My sensor repair saga

[AceVentura1986]

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So, in May, 2017 I sent my ME to Leica NJ for repair of the corroded sensor. You'll recall, this was well before Leica announced the August 15 deadline for free repairs. After the announcement, I sent my M9M to Wetzlar through Leica Store Miami. At this point, I was willing to place money that the M9M would arrive from Wetzlar before the ME arrived from NJ. Although I was very bummed about not having either of my Leicas I was mostly OK because I still had my trusty M8.

 

I've used the M8 since then without issue until last week. Several of us caravanned down to Key West on a relief mission after Hurricane Irma. I took my M8 along with me for once-in-a-lifetime shots. Well, you can probably guess what happened. I suffered a catastrophic shutter failure at the worst possible time. No photos of the trip. None. Nada. Zero. Zilch. . . . sigh. This also presented another issue.

 

Now I was left without any travel camera. So, yesterday I bought the Canon 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens for my 6D. Today, I mounted the lens, took some test shots and deemed it acceptable. So, I removed the vertical battery grip and the handstrap that I use along with it. This last part is a major issue as it is cumbersome to attach and to detach. Well, you can guess what happened now.

 

Fifteen minutes later (yes, 15!) UPS arrives with my ME. Yup. All I had to do to get the fates to deliver the ME was buy the Canon 40mm!

 

Anyway, I've tested the camera and there does not appear to be any evidence of corrosion. Still, the receipt is very cryptic. How can I be sure that the sensor has actually been properly upgraded? It does bear firmware number 1.210.  Does this indicate the proper upgrade?

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

RV

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[Rus]

I don't think fw 1.210 is a reliable indicator of a new sensor at work because this fw also works (I believe) for M9s with the original sensor. You may, however, go into the service mode and check hardware ID. (See a post in the M9 sub-forum here that collects hardware IDs from M9 series both with the new and the original sensor.)

This might be a slightly more reliable indicator of the type of sensor used, but no definitive words have been said on the connections between hardware ID and sensor type yet. 

 

 

Here's the link to the post: 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/272556-determining-new-sensor-m9/?p=3276370

[Ko.Fe.]

Here is nothing wrong with getting of pancake lens. 

[TomB_tx]

Glad to hear you got it back from NJ. I sent my M9 there in June, so maybe there will be hope in a couple of months.

[ldhrads]

Got My M mono back today, it had been in NJ since May.  Waiting on the M9, it went in just before the cutoff, but was told that it was covered. Expect 8-10 weeks I was told.

[Beena22]

Still waiting for my M9 to return from Wetzler after in went in July. The wait is killing me.

 

 

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[TomB_tx]

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Well, no communication from Leica NJ since June, but UPS reports it is being shipped back. Curious about what I'll find...

[james.liam]

Well, no communication from Leica NJ since June, but UPS reports it is being shipped back. Curious about what I'll find...

 

 

What you'll find? Something indistinguishable from new. 

[TomB_tx]

What you'll find? Something indistinguishable from new. 

Basically correct! It arrived this morning, clean and spotless. My Schott glass LCD protector in place and cleaner than I've seen it. The paperwork simply notes "leather covering" and "Circuit M9 Rev 4+5" as line items. The firmware updated to 1.210. Once I reset my options it's like using a new old friend. I still need to take a critical look at focus accuracy, but I'm very pleased. A camera I've had for 7 years, returned to new condition with the improved sensor, at no cost except my shipping to them. The lack of communication during the process is forgiven.