Dust inside of my Q - anybody else with this problem?

[jaapv]

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Yes - but it is hard to imagine a piece of lint entering the camera body.

[Mike Rawcs]

Yes - but it is hard to imagine a piece of lint entering the camera body.

So probably an unfortunate one-off.

 

Mike.

[digitalfx]

So probably an unfortunate one-off.

 

Mike.

um, lets see...just one person has reported this...hmmm. Yes, why is it anything else since only one person has reported a problem? This should be considered a very unfortunate incident...but no reason for panic.

 

I don't baby my camera and work in dusty environments. I clean dust off the exterior of camera every day...so far the sensor is spotless.

 

[thighslapper]

ditto with a few of us with X-V's ..... mostly hairs by the look of the images on that thread ...... turnaround from Solms (before the Wetzlar move) was about 10 days from what I recall. 

 

usually left over from assembly ...... so if nothing appears after the first few week use your camera will probably be clear for the rest of its life.......

[kkonkkrete]

KK , if you like to dissaembly the DP1 by yourself , read the post of "Johan" below, in a same topic (I translate)

http://www.chassimages.com/forum/index.php?topic=123674.0

 

"Hi , broke  the camera DP1 (the sensor died after a fall), I disassembled to keep only the lens ..... bah it not easy

especially as you can not remove the lens from the front , lens must be removed to get to the sensor.....

must remove all the cards and connectors to get there....

So takes courage and a lot of patience"

 

Best

Henry

 

Haha, not likely ... if dust becomes a problem on the Merrill, it'll probably be time for me to retire the camera, it's served me so well (apart from the damn slow autofocus) ... plus it was only about 1/5th the price of a Q.

[MikeChadwick]

I've also got dust on the sensor. Spoke with the store I bought it from and they are getting a response from Leica. I've asked for a replacement which doesn't seem unreasonable!

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[viramati]

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Oh dear. Who knows how many people already own the Q but one can only presume that it will be only be a medium sized proportion of them who write here on the Leica forum and we already have 2 dust problems. Not exactly encouraging. Could be a serious problem for Leica if it turns out that dust is getting into the camera so easily after only a few weeks of use.

[Guest ralf.]

No replacement -Leuca told me to return the camera, they will clean it. 

 

In aanother German forum a third case is reporter.

 

I don't think it is a real big problem.  With my opening post I only wanted to know: Am I the only one? Is it normal or not? I don't have big experience with compact cameras (owned a Sony RX1R for some months, without problems), I thought, I am safe of dust with such a product like the Leica Q. 

[wolfejosh]

Reporting a dust issue too.

 

Have been loving the Leica Q since purchase 2 months ago in mid June 2015. 

BUT: Noticed a speck this week, which was confirmed today in the Leica store in NYC (SoHo) that is possibly dust or other particle on the sensor.

It shows up on all pictures making the camera unusable.

Since it is single-body camera and you cannot remove the lens to clean it yourself, this is a BIG problem. 

However, the BIGGER problem is the camera is apparently so new that even Leica official service (in NJ, who have otherwise been super nice and accomodating) have said don't even bother sending it yet as THEY don't even have the tools to clean it. I would think its just professionally removing the lens and using an air blower or brush but am shocked that I am stuck with a very expensive and new Leica Q that is a brick i cannot use until seemingly HQ sends the tools to service centers to fix!  Huge bummer, especially before a big family kids vacation ;(

 

Has anyone else had this issue? Does anyone have a workaround or suggestion?

[cloneroom]

Hi Guys,
 
I to have just noticed dust on my Leica Q Sensor.

One is a large one similar to the first image posted by Qnipser.

Let me start by saying  I tape over the speaker and mic holes before even inserting the battery.
So i have no idea how the dust got into the camera. i am assuming via the lens.

 

Will be contacting Leica Australia first thing in the morning.

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[sturkel]

Wow in such a short posting seems to be an issue.  Thanks for the tape idea on the mic and speakers will do the same.  Be interesting to see any other forums if there is more to this then we see here.

[cloneroom]

Contacted Leica Australia to explain my issue. Very efficient and polite, request I send it to their repair centre.

 

Rick at DigiDirect Brisbane was wonderful and very helpful organising my camera to be sent strait away. Always get fantastic service from them, it's the number one reason I purchase locally. I can't speak highly enough of DigiDirect in Brisbane.

 

Sensor will be cleaned, if it is a filter issue, apparently will be sent to Germany.

 

I am still at odds as to how the dust got into the camera. I had taped over the mic and speaker holes before ever using the camera. I suspect it is entering via the lens housing. This in itself is very troubling, how often will this happen ?

 

Will keep everyone posted with the progress.

[dangorange]

Curious, did you notice this right away, or have you had the camera for a length of time? I'm wondering, did the camera deliver with the dust present(less worrying, and makes more sense) or have you taken successful pictures with it over some time and then discovered this issue, which would be more of a concern. 

[cloneroom]

I was looking at some of my earlier images from the last 8 weeks and the answer to your question is no.

The images show the sensor is clean, it only seems to have happened over the last week or so as far as I  can tell.

I would need to go back through everything to see when it first started to appear.

 

So the problem was not pre-purchase but progressive.

[Guest]

I would be annoyed to spend that much on a camera and find dust on the sensor that I can't just remove myself.

Yes that is the point. Such an expensive piece of equipment and you then have no chance yourself to remove the dust. Which is why I do not like fixed lens cameras.

[earleygallery]

I've told this already - I've had dust appear in most of the fixed lens cameras I've owned in the past. I had a PanaLeica C type which got so bad I couldn't use the camera, so as it was worth little by then I decided to try and clean it myself.

 

Firstly, I was surprised at just how much dust and fluff had accumulated inside the camera body - amazing how it gets in there, but it does!

 

The sensor in a fixed lens camera is part of the lens assembly, imagine a small panel screwed to the back of a lens. Dust had been drawn through the join onto the sensor (remember a sensor has a high static charge so it's like a magnet for dust).

 

The answer to this issue would be to seal the camera body ideally, so that dust simply cannot get in (weather sealing would do it presumably). Or, at least, have a dust proof seal between sensor and lens.

 

I know some people think that the dust gets in via the lens - I'm not saying it's impossible but I think it's less likely especially on a fixed (non zoom) lens like the Q has.

[lerkrel]

Another one with dust problems here. It's very annoying to notice the dust just in the middle of a trip... Let's see what Leica tell me to do.

[WTRP]

I don't think Leica advertised the Q as a dust and moisture proof camera.  Buyer beware.

[lerkrel]

It wasn't advertised as a dust proof camera, but it's not normal to have more dust inside my Q in 3 months than using my former A7II changing lenses in the middle of the street.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[40mm f/2]

I find dust problems on a fixed lens camera unacceptable. I had to send in my Sigma DP1 (which had a retractable lens) twice but I have not seen it with my DP3 Merrill (not retractable). The Q has a lens with only 2 moving internal lens groups  So the sensor/lens assembly could be have made completely dust and weather proof. Is it a design flaw or did the dust happen during assembly?