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Leica Upgrade program for M9 ( corrosion of sensor)


Stefan Daniel

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So, my passion for M9 is almost dissapering despite its great camera anyway. But...

Ok, you can imagine what i feel

Sorry to hear that. Are you going to give up on the M9 and get a refund or exchange for another M240? I have to admit to barely using my M9 nowadays. In addition to my M240, I use my M8 for infrared photography and my M4 for black and white film more than I do my M9 now. I am going to wait until either they have a non-corroding sensor for the M9 or wait until the successor to the M240 comes out, hopefully with a much better EVF and part exchange my M9 for that. 

 

Wilson

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Sorry to hear that. Are you going to give up on the M9 and get a refund or exchange for another M240? I have to admit to barely using my M9 nowadays. In addition to my M240, I use my M8 for infrared photography and my M4 for black and white film more than I do my M9 now. I am going to wait until either they have a non-corroding sensor for the M9 or wait until the successor to the M240 comes out, hopefully with a much better EVF and part exchange my M9 for that. 

 

Wilson

To be honest I'am frustrated and don't know what to do... Its a brand new camera and i paid full price for it so i don't ready to pay another 3300 Euro for upgrade for another 240...That would be stupid decision. 

the question is - refund or exchange for another M9-P and live with that sensor issue forever.

How the corrosion could appear on brand new camera? Now all explanations about wet and humid climatem sensor cleaning etc sounds like a b/s...

Sorry

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To be honest I'am frustrated and don't know what to do... Its a brand new camera and i paid full price for it so i don't ready to pay another 3300 Euro for upgrade for another 240...That would be stupid decision. 

the question is - refund or exchange for another M9-P and live with that sensor issue forever.

How the corrosion could appear on brand new camera? Now all explanations about wet and humid climatem sensor cleaning etc sounds like a b/s...

Sorry

Surprised there are still new M9-P's around. Not all sensor's are affected yet so if you really like and want this model why not at least try another. If that one is also "bad" you can get refund then. If it is ok as it probably will be you can keep it in the knowledge that Leica have given a clear longterm commitment to support owners with sensor issues.

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To be honest I'am frustrated and don't know what to do... Its a brand new camera and i paid full price for it so i don't ready to pay another 3300 Euro for upgrade for another 240...That would be stupid decision. 

the question is - refund or exchange for another M9-P and live with that sensor issue forever.

How the corrosion could appear on brand new camera? Now all explanations about wet and humid climatem sensor cleaning etc sounds like a b/s...

Sorry

 

Trade it for a Monochrom. 

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Agreed.

 

But make sure it is the new MM2, that way you are using an identical platform, so no readjusting to different button layout, less good screen etc... plus any accessories and spare batteries etc are the same... AND no worries about future issues with the sensor.

 

Buying a M9 series camera knowing that it will almost certainly need to go back at some point in the future for a sensor change and maybe having to wait for several months isn't something I would set myself up for...

 

And I wouldn't want to buy a used one for the same reasons. Maybe someone who is very knowledgeable and reads this site may be a little more forgiving of the camera... especially if for some reason they like the CCD sensor... but you are narrowing down your potential future buyers if you ever decide to upgrade. So it will be harder to sell, other than on here, and the price will reduce accordingly.

 

If I had an M9 I would be collecting the names of the signatories of the 'I love my CCD' petition and contacting them when I was ready to sell...

 

... now thats an idea..! Maybe that was the original reason for the petition... a list of potential customers!!!! :lol: :lol:  :lol: (Mind you, I wonder how many would actually hand over the cash for one if offered one at a sensible price for the seller?)

 

I think it is a no brainer.

 

PX via the upgrade offer and buy a M246 or wait for the new M and upgrade then.

 

Life is too short to end up with a potential can of worms - whether it will be supported by replacement sensors or not... it is still a trip away for a period when you should be using it.

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To be honest I'am frustrated and don't know what to do... Its a brand new camera and i paid full price for it so i don't ready to pay another 3300 Euro for upgrade for another 240...That would be stupid decision. 

the question is - refund or exchange for another M9-P and live with that sensor issue forever.

How the corrosion could appear on brand new camera? Now all explanations about wet and humid climatem sensor cleaning etc sounds like a b/s...

Sorry

You can let Leica fix your camera. Your camera ought to be good for quite some time after that, and the only inconvenience is having to wait for your new acquisition.  I understand your disappointment, but the only thing you're actually losing is some time.

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June 2011:

One of my digital bodies is a Leica M9 which I bought brand new in a Leica shop in June 2011.

The camera has been great until about half a year before the 2 year warranty expired the viewfinder display failed.

 

 

Leica Solms has taken care of the repair under warranty and also at that time replaced the sensor for a new one under the program that started back then in regards of replacing defective sensors at no charge (I never saw in my photographs until that repair that the original sensor had any defects).

 

Only about 3 months after the sensor replacement an issue appeared in images with small apertures what looked like a large scratch.

The camera hardly had any use since the repair and just one standard sensor wet cleaning (as I do with professional materials for years with Nikon high end digitals, my Leica M8.2, EPSON RD-1, Leica MM, Leica S2, Mamiya ZD and others).

 

The mark curiously does not resemble a straight line as it would do if caused by a wrongfully executed cleaning, but rather a bow shaped structure as would never happen during sensor cleaning with made to fit new sensor swabs I used until that point.

 

September 2014:

I brought the camera into Leica Wetzlar on the first opportunity in to have them inspect the sensor, honestly not knowing how this mark in the images could have been produced, yet excluding the possibility of a mechanical damage due to wrong cleaning as of the characteristics of the mark.

 

Leica's response was to quote me a full cost sensor replacement at the cost of 1900,- EUR !!!

As you might imagine I was very confused by this offer and strictly refused to have this work at that cost done to the camera as I do not see myself or any any circumstances under my control to have caused the issue (the camera as all my gear is treated very well, has at all times a lens mounted, is stored in a humidifier when not in use, has been cleaned professionally with appropriate professional high grade materials - I even inquired with a Leica technician at one of my visits to the factory what cleaning methods and materials were advised to be used and it has been stated to me that the use of a Pentax sensor stick and the use of IPA and sensor swabs is recommended and used by the factory).

 

From that moment on I completely STOPPED ANY SENSOR CLEANING of ALL my Leica digital cameras (including M8.2, M9, MM, Leica S2).

I keep cleaning my Nikon digital cameras (currently a Nikon D3, I use since ~2009 and a D800E I use for a year with none of these showing ANY defects, the same as my M8.2, which I use - and clean since ~2009).

I kept using that Leica M9 occasionally from that moment on (mostly shooting fast lenses at wide apertures to mask the issue).

 

Mai 2015:

Now fast forward to Mai 2015, having used the "defective" sensor Leica M9 for another few months occasionally (without any cleaning whatsoever since the quoted costs of 1900,- EUR where presented to me and the camera having spent most of that time in humidified storage), I have used the camera again on a trip.

To my horror when I came back from the trip, additional marks, similar in character but entirely in different orientation to the initial mark have appeared.

The camera is now with these additional marks on each photograph, shot at smaller than ~f4 aperture in unusable condition to me and of course with substantially reduced resale value should I decide to let it go.

 

The 1900 EUR quote was presented to me well before the entire Leica M9 sensor corrosion issue was made public and official statements have been issued.

The situation is now different it appears, yet I am completely confused as of the status I am in now with this camera.

 

 

Here is my questions: does anyone have a similar experience?

How do typical marks on defective Leica M9 sensors look like?

I know there are some sensors which show a "christalized" structure as a defect. Are there typical defects that fall under this issue that look more like bow shaped "lines" as in my case?

 

I will see if I can upload a sample image after producing a proper test image later on.

I am happy about any info or help in this matter as I am clearly not seeing why a repair on this well treated camera body should end up on my side in regard of how I treated this camera.

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Here is my questions: does anyone have a similar experience?

How do typical marks on defective Leica M9 sensors look like?

I know there are some sensors which show a "christalized" structure as a defect. Are there typical defects that fall under this issue that look more like bow shaped "lines" as in my case?

 

Here's one mark on my M9P sensor (placed in the lower-left on the sensor), Leica is currently replacing it due to corrosion.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have just traded in my M9 to a M-P (240).  I unpacked it and starting reading the instruction manual through the weekend.  I hardly think I could have done a better deal selling my M9 - even if it had been top shape, to a better price.  I think the deal was good.
 

I am very impressed with my new M-P(240)!  Some camera!

 

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My MM has been diagnosed with corrosion when I took it in to Wetzlar. I was offered an upgrade to an M246 but I can't justify the 3480€ they want to upgrade. I have asked them to replace the sensor and the clock started ticking today. I was told to expect a wait of 'up to 4 weeks' but I know how fluid these Leica estimates can be. Has anyone had a sensor replaced in Wetzlar recently? What was your waiting time?

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I just returned from a 3 week tour of Ireland and noticed odd marks. Took it into Leica Mayfair and they confirmed corrosion - m9 is now back with Leica. Leica Mayfair felt that wait times had improved recently and were asking for cameras to be sent straight away for the fix.

 

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I have just traded in my M9 to a M-P (240).  I unpacked it and starting reading the instruction manual through the weekend.  I hardly think I could have done a better deal selling my M9 - even if it had been top shape, to a better price.  I think the deal was good.

 

I am very impressed with my new M-P(240)!  Some camera!

 

 

You won't be disappointed !! I did the same 3 months ago, and I am very happy with the M-P.

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