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light grey dots on the newly replaced CCD sensor on the M9


howareyoukk

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Hi all:

 

My M9 was sent for sensor replacement early this year due to sensor corrosion issue and it has returned recently and I have been using it ever since. However, on an image taken with an aperture of f11 from yesterday, I saw multiple light grey dots against an uniformly colored backdrop, in this case, the sky. I purchased a rocket blower this morning and tried to vent the sensor gently while following the instructions of a youtube video. And the efforts render in vain as another image taken right after my cleaning process, which is shown as an attachment with this post,still shows the same number of light grey dots, if not more. Driven by fear and confusion, I am here asking for help from the members of this forum in figuring out what the dots are? Perhaps they are potential sensor corrosion (Again?!), dusts or oil stains caused by CLA?

 

 

Thanks in advance :)
 

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This sensor looks like it needs wet cleaning.  A rocket blower won't do it.  If you are uncomfortable doing the wet cleaning yourself, I would recommend you take the camera to your nearest Leica Store and ask them to do it.

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Leica probably did some CLA on your shutter that now results in specks of grease flicking onto the sensor.  This happened in my M9 and many others when new, I seem to remember.  It gets better after a few hundred shots.

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Leica probably did some CLA on your shutter that now results in specks of grease flicking onto the sensor. This happened in my M9 and many others when new, I seem to remember. It gets better after a few hundred shots.

That's what I figured. It doesn't seem to have got any worse, I mostly shoot wide open so not much of an issue. When it starts to annoy me I'll get it cleaned again.

 

www.robertpoolephotography.com

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Hi:

Thanks for all your resourceful input :)  and I do apologize for not replying you all individually. In short, I have sent the camera for sensor cleaning at a local leica store this afternoon. The turnaround time is fast and its estimated to cost a few days. I do hope the dots are gone after sensor cleaning and nothing is more relieved than being told by you guys that the dots are dusts or oil stains instead of the preliminary symptom of defecting sensor. I will post an update as soon as i have my camera back.

Thanks :)

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You really should learn to clean your sensor yourself. It is a five-minute DIY job. Look in the FAQ at the top of this forum. It is all fine when you don't mind missing your camera for days, but what are you going to do when it develops dust halfway your holiday?

You can take it into one of the many camerashops that offer this service whilst you wait as well.

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I cleaned my M9 myself without incident, but decided this was not a good idea when, early in the sensor-corrosion debacle, Leica's finger was pointed accusingly at users for 'improper' cleaning of their cameras.  From now on I leave the cleaning only to Leica, and the blame only to Leica.

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UPDATE: the turnaround time was quicker than I ever anticipated but the result shows little to no change . As the attached image shown, I still get roughly the same number of light grey dots on an image taken with the camera returned from "sensor cleaning", as if the sensor cleaning process was not performed at all. Shockingly, I now have 1 extra light grey dot on the bottom right corner of the full size image.

 

Are dusts this difficult to get rid of on the sensor or just the technician wasnt doing his best? The lens I sent in with the repair came back to be spotless though...perhaps the technician only bothered to clean the lens since  visible dusts were seen by naked eye easily..

 

Anyways, do you guys reckon I should just adapt to the current situation and use the camera for a few months before sending it in again?

 

thanks in advance.

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You really should learn to clean your sensor yourself. It is a five-minute DIY job. Look in the FAQ at the top of this forum. It is all fine when you don't mind missing your camera for days, but what are you going to do when it develops dust halfway your holiday?

You can take it into one of the many camerashops that offer this service whilst you wait as well.

Hi thanks for the input. I notice you are the moderator with a great depth of knowledge with Leica cameras. Admittedly, I do reckon being able to perform sensor cleaning is a vital skill but putting this aside, would you comment on the nature of the dots that they are dusts and not spots caused by sensor corrosion once again?

 

thanks.

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Leica probably did some CLA on your shutter that now results in specks of grease flicking onto the sensor.  This happened in my M9 and many others when new, I seem to remember.  It gets better after a few hundred shots.

hi thanks for the input :) just wondering what you meant by getting better after a few hundred shots? The oil stains will dry out and disappear after long term usage? thanks. And please refer to my latest update as the leica trained technician didnt seem to manage to eliminate the dots. Would you recommend me sending in back in again? I have troubled my local leica store several times already..  

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Hi thanks for the input. I notice you are the moderator with a great depth of knowledge with Leica cameras. Admittedly, I do reckon being able to perform sensor cleaning is a vital skill but putting this aside, would you comment on the nature of the dots that they are dusts and not spots caused by sensor corrosion once again?

 

thanks.

I'd have to have a look at the sensor itself. I advise you to take the camera into Leica Mayfair and let them have a look at it.

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hi thanks for the input :) just wondering what you meant by getting better after a few hundred shots? The oil stains will dry out and disappear after long term usage? thanks. And please refer to my latest update as the leica trained technician didnt seem to manage to eliminate the dots. Would you recommend me sending in back in again? I have troubled my local leica store several times already..  

What I meant is that after several hundred actuations, the lubricants on the shutter 'bed in', as it were, and the shutter ceases to splatter the sensor with new drops, which is what I think you are seeing.  Corrosion marks are very easy to spot - they look like round blobs, with a black dot in the middle, kind of like a cell with a nucleus, if that makes sense.

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What I meant is that after several hundred actuations, the lubricants on the shutter 'bed in', as it were, and the shutter ceases to splatter the sensor with new drops, which is what I think you are seeing.  Corrosion marks are very easy to spot - they look like round blobs, with a black dot in the middle, kind of like a cell with a nucleus, if that makes sense.

yeah it does makes sense. I reckon i will just settle with few grease spots for now and use it for a  few months before sending it in for cleaning.. though i think they didnt wet clean my sensor this time.

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I'd have to have a look at the sensor itself. I advise you to take the camera into Leica Mayfair and let them have a look at it.

Hi I just googled leica mayfair and it happens to locate in London...too bad i am not from England though.. i bet the staff at leica mayfair are more diligent. 

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