exactly the same unit. Problem therefore not solved?

 

The sensor in my M9 has now failed TWICE and is dead right now. My problem has not been subtle corrosion but a complete and sudden failure of the sensor unit both times. See photo.

 

If I send it back will I just be getting another identical sensor? Will it fail again?

 

I would like some clear idea that Leica understand what is going on with these sensors and they have actually solved the problem so that when I send it in for repair this time it stays repaired.

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And?

 

He wrote me that he will gladly visit with RFF, and he asked me to have a phone chat with him after January 5th. Then he wished me a happy new year.

 

==================

Sehr geehrter Herr Raid,

 

vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht. Ich schaue mir das rangefinderforum gerne an.

 

Können wir im neuen Jahr ab dem 05.01.2015 telefonieren?

 

Danke im Voraus und alles Gute für das neue Jahr.

 

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards

 

cid:image001.png@01CFFF4E.4C0CC130

Alfred Schopf

Vorstandsvorsitzender / CEO

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I'd guess it said something like they're sorry he had a problem, Leics is doing everything it can, and it remains committed to supporting its loyal customers.

 

No mention of camera for life.

 

:-)

 

PS - Ah, Raid beat me to it.

 

I did not say that I had a problem, and they did not say they were sorry for it.

I conveyed to him that there many Leica users of their M9 cameras, and that if they left Leica, and they sold off their Leica equipment, it is unlikely that they would return to Leica.

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