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Wow Leica just got back to me with a quote of USD$3500 to replace that “sensor crack” 

While I don’t mind paying for the repair of its a one time solution, I do mind if they’re going to replace it with the same corrosion-prone sensor because it means I’d have to keep sending it back to Leica for repairs @$3500! 
 

Does anyone have any thoughts? I feel like I should just give up on the the ccd colors and renditions and just go with a S007. I think that the prices are exorbitant though! 

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The replacement sensors are supposed to be corrosion-safe. People who have had theirs replaced haven't reported subsequent issues down the line. 

A cheaper route might be to buy a second-hand 006 - but first e-mail Leica Customer Services to check if it's had its sensor replaced!

I managed to pick up a "7+" grade 007 for $3,000 a little while ago. The sensor of the 007 is obviously corrosion-free so if you don't mind a non-Mint condition body then that's a good price compromise. 

 

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  • 1 month later...

I had the sensor in my 006 replaced about 3 or 4 years ago and no issues with sensor since then; on the other hand it may be cheaper to buy a used body these days.

 

Edited by Sailronin
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On 9/25/2021 at 7:48 AM, Sarnian said:

The replacement sensors are supposed to be corrosion-safe. People who have had theirs replaced haven't reported subsequent issues down the line. 

A cheaper route might be to buy a second-hand 006 - but first e-mail Leica Customer Services to check if it's had its sensor replaced!

I managed to pick up a "7+" grade 007 for $3,000 a little while ago. The sensor of the 007 is obviously corrosion-free so if you don't mind a non-Mint condition body then that's a good price compromise. 

 

I am amazed that Leica still has the parts to do the repair. I would definitely have the work done if mine were to show signs of corrosion--especially if the replacement sensors are corrosion-proof. Love tha CCD color, don't need video or live view.

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20 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

I am amazed that Leica still has the parts to do the repair. I would definitely have the work done if mine were to show signs of corrosion--especially if the replacement sensors are corrosion-proof. Love tha CCD color, don't need video or live view.

While I would fully agree with the last statement, I’m not so sure about having the work done for USD$3500😂 

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3 hours ago, Jlmw said:

While I would fully agree with the last statement, I’m not so sure about having the work done for USD$3500😂 

That's less than the going rate for a used S2 or S3, so I would consider it a bargain--if the replacement sensor is not corrosion prone. What else could you get for that money, especially if you already have invested in S lenses. Besides the color rendition and fat pixels of the S2, for me there is no substitute for an optical viewfinder. Higher ISO would be nice, but I'm used to not shooting much higher than 400 when I shoot film already.

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3500 dollars is a lot, but replacing a ccd is not an “easy” repair. It takes a long time. I believe it also means replacing other parts as well.  Also consider that the price of these sensors has not gone down with age…Kodak stopped making them ten years ago and Leica just bought the rest, so their cost per unit was probably still fairly high at the time. I am sure Leica is making some money on this, but my guess is that it is not a lot…

The S2 and S006 are still top class imaging tools, so if you like them, it is probably still worth it. 

Edited by Stuart Richardson
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I am new to the S2 and I have a lot of questions about the sensor issue. Is there an authoritative conclusion as to the durability of the replacement sensors? Or just speculation? What seems to be the cause--environmental conditions and/or the particular cover glass used by Leica? I do not believe I have heard of corrosion or crystallization associated with any other brand of camera or digital back using ccd sensors.

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19 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

I am new to the S2 and I have a lot of questions about the sensor issue. Is there an authoritative conclusion as to the durability of the replacement sensors? Or just speculation? What seems to be the cause--environmental conditions and/or the particular cover glass used by Leica? I do not believe I have heard of corrosion or crystallization associated with any other brand of camera or digital back using ccd sensors.

I haven't read any mention of issues with replaced sensors yet. They would probably show-up in this forum, since it's the main English-language S forum on the web.

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Pieter12,  I owned and used the S system for my former business since inception in 2008.  I never had any S camera fail me all during those years for sensor issues.  I only had one issue once with the GPS signal not locking and that was resolved by Leica.  If you do a search of the S forum thread, you will read about the CCD corrosion issue and cracking in the early days of the system.  Leica has long since fixed the sensor issue with the manufacturers.  Other Leica cameras such as the M cameras had sensor corrosion issues.  Again, resolved by Leica.  Leica M and S owners had the sensors replaced for free or a cost depending on when the issue was discovered by the owner.  If you own a S2 or S006, an email to Leica Customer Care with your Leica model and serial number will get you an answer if the sensor was and when replaced.  To my knowledge, Wetzlar is the only place the S camera sensors are replaced.  Overall the S cameras and S lenses are simply superb, very reliable and render photographs unlike any other brand.   My former high end clients would not buy my landscape photographs unless they were taken with the S system.  I won't bore the forum with my stories as they have read them before.  I have since retired from business and now shoot the SL2-S, M10-M and waiting on the M11.  Hope this helps. r/ Mark

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Thanks so much for your real-world experience. I did contact Leica when I first purchased the camera and they let me know of repair work that had been done, which included some electronics being replaced but not specifically the sensor. I have since contacted them again to see if I could get a detailed break-down of the work done. They seem to be very responsive and helpful. So far, I am loving the camera--I really like the CCD color and the incredible lenses (well, I only have 2).

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4 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

Pieter12,  I owned and used the S system for my former business since inception in 2008.  I never had any S camera fail me all during those years for sensor issues.  I only had one issue once with the GPS signal not locking and that was resolved by Leica.  If you do a search of the S forum thread, you will read about the CCD corrosion issue and cracking in the early days of the system.  Leica has long since fixed the sensor issue with the manufacturers.  Other Leica cameras such as the M cameras had sensor corrosion issues.  Again, resolved by Leica.  Leica M and S owners had the sensors replaced for free or a cost depending on when the issue was discovered by the owner.  If you own a S2 or S006, an email to Leica Customer Care with your Leica model and serial number will get you an answer if the sensor was and when replaced.  To my knowledge, Wetzlar is the only place the S camera sensors are replaced.  Overall the S cameras and S lenses are simply superb, very reliable and render photographs unlike any other brand.   My former high end clients would not buy my landscape photographs unless they were taken with the S system.  I won't bore the forum with my stories as they have read them before.  I have since retired from business and now shoot the SL2-S, M10-M and waiting on the M11.  Hope this helps. r/ Mark

Are you suffering from amnesia?


Jeff

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Pieter12,  Good to hear you got a good response from Leica.  I would think they will do what they can to get you answers on the former work done.  The CCD color is very good.  r/ Mark

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13 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

Pieter12,  Good to hear you got a good response from Leica.  I would think they will do what they can to get you answers on the former work done.  The CCD color is very good.  r/ Mark

Yes, they responded just now that the sensor had been replaced in 2017. I should be good for a long time now...

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  • 4 weeks later...

From what I remember in the past (6-7 years ago), they replaced AF motors in S-lenses for free as they know that to motors were faulty so they didn´t charge the customer for it.  I have 35 and 120 with AF failure and need to send them for repair to Germany.  Sarnian wrote on the first page that Leica charges £ 213.00 including return postage.  Does anyone know how long they have been taking money for replacing AF motors?

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7 minutes ago, aCIDfire said:

From what I remember in the past (6-7 years ago), they replaced AF motors in S-lenses for free as they know that to motors were faulty so they didn´t charge the customer for it.  I have 35 and 120 with AF failure and need to send them for repair to Germany.  Sarnian wrote on the first page that Leica charges £ 213.00 including return postage.  Does anyone know how long they have been taking money for replacing AF motors?

I think the policy was that if your lens failed within the first 5 years of ownership it was covered, but you might have had to have been the original owner.  I'm not sure, so take my statement with a caveat.  I would think Leica NJ customer service could give confirm Leica's policy.

Returns in the USA need to go through Leica NJ.  I send several lenses in during the pandemic. Took about 2.5 months from start to finish. Cost was $285 for my S 70, 100, and 180.  S24 was $325 for some reason.

 

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