Hello everyone, is there a technician among the forum?

[LexS]

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I think you have to take of the glued red Leica badge on the front, there is probably a screw underneath.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Leica Guy]

8 hours ago, amost said:

In short yes, I removed the IR/UV cutting filter in front of the sensor. In most cameras, except the Ms, where is part of it, is just positioned in front of the sensor. 

A lot of unscrewing!

You always start from the back of the camera. You unscrew the external screws on the bottom, front (remove vulcanite) and upper lid.

Once you remove the back plate with the LCD you have to remove two layers of chips, if you also consider the sensor chip.

Then there is the filter. Between the lens and sensor [side note: the back element is huge and really close to the sensor]. You remove the holding case of the filter and remove the latter.

Then put everything back together hoping the camera will turn on again.

I din't touch the lens as it was, luckily, not necessary. I would be scared to damaged the leaf shutter as I don't really know how it works.

Super job. You must be both very skilled and brave to have successfully accomplished this change. Please post any pics you took along the way. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

[amost]

16 hours ago, SchneiderPetr said:

Hi, have you made some pics "from inside"?

 

11 hours ago, iQ2 said:

Super job. You must be both very skilled and brave to have successfully accomplished this change. Please post any pics you took along the way. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

Here you go some pics from inside [maybe NSFW for some 😜]:

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[Leica Guy]

57 minutes ago, amost said:

 

Here you go some pics from inside [maybe NSFW for some 😜]:

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Very nice. My background is Electrical Engineering and hardware design. I’m familiar with this kind of technology. The ribbon cables are interesting and require careful handling and re-connection as I’m sure you discovered. I had not expected the sensor assembly to come out so clean. That really helped your efforts. Do you have a pic with the sensor back in place in the camera? To that level is what I’m guessing has to be done for Leica Service to remove dust spots from the sensor.  Also one that shows where the screws are to get the back off. Don’t create anything. Whatever you have taken will be additional information over what we’ve seen so far.

I’m surprised to not see some identifying names or numbers on the big integrated circuits. They all look like BGA’s.

PS I just realized that’s not the sensor we’re seeing.  Its the rear LCD I think? 

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Edited March 30, 2019 by iQ2

[amost]

1 hour ago, iQ2 said:

Very nice. My background is Electrical Engineering and hardware design. I’m familiar with this kind of technology. The ribbon cables are interesting and require careful handling and re-connection as I’m sure you discovered. I had not expected the sensor assembly to come out so clean. That really helped your efforts. Do you have a pic with the sensor back in place in the camera? To that level is what I’m guessing has to be done for Leica Service to remove dust spots from the sensor.  Also one that shows where the screws are to get the back off. Don’t create anything. Whatever you have taken will be additional information over what we’ve seen so far.

I’m surprised to not see some identifying names or numbers on the big integrated circuits. They all look like BGA’s.

PS I just realized that’s not the sensor we’re seeing.  Its the rear LCD I think? 

👏👏👏👏👏👏

That's nice! I did study some electronics back in my high school days.

Usually the sensor is just a block by itself. In other manufactures is a bit harder as they may have stabilisation and dust removal. But usually still a block.

Also the original T's sensor is just a block you remove. Pretty easy to modify compared to the Q.

I don't have a picture with the sensor in place as I was quite focused and forgot to take many pictures. I only took pictures to remind myself the position of cables and screws when going back..

I think so. I don't know if there's a way from the lens. Now I understand why the sensor cleaning cost around 200€ (if remember correctly) if out of warranty. The steps are quite a few and you might have to clean the sensor and the filter separately. The latter probably front and back. The screws for the back are at the bottom, and sides of the camera. 4 the lid and I think 6 under the lid. 2 ad the sides. One on the port side, one under the vulcanite.

The integrated circuits have labels and numbers but I removed them as I don't know if they make the camera recognisable. the chip in the middle is by Samsung though. If I ever get my hands on a broken Q I could do a complete teardown. That would interesting.

1 The first picture is the sensor;

2 The second is the chip under the LCD back plate;

3 The third picture is the front part of the camera with the IR/UV cut filter it its place.

Edited March 30, 2019 by amost