Cleaning of sensor dust

[Daedalus2000]

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Hi everyone,

 

I am considering a second hand Leica Q and upon testing I found that it has some dust and hair on the sensor. I know that Leica can clean it (I think they do it locally in London now) but can someone who had the experience of cleaning a Q sensor tell me if everything went ok or if this operation may create other problems, e.g. with the lens alignment, AF system etc. Basically is it something simple to do, or does cleaning the sensor carry extra risks? And did the cleaning remove the problem, or did you find more dust later? 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

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[jaapv]

The Q is a fixed lens camera. The sensor cannot be reached for normal cleaning like for instance the M, it means dismantling by Leica Wetzlar. I would advise you to leave the hassle to the seller or to consider buying another camera.

[Voxen]

I agree, don't bother buying a Q with dust issues.

[Daedalus2000]

Thank you for the advice, but I have been told that Leica can actually do it locally now and I read in other threads that some members of the forum had it cleaned there.

 

Given how difficult it is to find a Q now at a good price, I am really considering buying it if the cleaning operation is a simple one with minimal risks.

 

Has anyone had the experience of cleaning their Q at Leica in London?

[Bart van Hofwegen]

I would be a bit worried that the dust is there (if it really is) in the first place. And hair?? How did it get there? Is there a cause for that? I should think normally this does not happen with the Q. But I am not an expert, I own just one Q...

[Daedalus2000]

I would be a bit worried that the dust is there (if it really is) in the first place. And hair?? How did it get there? Is there a cause for that? I should think normally this does not happen with the Q. But I am not an expert, I own just one Q...

 

It is there. I took a picture of a clear sky at f8/f11 and the dust/hair is clearly visible. I am not sure how it got there, but I know it can happen, but I also know that it can be cleaned. And that is why I am trying to assess how big of an operation it is... The easy solution of course is not to buy it, but I am trying to explore all avenues..

Edited November 26, 2016 by Daedalus2000

[Macberg]

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I the warranty is still valid? Then the cleaning should be for free. From what I read in the German fourm, it can take a while though. If I were you, I would take time (and maybe costs) into consideration.

It could also be, that Leica CS will find out that there is another issue which is responsible for the dust/hair problem and might not be covered by the warranty...

Is the price really that good?

[Daedalus2000]

Thank you to everyone for your advice, which I decided to follow so I passed on the Q. I may try to find another one, but that experience has made me a bit more worried about fixed lens cameras

[viramati]

I do believe Leica mayfair can do this as when mine got dust on the sensor they said they could but at the time had no new leatherette coverings (this need to be replaced as part of the operation) so it was sent off to Germany.

[Macberg]

 

It could also be, that Leica CS will find out that there is another issue which is responsible for the dust/hair problem and might not be covered by the warranty...

Is the price really that good?

@Daedalus2000

 

...by "another issue" I meant an issue caused by the pre-owner (then the Leica warranty will not cover the work that has to be done, of course). I did not mean that the camera's quality was bad in general - on the contrary.

Edited November 26, 2016 by Macberg

[Big T]

Had my Q for 14 months now. Gets used in "ALL" conditions. I do not baby the camera.

A month ago I noticed a "spot" in my pics but only under "abnormal" conditions.

Camera sent to the Australian Leica service agent and came back all clean and serviced.

And the best bit "no charge".

I will continue to use my Q in all conditions.

PS: I have had two other fixed lens cameras that had the same dust issue (X100 & G9) and they were fixed by the manufactures at no charge.

PSS: I don't blame any of the cameras for the spots. As I said I do not baby my cameras. They are made to be used.

[Reonder]

I have the same problem. Have been to Leica Wetzlar. Cost 450€. Unacceptable for a design failure!

[jaapv]

That cannot have been just dust removal.  

Anyway, all fixed lens cameras can get sensor dust. Leica is not unique in that respect.

[Herr Barnack]

Can anyone tell us what sensor cleaning on a Q or Q2 costs when done by Leica Wetzlar?

I'm also wondering if Leica NJ can do a Q or Q2 sensor cleaning for those of us in the U.S. and what they charge.

[Craig Clark]

I got a really good deal on a leica Q last year that had dust issues.  It was pretty bad, I could see probably 10 dust spots and 2 small fibers or hairs at anything smaller than F4.  I sent it to NJ and they serviced it for $280 if memory serves correct.  It took 3 weeks and that was during COVID at its height....I still got a good deal with what I paid plus the $280....and once they serviced it I never had another issue.  If the price is right I wouldnt necessarily consider the dust to be a deal breaker.  with the cleaning and all I still paid way less than what they are going for now.   

all of this being said, I had leica dc send it to new jersey which may have expedited the process.  I am not sure it works the same way if you mail directly to them.  

[codocee]

NJ is $280 but if you’re sending it yourself, call and get time estimate on turnaround.

Once returned from a sensor clean, gaffer any open ports. The dust entered somehow. Couldn’t hurt!

Some early Q’s had dust issues, serial numbers in the 49xxxx range I believe. Beyond that, not so much.

[wlaidlaw]

Am I correct in thinking that the Q2 has improved environmental sealing? If so that would be a good reason for going for a Q2 rather than Q. I am puzzled about the dust on the Q, since it is not as if it has an extending lens like a zoom permanently attached lens camera has or an extending lens like many point and shoots have. Where would dust enter the camera - through the setting rings on the lens? 

The Panaleicas, are known for failing lens extension/auto-focus mechanisms, possibly due to friction from dust between the lens tube sections and their seals. Three of my wife's Panaleicas have died from this and that is in spite of cleaning dust off the lens tubes and their seals by me (C-lux, C-Lux 2 and V-Lux 20). The last one died on a trip to India 18 months ago, where no PanaLeicas or Panasonics were on sale in the shops we looked at in Jodhpur, so we bought a Sony instead. 

Wilson

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb wlaidlaw:

Where would dust enter the camera - through the setting rings on the lens? 

Unlikely in the case of the Q2, as the last lens near the sensor would block the dust to enter the cameras body.

All my fixed zoom lens compact cameras had sooner or later problems with Dust inside the camera and my guess is the long extension when zooming sucking in dust.
As they are made cheaply they are not sealed enough and, yes, both my Panasonic LX100 had dust sucked in while my Canon G series less.

One big advantage of IF (Internal Focus) lenses is that the lens length don't vary as the internal lenses move, not the length of the lens.
This avoid "breathing" when zooming and this will eliminate sucking in humidity and particles as the lenses move inside the lens.

Chris
 

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[jaapv]

13 hours ago, wlaidlaw said:

Am I correct in thinking that the Q2 has improved environmental sealing? If so that would be a good reason for going for a Q2 rather than Q. I am puzzled about the dust on the Q, since it is not as if it has an extending lens like a zoom permanently attached lens camera has or an extending lens like many point and shoots have. Where would dust enter the camera - through the setting rings on the lens? 

The Panaleicas, are known for failing lens extension/auto-focus mechanisms, possibly due to friction from dust between the lens tube sections and their seals. Three of my wife's Panaleicas have died from this and that is in spite of cleaning dust off the lens tubes and their seals by me (C-lux, C-Lux 2 and V-Lux 20). The last one died on a trip to India 18 months ago, where no PanaLeicas or Panasonics were on sale in the shops we looked at in Jodhpur, so we bought a Sony instead. 

Wilson

Any dust that is present on assembly or enters the body during use can migrate to the sensor.

[wlaidlaw]

Since returning to Wetzlar, I thought camera and lens assembly was now done in a dust free environment. I used to be amazed to see the workforce at Solms, handling circuit boards and assembling cameras with bare hands and uncovered hair. Every other facility I have been round, which handled small electrical components and built precision equipment, the workforce wore gloves and hair coverings. 

Wilson