S2 typ 006 sensor corrosion

[Pieter12]

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I just acquired an S2 006, and there are a few tiny spots of corrosion, barely visible at 300%. I can deal with that. The question is, will it get worse? Will the corrosion spots grow larger or more appear? I understand humidity is a factor but I live in a fairly dry climate, for what it is worth. Although I do take a lot of photos near the ocean, I would hope the camera's weatherproofing would protect the sensor from the salt air and I don't know if that would have any effect on sensor glass corrosion. (I know the sensor could use a good cleaning--I'm hoping the local Leica Store can do it. I don't really want to if I can get it done by someone who has done it before.)

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[LeicaR10]

Pieter12,  My experience with the S system for over 10 years in my former business included an episode with corrosion with a long sold S2 tells me, this might not be corrosion.  At 300% it might be a hot pixel, dirt/dust particles on the sensor glass.  My suggestion, simply take your S2 down to the Leica store and let them have a good look at it.  There are forum threads that show photos of various stages of corrosion.  Your S2 might also have a new sensor replacement already done.  The Leica store while inspecting your camera can query Leica Customer Service for you to determine if the sensor was replaced.  Hope this helps.  r/ Mark

Edited September 21, 2021 by LeicaR10

[Pieter12]

Thanks, Mark. There is a lot of dust on the sensor, it shows up as dark, slightly blurry specks and lines. What I think is corrosion are tiny white spots, maybe a pixel or so in size. Attached is a 3200% view of one of them.

I have already been in touch with Leica AG, and they tell me among other things that they repaired or replace some electronics--not specific, but it doesn't seem like the sensor was replaced as they list cleaning the sensor as one of the tasks done.

 

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[Sarnian]

Corrosion spots look like the below. And if you're shooting wide open they tend not to show up.

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[Sailronin]

Leica replaced the sensor on my S(006) about 3 or so years ago under warranty but not sure if that is still a possibility.  Even then they were having sensor shortages and the turn around was around 6 months or so. Talk to Leica USA and see if they are still replacing the CCD sensors.

[Coppereye]

Leica have certainly stopped replacing the sensor on the Type 006 (S/S-E) free of charge.  I had mine replaced via good will - I had purchased an S-E, new (but after the cut off ) but due to illness I had shot less than 50 images.  The turnaround was very quick in late 2019/ early 2020.  Leica UK were fantastic.  I believe to pay for a new sensor is around £2500 - which is, now, more than a good used one.

The image posted by Samian is exactly how corrosion looks. - I was given a quick lesson by the guys at Red Dot Cameras in London on what dust looked like compared to corrosion.  Dust/dirt has more defined edges whereas corrosion doesn’t 

I hope that my comments have been of use

 

Paul

[fiatlux]

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Since your spots are barely visible @ 300% , it is difficult to be affirmative as to whether it is a sign of corrosion. If you can still return your camera you may want to just to be on the safe side, but the camera seems to be perfectly usable as is. If you stop down enough for these few spots to be visible,  the unavoidable dust bunnies will need more cleaning anyway.

How quicky it will deteriorate is difficult to say. I started noticing sensor corrosion on my M9 a little over 3 years ago. Very few spots that were only visible in uniform image areas (sky...), with wide-angle images shot at f/8 and beyond. Since I moved on to an M10 as my main camera and the free sensor replacement was no longer offered I did not bother servicing the M9 and kept it as is as a spare camera. I re-used it recently and was surprised to not notice any major change in sensor corrosion over 3 years. YMMV of course..

[steve.chang]

Leica Wetzlar can verify the camera by the serial number to tell if the sensor has been replaced.

I still hope to find one with the new sensor. Happy shooting!

[Tony W.]

Does anyone know if there's a production date after which there were no more CCD corrosion issues in the S2 -- i.e. did Leica solve the problem before manufacturing cameras after a certain date?

[GMB]

1 hour ago, Tony W. said:

Does anyone know if there's a production date after which there were no more CCD corrosion issues in the S2 -- i.e. did Leica solve the problem before manufacturing cameras after a certain date?

I doubt it because the problem also existed in the S006, which was produced after the S2. I therefore think that all S2 cameras are concerned but I do not know for sure.

[Pieter12]

On 10/6/2021 at 6:57 AM, Coppereye said:

Leica have certainly stopped replacing the sensor on the Type 006 (S/S-E) free of charge.  I had mine replaced via good will - I had purchased an S-E, new (but after the cut off ) but due to illness I had shot less than 50 images.  The turnaround was very quick in late 2019/ early 2020.  Leica UK were fantastic.  I believe to pay for a new sensor is around £2500 - which is, now, more than a good used one.

The image posted by Samian is exactly how corrosion looks. - I was given a quick lesson by the guys at Red Dot Cameras in London on what dust looked like compared to corrosion.  Dust/dirt has more defined edges whereas corrosion doesn’t 

I hope that my comments have been of use

 

Paul

I would think the opposite. I have had dust spots how up on other sensors and they are always soft, not hard-edged. And they disappear once the sensor has been cleaned.

[foto nerd]

And what is this??

 

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[Stuart Richardson]

At the very least the big one in the center looks like corrosion. Hard to say about the rest without the full resolution. But whenever you see a dark spot with lighter areas around it, it is a good bet that it is corrosion. Normal dust spots are just dark and tend to be a bit blurrier. Anything beyond that is more diagnostic of corrosion.

Edited May 7 by Stuart Richardson