Leica Ends Free Sensor Replacement for M9/Monochrom Bodies

[jaapv]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Perhaps one of the factors behind Leica's change in policy regarding sensor replacement is not so much to save money, but to finish the replacement process.  I'm seeing a lot of posts by those who are just now checking for the corrosion problem.  The August 15 end of free sensor replacement for cameras that have been in service for 5 or more years is prompting owners of those cameras to check for corrosion and send them in while they still can.  I have not seen a post reporting that a 5 year old sensor that has been routinely checked for corrosion has suddenly started to exhibit it, so perhaps if it has not appeared in five years it is unlikely to occur at all.  A poll on another forum showed that a majority of M9, MM, and M-E users had not experienced sensor corrosion.

 

My M9 and MM displayed the corrosion issue within two years of being placed in service.

Similar thoughts have occured to me. But would that not be  a bit machialvellian? A simple mail offering a free checkup would have sufficed.

[Luke_Miller]

Similar thoughts have occured to me. But would that not be  a bit machialvellian? A simple mail offering a free checkup would have sufficed.

 

 I think the free checkup offer has been out there for some time.  Possibly a mailed reminder would have prompted some, but without a cutoff date many might feel no need to take advantage of it.  

Edited May 23, 2017 by Luke_Miller

[IkarusJohn]

Haven't been on the forums for a while, nor have I checked my emails from Leica. So it was with great surprise and a little shock that they have announced the cut off date and subsequent price of replacement and service. Procrastination kept me from sending in my M9 for almost a year, so this has propelled me to do something. I'm not paying 900+ euros for something that Leica promised would be a free service for the life of the camera.

 

The local repair agent said that Leica owners were calling in droves, like it was the apocalypse. They also expressed surprise that Leica would retract a previous guarantee that the corroded sensors would be replaced for free for the life of the camera, as it is a manufacturing defect.

 

So now my M9 is awaiting inspection, and after the techs see the spotty awfulness, it will be another 6-8 weeks before it comes back. At least I won't be shelling out hundreds of euros.

I think this will be more common than Leica anticipated. The suggestion that most of the sensors are unaffected is wishful thinking. Leica's announcement will have flushed out a huge number of sensor failures.

 

The problematic cameras will be those that had replacements before the new, corrosion resistant sensors were available. There is little reason to suppose those sensors will also corrode. That is the nature of an inherent defect.

[Denys]

 

The problematic cameras will be those that had replacements before the new, corrosion resistant sensors were available. There is little reason to suppose those sensors will also corrode. That is the nature of an inherent defect.

 

Mine did!

[Jager]

I'm pretty sure John meant "The problematic cameras will be those that had replacements before the new, corrosion resistant sensors were available. There is little reason to suppose those sensors will NOT also corrode."

 

And, yeah, I agree... those guys get the worst deal of all, as their cameras are the least likely to exhibit sensor corrosion before Leica's August deadline.

[rafikiphoto]

Case in point here.   

[IkarusJohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I'm pretty sure John meant "The problematic cameras will be those that had replacements before the new, corrosion resistant sensors were available. There is little reason to suppose those sensors will NOT also corrode."

 

And, yeah, I agree... those guys get the worst deal of all, as their cameras are the least likely to exhibit sensor corrosion before Leica's August deadline.

 

 

Quite right.

 

Posting on the forum using an iPad has suddenly become very difficult ...

[imants]

The problem for Leica is that this all won't go away in a hurry there are too many out there who enjoy the image quality produced by the the M9  sensor ................though it may be flawed thinking that the CCD renders better than CMOS

Edited May 24, 2017 by epsonRD1

[mikemgb]

The problem for Leica is that this all won't go away in a hurry there are too many out there who enjoy the image quality produced by the the M9  sensor ................though it may be flawed thinking that the CCD renders better than CMOS

 

Flawed? I have owned both CCD and CMOS sensored cameras, I much prefer the CCD. I admit this is probably down to personal likes, but I don't consider those like to be flawed.

[imants]

Flawed? I have owned both CCD and CMOS sensored cameras, I much prefer the CCD. I admit this is probably down to personal likes, but I don't consider those like to be flawed.

 With a bit of Photoshop magic one couldn't pick  the difference between the 2 sensors......

[MarkP]

Perhaps one of the factors behind Leica's change in policy regarding sensor replacement is not so much to save money, but to finish the replacement process. 

 

 

 

Well that doesn't help the M9 users who aren't notified of this and will only find out when they bring in their camera with an imaging problem.

[MarkP]

 With a bit of Photoshop magic one couldn't pick  the difference between the 2 sensors......

 

But the CCD crowd may not think that way, or agree with you, or have your colour correction skills, or want to be bothered with PS when they get the result they want OOC with the CCD sensor.

Edited May 24, 2017 by MarkP

[imants]

 No skills required one preset will do the trick ......... bonus when using a m10 or 240 is better  high iso images with the m9 rendition   what's not to

[Luke_Miller]

Well that doesn't help the M9 users who aren't notified of this and will only find out when they bring in their camera with an imaging problem.

 

Leica will happily inspect and clean the sensor at no cost.  And replace it (currently free) if necessary.  As a registered user I received an email from Leica advising of  the new policy.  As broadly as the corrosion issue has been reported I imagine most M9, MM, M-E users are aware of it. And if their body is registered with Leica they most likely received the same notice I did.

 

I'm no apologist for Leica and am not happy to have experienced sensor corrosion on both my M9 and MM.  The sensor replacement for the M9 was quick and painless - the MM, not so much.  But as unhappy as I am with the situation I'm not sure what more can be reasonably expected of Leica.  I doubt that users of all the later model cameras are happy to experience slower repair times due to the CCD sensor replacement program.  So getting all the bodies in and the corroded sensors replaced helps everyone.  And in the US I think Leica's reputation is damaged as much by the Leica NJ "replacement experience" as by the sensor failure itself.

[pico]

A simple mail offering a free checkup would have sufficed.

 

A mail describing how to check it one's self would suffice. I think most of us have a sky or plain wall to photograph.

[pico]

And in the US I think Leica's reputation is damaged as much by the Leica NJ "replacement experience" as by the sensor failure itself.

 

I have not heard of the difficulty with Leica NJ. Do they do sensor replacements now?

[MarkP]

Leica will happily inspect and clean the sensor at no cost.  And replace it (currently free) if necessary.  As a registered user I received an email from Leica advising of  the new policy.  As broadly as the corrosion issue has been reported I imagine most M9, MM, M-E users are aware of it. And if their body is registered with Leica they most likely received the same notice I did.

 

I'm no apologist for Leica and am not happy to have experienced sensor corrosion on both my M9 and MM.  The sensor replacement for the M9 was quick and painless - the MM, not so much.  But as unhappy as I am with the situation I'm not sure what more can be reasonably expected of Leica.  I doubt that users of all the later model cameras are happy to experience slower repair times due to the CCD sensor replacement program.  So getting all the bodies in and the corroded sensors replaced helps everyone.  And in the US I think Leica's reputation is damaged as much by the Leica NJ "replacement experience" as by the sensor failure itself.

 

I too have had my Monochrom sensor checked and replaced (quickly and efficiently) in Dec last year for corrosion so minor it had not yet affected image quality (see posts above).  

 

As far as Leica are aware my old M9, which I no longer have, is still registered in my name. I have had NO communication from Leica regarding this announcement - I can't be the only one in that situation. 

[Denys]

 

 

As far as Leica are aware my old M9, which I no longer have, is still registered in my name. I have had NO communication from Leica regarding this announcement - I can't be the only one in that situation.

 

I had no communication either about the M9 registered to me..but it has the corrosion-free sensor - maybe that is the reason why..

[adan]

..... I have not seen a post reporting that a 5 year old sensor that has been routinely checked for corrosion has suddenly started to exhibit it, so perhaps if it has not appeared in five years it is unlikely to occur at all.  A poll on another forum showed that a majority of M9, MM, and M-E users had not experienced sensor corrosion.

 

My M9 and MM displayed the corrosion issue within two years of being placed in service.

 

That is a bit like saying "If my car hasn't shown any rust after two years, or five years, it is unlikely that it will ever rust."

 

AFAIK, this is not a question of some specific individual sensors having flawed coating that is not up to spec.

 

It is a question of the original specced coating on ALL the M9/MM/M-E sensors being less resistant to humidity or moisture, and thus at risk for corrosion to develop, at any point in the future, if exposed to a triggering event (a wet-cleaning to remove a particularly "sticky" bit of dust, or prolonged exposure to a humid climate, or something else, or simply age).

 

If we assume the linear feature at the top of the crop below, from a 2017 image from my 2011 M9, is incipient corrosion, well, going back through my files NOW I can find it "appearing" within one month in 2014, between June (none at all in any picture, any lens, any aperture) and August (faintly visible in 30% of pictures - with less "halo"). Less extreme than its current state (it is a progressive "disease"), but noticeable, once I knew where to look. So that's at 3 years.

 

However, I did not really notice it as a consistent recurring artifact until Summer 2016 (just past the 5-year mark), when it reached something closer to its current state and required cloning out over and over. AND I discovered it could not be removed by cleaning the sensor.

 

And had it been in some location other that the extreme top of the frame, i.e. not consistently in skies, but camouflaged by textures such as grass, dirt, bricks etc. - I might not see it even now, 6 years after manufacture.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Anyway - now that I have seen it, it will go in before the deadline for analysis and replacement by Leica. If only to keep some future owner comfortable (I'll keep the paperwork!)

Edited May 24, 2017 by adan

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaapv]

I do think, Andy, that the application process of the coating may not have been optimal in quite a few cases, making some cameras more liable to corrosion than others.