Lecia M9 captures only half image and right side of image is black

[jaapv]

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No digital camera is guaranteed to be fully serviceable after ten years… The original design of the sensor dates back two decades. 

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

[Adam Bonn]

The problem IMO is that in internet land the M9 is true modern classic camera, era defining and more than enough than most togs will ever need, with stunning IQ and glorious tones and the M9 should live forever. For Leica it's something that they used to make a long time ago and they would (naturally) consider all of their newer M variants to be superior products that should be more popular.

 

[TomB_tx]

Leica - as a low volume manufacturer - has little leverage to get obsolete electronic components to maintain "ancient" models. Like many traditional "hardware" companies that try to incorporate modern electronics, they rely on outside companies to provide component assemblies to build into their products. In a world where camera models are replaced every few years, a 12+ year-old design is indeed ancient, and I would expect many components on the circuit board are long obsolete. As far as I know, Leica never repaired the M9 main circuit board: that's not their expertise. They simply replaced the board when there were problems, including sensor and sensor cover glass issues. They have no feasible way to repair circuit board problems now.

I worked for an industrial hardware company and developed a line of electronics tools for field testing and diagnostics. After years of having to modify the design for nearly every (small) production run when some small computer part became obsolete, we designed a more "industrial" unit aiming to use components that would be available for 10 years. It stayed in production for some 15 years, but we still had to adapt a few times for things like RAM chips.

I think Leica went far beyond what should be expected support for the M9 with their sensor replacement program. My M9 worked fine for 7 years (which is all I would expect for consumer electronics), and although the warranty was long expired they replaced the sensor board for free when it began to corrode. It is still working fine, long after I would expect. 

On the other hand, I use my M10 now much more, and see little need for the M9 except as a backup. I'm very happy with the M10, which will be my last Leica.