what happened to my sensor ?!

[proenca]

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Hi there,

 

I "abandoned" my faithful Leica M9 for a year now - A Sony A7RII arrived ( well, I bought it ) and high iso and focus peaking was the thing. 

 

But the novelty passed. I missed my M9 and in the last few outings, I left the Sony at home and picked the M9 and fell in love again and again with Leica.

 

Ordered a 50mm Lux ASPH ( which I'm waiting to arrive ) and thought : let me see the sensor and send it to my dealer ( official Leica dealer in Portugal ) to clean it.

 

So I found a lot of dust spots - thats for sure - but... what seems to be scratches and a crack ?! what the heck ?

 

I cleaned the sensor twice on this camera - well, I sent it to Leica official dealer in Portugal to clean. I never ever did it myself.

 

And I bought the camera spanking new on the launch day.

 

So what happened to my sensor ? is this the dreaded corrosion thing ? is this sensor scratch or cracks covered by Leica as goodwill ?

 

 

I'm gutted that I bought a 3000 euros lens ( 50 lux asph ) that is to arrive and now I discovered that my camera the sensor cracked.

 

When shotting with the lenses wide open, its barely noticeable and when I stopped it down, I can see dark streaks of these cracks.

 

 

A - seems a crack

B & C : seems to be deep scratches 

Oval : cant really tell

 

What is the email ( Leica Germany ) to send this ? How to see if this can be covered by Leica goodwill ?

 

I've been a Leica user for long long time ( M8, M9, S2 ) and this leaves me gutted.

 

Thanks for your help

Edited February 1, 2017 by proenca

[mjh]

Looks like someone tried to clean the sensor with a wire brush or a similar implement. I couldn’t say I’ve ever seen something like that.

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[nobbylon]

It really does look like someone has done some serious scratching on this! Have you done a test shot / white wall shot?

[pop]

Take a test shot: a white wall at about 1m distance, focusing to infinity, stopped down to f:16. In the test shot, look at one of the linear marks at a magnification of 1:1. If the apparent scratches look like rows of black dots with white borders, it's likely that your sensor is corroded and Leica will fix it free of charge.

 

I think if those were cleaning marks, they ought to be parallel.

[250swb]

At the very least you have 'cracked sensor syndrome'. This was soon forgotten about (judging by the replies so far) but it was rife at one time and Leica replaced all the affected sensors for free. So you are due a new sensor anyway, and if the other marks are scratches or sensor corrosion it will kill two (or three) birds with one stone. So arrange to send it back to Leica either through the dealer you bought it from or direct. 

Edited February 1, 2017 by 250swb

[jaapv]

It does not look like the cracked sensors we used to have. That was a corner broken off. But does appear to be as bad a case of corrosion as I have ever seen anyway.

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The upper right corner does appear to be cracked.

[jaapv]

Ah-you're right. Well, a double reason for replacement then.

[edwardkaraa]

Looks like corrosion to me, plus the crack.

[earleygallery]

Leica should replace your sensor due to the crack (known issue) and what looks like 'corrosion' or delaminating (also known issue).

 

But it does also appear to be badly scratched - I prefer to clean my sensors myself, not that I have to do it often, but I'm sure I will take more care than someone else. Learn to do it yourself next time.

[proenca]

First of all, thank you all for your replies.

 

I'm really gutted and hope that Leica replaces my sensor.

 

I just sold my A7RII to fund for the 50mm Lux ASPH.

 

I've sent the email to Customer.Care@leica-camera.com , is that correct ? They take 2-3 days to reply back, is that so ?

 

Thanks again and hope I can be back to Leica soon

 

GP

[stanoops]

First of all, thank you all for your replies.

 

I'm really gutted and hope that Leica replaces my sensor.

 

I just sold my A7RII to fund for the 50mm Lux ASPH.

 

I've sent the email to Customer.Care@leica-camera.com , is that correct ? They take 2-3 days to reply back, is that so ?

 

Thanks again and hope I can be back to Leica soon

 

GP

They will reply in 1-2 days. I just sent them two M9s with corroded sensors and they give me an two weeks estimated repair time, and also included in the goodwil arrangement the rangefinder cleaning and calibration and adjustments and cleaning of all parts of the cameras. Great service, great customer care.. Thank you Leica !

Great service

[Lord Lucan]

@proenca,

Stop flirting with Sony lady for too long. A year is too long.

I also flirt for a day or two.Thats all.

HERE.  <<<<<<<  Leica service and Support

TEL: +49 (0)6441-20800

[erl]

@proenca,

Stop flirting with Sony lady for too long. A year is too long.

I also flirt for a day or two.Thats all.

Flirting is fun and to be recommended!

I 'flirted' with Sony A7S more than a year ago and we still have a relationship, fantastic. "she' does things my M9-P cannot so has a welcome place in my stable. I am seriously looking at the M10, but the A7S is safe. I love my harem.

[Lord Lucan]

Erl, I suppose we have to accompany different mates.

[proenca]

@proenca,

Stop flirting with Sony lady for too long. A year is too long.

I also flirt for a day or two.Thats all.

HERE.  <<<<<<<  Leica service and Support

TEL: +49 (0)6441-20800

 

ahahahahahahah. you are absolutly correct.

 

the flirting is over. the M10 piggy bank has started and if all goes well, Wednesday my M9 will be in Leica Store Oporto ; if the M9 sensor is replaced for free ( which I hope, it does seem a crack and corrosion ), I have a 28mm F2 ASPH on hold in the Leica Store.

 

Not a bad come back : Sony sold to fund a 50mm Lux ASPH which is on its way, 28mm F2 ASPH on hold ... good to be back at Leica  !

[proenca]

Well, update.

 

Today the email came from Leica, they will replace the sensor ( and also the circuit board and printed circuit ? ) for free.

 

I'm still baffled to what and how happened to my sensor ( Leica Store, where I dropped my M9 said it seems a REALLY bad case of corrosion ) and now I eagerly await the return of my M9 from Solms, for two reasons :

 

1 - I sold my Sony A7rII for a 50mm Lux ASPH.

 

2 - since I got the M9 repaired for free, I got a good deal at the Leica Store for a brand spanking new 28mm Summilux ASPH 1.4. Heck, Leica honored my M9, which was 7 ( S-E-V-E-N.) years old and of course, out of warranty with a sensor, rangefinder and circuit board replacement, all for free. Seemed appropriate to celebrate by buying a new lens

 

So the Sony "flirt" is officially over and I'm back firmly to Leicaland... and already saving to either a WATE or M-D.... decisions decisions.

 

Leica Store Porto is like heaven. But being Leica Heaven, with silly pricetags. But Heaven nonetheless.

[Adam Bonn]

 

Leica Store Porto is like heaven. But being Leica Heaven, with silly pricetags. But Heaven nonetheless.

 

The Leica store in Porto is a wonderful place, from the gallery, to the displays of stripped down Leica cameras; too the actual cameras for sale...

 

I enjoy going in there very much, and I don't even own a Leica... Although Paulo is trying very hard to change that

 

Good (no, great) to hear that Leica have honoured the integrity of your camera so far after the original sale date, I know there's a goodwill programme for the sensor, but if I understand then they've also replaced the RF and circuit board, which is brilliant