Checking for sensor information (ME)

[Me Leica!]

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I found a Leica M-E in a store here (Tokyo) for a very reasonable price, as these things go. I took some test shots with it, took the card home, and at first glance (on a 21 inch mac screen) I don't see anything untoward. The focus seems pretty solid even at the wider apertures.

However, some stores state specifically if the sensor has been replaced or not (or doesn't need to). This M-E has no such indication and the staff at the store didn't seem particularly confident about making a call on it either way. I told him I was interested but wanted to check it out online, and he was fine with that.

Is there a way to check this from the serial number? I know that the free sensor replacement is no longer being offered, and while the camera seems to be in excellent condition (Japanese people tend to take very good care of their cameras), it would be good to have some idea of whether or not the sensor has been replaced or whether it is even necessary to do so.

If it's any use, the serial number is 4422561.

Thanks for any and all advice!

Edited December 15, 2018 by Me Leica!

[antigallican]

You need to be taking pictures of the sky really to spot dust or corrosion. Dust isn’t a problem but obviously corrosion is.

 

[Jean-Michel]

Serial number is irrelevant. If the camera has a new sensor, there will be a proof of that from Leica. My own experience includes the replacement of the sensor first with an old generation sensor and again with the new generation one and all came with appropriate proof should I ever decide to sell the camera - not likely ever. I would insist on that proof before paying good money for a used camera. 

[pico]

1 hour ago, Jean-Michel said:

[...] My own experience includes the replacement of the sensor first with an old generation sensor and again with the new generation one and all came with appropriate proof [...]

What does the M9 service menu show you?

[Jean-Michel]

1 hour ago, pico said:

What does the M9 service menu show you?

Hi,

 Nothing in the menu. I meant the paper documentation that came back with the camera: date, what was done, etc. It is quite comprehensive. 

[jaapv]

Basically Leica should be able to tell you whether the camera has had the sensor replaced by the serial number - but the records for cameras that were resensored in the USA are not 100% reliable.

[frame-it]

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a lot of shops in Tokyo sell on consignment basis..in which case they just mark up and sell with zero info on the goods being sold.

[goatsby]

11 hours ago, jaapv said:

Basically Leica should be able to tell you whether the camera has had the sensor replaced by the serial number - but the records for cameras that were resensored in the USA are not 100% reliable.

Yes, do not count on Leica USA being of much assistance if the sensor was changed there. If in doubt, factor a sensor replacement in the price if you plan on selling it within a few years or at least some of the sensor replacement if kept longer. Either way, shoot with a lens at its highest f-stop at a solid, light-color background on your SD card and review the files for corrosion. If there is already corrosion you have your answer and can make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase.

[TomB_tx]

This thread discusses how to check the sensor version. (ME is the same as M9)

 

[Me Leica!]

12 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

This thread discusses how to check the sensor version. (ME is the same as M9)

 

Thanks, yes, I saw that too. I actually used the "Service menu" trick and it came up with a sensor ID of 15 and firmware of 12.04, which (if I read the thread correctly) means that the sensor's been replaced by Leica. That's good. Plus the focus seems accurate with nearly all the lenses I tried it with.

While we're on this topic...I haven't bought it yet (tempting as it is) but I tried it out with some non-Leica lenses (Voigtlanders) as this particular shop doesn't have many M lenses in stock at the moment. Is there any point in trying to "trick" the camera by entering the nearest matching code in the menu (i.e. telling the camera that the 35mm f2 you mounted is actually a Leica 35mm f2? Or is it just easier to correct things in post? I'm assuming that we're mainly talking about things like vignetting here, but are there any other things which happen to non-native / non-coded lenses?

[Duane Pandorf]

24 minutes ago, Me Leica! said:

....

While we're on this topic...I haven't bought it yet (tempting as it is) but I tried it out with some non-Leica lenses (Voigtlanders) as this particular shop doesn't have many M lenses in stock at the moment. Is there any point in trying to "trick" the camera by entering the nearest matching code in the menu (i.e. telling the camera that the 35mm f2 you mounted is actually a Leica 35mm f2? Or is it just easier to correct things in post? I'm assuming that we're mainly talking about things like vignetting here, but are there any other things which happen to non-native / non-coded lenses?

I would experiment with selecting the corresponding Leica lens in the Manual Lens selection then compare results. If you use Lightroom to process your images, I’d also use the Lenstagger Exiftool to record your non Leica lens info into your images. 

[Ko.Fe.]

21 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

This thread discusses how to check the sensor version. (ME is the same as M9)

 

My M-E went to and came from with same firmware. Prior to sending (earlier this year) I updated to latest firmware by myself.

[Saal]

Is the CCD ID: 11 a good sensor? 

I found this article online and wondering if the sensor in my camera needs replacement or it is just fine with it.

"We don’t see gel issues with M9, M-E, or M9-P models with CCD ID11 as the glue used on these sensors is different. However with CCD11 sensors, we do  see a high prevalence of cracked sensor glass. The CCD11s are more likely to crack and leave fine scratches on the sensor after the modification."

https://kolarivision.com/product/leica_m9_repair/

 

[dpitt]

5 hours ago, Saal said:

Is the CCD ID: 11 a good sensor?

...

CCD ID 11 is one of the original corroding sensors. CCD ID 15 and CCD ID 16 are improved non-corroding sensors.
 

Apparently kolarivision found out that CCD ID 11 sensors are harder to repair so just use it as long as it works for you as it is. Avoid using small apertures like F11 to F22 because dust and corrosion show up most with the smallest apertures. In fact if you want to know how bad your sensor is, take a picture of an even wall or the sky at f22 or F16 and inspect it at 100%. Spots or lines with white halo's around it are corrosion issues.

[Saal]

Thank you Dirk. I appreciate your knowledge.