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Sensor Corrosion Analysis and Fix [Merged]


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On 6/29/2021 at 6:52 PM, dllewellyn said:

Antonio Di Benedetto

  3rd degree connection3rd
Product Specialist at Leica Camera Inc.
New York City Metropolitan Area 
Product Specialist and on-camera host with an extensive history in the photography industry. Expert product knowledge utilized in marketing efforts, product launches, brand trainings, and media relations. Creative in writing/editing for corporate press releases, memos, official Leica Blog and generating photographic content for Leica Camera USA social channels.
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in other words he knows absolutely nothing about fixing the problem. He should watch those Chinese (I think) videos where they apparently have almost an assembly line for M9 sensor glass replacement. Frankly with the proper tools and training it didn't look like that hard of a repair procedure. Maybe 90 minutes total. I think Wetzler's repair facility definitely has talent at least as good as these young people in the video and could source the proper glass for pennies. But then they would be caught up with having to charge for something they used to give away. Ironically from what I understand all the M9 sensor replacements they did replace under warrenty will probably fail again as the problem with using the wrong glass was not addressed. That is probable cause for a law problem when you repair something with parts known too fail prematurely. I know that all the camera parts will fail sooner or later but this was a shitty response to the problem and a total lack of appreciation for a customer who invested a lot of money and trust in a brand's legacy of reliability. I realize they were in a corner with the only sensor manufacturer quitting the business but that can be addressed now with the procedure of replacing the glass. Maybe 

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On 6/21/2021 at 8:24 PM, jaapv said:

68, if I count correctly, all machine-soldered separately.

 

That much is clear.

Maybe you should have a look at this video of a cover glass replacement  to see that your suppositions are far from reality.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qk4y127EA/?spm_id_from=autoNext

 

Jaapv, to quote Butch Cassidy who are those guys in the billibilli video? looks like they know what they are doing. 

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1 hour ago, palmerfralick said:

Ironically from what I understand all the M9 sensor replacements they did replace under warrenty will probably fail again as the problem with using the wrong glass was not addressed.

And yet, strangely, there has not been a single known and confirmed incident such as you predict.

For a few months they did indeed replace faulty sensors with the same type, but a new sensor was subsequently developed which fixed the issue.

For info, not all replacements were done under warrenty (sic), but under a goodwill program set up for this issue. My camera had its sensor replaced foc long after its warranty had expired.

Edited by ianman
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9 hours ago, palmerfralick said:

 from what I understand all the M9 sensor replacements they did replace under warrenty will probably fail again as the problem with using the wrong glass was not addressed.

I fear your understanding does not fit the facts. After one year Leica -and the sensor manufacturer- had developed a new sensor cover glass. Since then there has been not one report of sensor corrosion.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 2/19/2022 at 1:31 AM, jaapv said:

I fear your understanding does not fit the facts. After one year Leica -and the sensor manufacturer- had developed a new sensor cover glass. Since then there has been not one report of sensor corrosion.

My bad you are correct that the second version of the replacement sensor has had no reported failures thus far. But the original sensor and 1st version replacement is a potential failure waiting to happen. Red Dot Cameras in London said the cutoff for cameras with a new sensor is a replacement after September 2015 for non Mono and after Feb 2016 for Mono. I would feel comfortable with an M9 with new sensor installed from those dates. Still a pity only recourse for owners with any future corrosion is Kolari replacing the filter for $1000 and pray the sensor doesn't get scratched. Cheers

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  • 3 weeks later...

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Just had mine done in the UK at ACS, they didn't kill my sensor either.

 

Shot RAW / set auto WB in LR

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  • 3 months later...
On 3/17/2022 at 7:44 PM, Marac said:

Just had mine done in the UK at ACS, they didn't kill my sensor either.

 

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Hi Marac. Images look good. Is the focus shift problem sorted with  the new glass? Thanks . Monz

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18 hours ago, Monz said:

Hi Marac. Images look good. Is the focus shift problem sorted with  the new glass? Thanks . Monz

Not really noticed anything like that but I haven't actually tested for it either. I shoot a lot of lenses wide open at f1.2-1.4 so the focus is usually nuts anyway hahaha

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  • 4 months later...
Am 16.6.2021 um 08:00 schrieb Casey Jefferson:

This is how they do it in Beijing (Bilibili links)

M9 (also most other variants), also demonstrate the corrosion affecting the tiny wires connected to the board and resulting black/purple half frame:

http://b23.tv/RgcHS7

 

And Leica S006:

http://b23.tv/o9LDep

this is incredible , i wonder how much they charge for the S06 replacement ? 

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Can an M9 with either a replaced non-corroding sensor from Leica, or replaced cover glass from Kolari, etc be considered completely fixed for the foreseeable future (at least in terms of the sensor)? 

I have the opportunity to buy an M9 with a Kolari - replaced cover glass (BG61). Camera is in great shape, has 9k shutter actuations and comes with all original boxes, accessories, etc for $2400. I want to make sure that if I buy this, I can use it for a long time. I realize that purchasing old technology is always a risk, but I'm most concerned about the sensor. 

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13 hours ago, PatrickT said:

Can an M9 with either a replaced non-corroding sensor from Leica, or replaced cover glass from Kolari, etc be considered completely fixed for the foreseeable future (at least in terms of the sensor)? 

I have the opportunity to buy an M9 with a Kolari - replaced cover glass (BG61). Camera is in great shape, has 9k shutter actuations and comes with all original boxes, accessories, etc for $2400. I want to make sure that if I buy this, I can use it for a long time. I realize that purchasing old technology is always a risk, but I'm most concerned about the sensor. 

The Leica sensor is still fine 6 or so years after replacement. I don’t know about the others.

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On 11/20/2022 at 2:01 AM, hossegor said:

this is incredible , i wonder how much they charge for the S06 replacement ? 

No idea, was quoted 3000 RMB last year for M9, but not sure about the larger one, most probably higher due to R&D, they expressed that they literally learned the replacement techniques through trial and errors, means destroying some sensors along the way.

The latest news is that they can rewire the damaged and corroded tiny wires around the sensors (within reasonable degree of restoration, they did say if it's seriously damaged it's not possible to repair).

http://b23.tv/k9KTJzd

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Hello

I have been looking at different images to determine if what I see on the screen is dust or sensor corrosion on the Leica m9. The sensor itself looks very clean with the exception of a very faint horizontal line (light oil?) in the lower right of the sensor near the corner (same side as viewfinder, which is the left when taking an image but it is almost impossible to photograph and is just visible under light and at an angle). In any case, we did images of a blue sky at about f16 on a 90mm f2 summicron lens. The images start from fit, zoom to 100%, 200%, 300% and then 400%. I looked for the black dot and halo but am really unclear which this appears to be. I also am wondering, could this be debris in the lens? The summicron has a few specs of dust or debris in it. Is the test valid? What does this look like to you - dust or corrosion. This is not the only image that hast it, but I could do another test with a different lens but it is much harder to shoot the sky with a 50mm. Any comments would be appreciated. Best.

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100% zoom

200% zoom

300% zoom

400% zoom

same image but upper right corner in frame at 100%

lower left corner 100%

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There is no question in my mind as to whether Leica should be offering repair services for M9 sensors. They should. It's handicraft work, after all, judging from the videos, with skill sets no more or less demanding than the repair of a malfunctioning M6. Repair services for old models has always been a part of Leica's heritage, has it not? These repairs are straight forward with the right tools.

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4 hours ago, dot-me-not said:

There is no question in my mind as to whether Leica should be offering repair services for M9 sensors. They should. It's handicraft work, after all, judging from the videos, with skill sets no more or less demanding than the repair of a malfunctioning M6. Repair services for old models has always been a part of Leica's heritage, has it not? These repairs are straight forward with the right tools.

I agree. This is not rocket science. I replaced 4 myself at home without any fancy equipment. One suffered from some dust particles left on the sensor surface but other three are perfect. 

It's clear to me Leica is trying to force users to upgrade and buy  newer models. 

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On 11/26/2022 at 7:08 PM, jaapv said:

That is a pretty filthy sensor, I would start by cleaning it and then try to determine which is which.

Agree. What you see is most probably dust. Cover glass delamination usually looks a bit different.

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On 12/3/2022 at 3:54 AM, Jrek said:

It's clear to me Leica is trying to force users to upgrade and buy  newer models. 

Possibly, but I suspect the reason is due to Leica's warranty on repairs. The sensor is a component of the main circuit board. If Leica successfully replaces the cover glass it will inspect the rest of the body and provide a One Year warranty on the camera.  That warranty would include the potentially 13-year-old circuit board against failure.  There are no spares for the circuit board.  I think this is why Leica does not offer replacing the cover glass as a service.

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