Leica M9P with original CCD 13 still worth?

[Tage]

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Hello everyone! I come up to buy a Leica M9-P with CCD ID 13 which about 2000$ for price, the seller said that this is the new batch of the original, but still get corroded in sensor. From my seeing, sensor get some small point when shooting at F8-11 look at dusk, but a large of number. I know that now Leica do not support for Sensor replacement but see some technicians from HongKong can do this by changing the cover glass for a cheap price. Kolari vision also help to change the glass from 1000-2500$. Can I get some idea from all of you, do you think that is still worth? 

Thanks

[andybarton]

If you pay $2000 for this camera and the sensor fails next month and you then pay $2500 to have the sensor cover replaced, you will have paid $4500 for an at least 10 year old camera. 

Maybe the M9 has a unique look, but I would think you could buy a good M10 for that money and not have to worry,

[Tage]

I just ask if someone who have camera fixed by this method and how M9 work, CCD color is still one thing I love.

[jaapv]

It is your money to waste but I would not even consider buying it. 2000 would buy you one with a good sensor - easily. 

[serdor]

Adding little money would buy an MP 240 like i did, and you're good to go for many years

[Anbaric]

Sounds like it already has issues. This camera is somebody else's problem - don't make it yours. Removing and replacing the cover glass is not always successful. If I were in the market for an M9, I'd wait until one came up with the revised sensor fitted and documented, and from a dealer that offered a reasonable warranty in case problems became evident shortly after purchase.

[a.noctilux]

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As old user of M9 (and M8) when only available, then now newer CMOS base Leica Ms, for me CCD "rendering" is a myth.

Even looking hard in my thousands of pics I can not see the superiority of CCD/CMOS or CMOS/CCD.

 

Anyway, buying M9 with original sensor is not good idea, modified sensor M9 can be though.

My choice would be one of M240 family which I do have many members and happy with them.

[Tage]

Thanks for all your comments, I already have an MP240, but what CCD in M9 made me consider to buy it, the file do not have some differences with my M240, but how it rendering look like painting. I also love the shutter sound and how it look like a Film camera by its design. Just because too hard to find a good M9P in 2022, when the price come up to around 4000$-5000$ on EBay for a unit in good condition. I saw the camera I am buying in good shape and there is no much scratch. Also know much of risks when buy this, but actually I want to hear if someone here have been fix the sensor from Kolari and its still work well or not. Do we need to calibrate the sensor? 
 

Thanks

[Ray Vonn]

Can you see anything you really like in that CCD sensor?  I do, but the majority of people don't and that's fine, if you're one of them, it won't be worth it.  But if you do, it might be worth considering a serviced/ replaced sensor M-E 220 as well, not because it's better than an M9, but because it's more recent and potentially less chance of going wrong.   

Edit: posted not seeing your recent post above.

Edited October 29, 2022 by Ray Vonn

[a.noctilux]

If you have money to spend why not.

I'd go for "modified" sensor M9, anyday.

With time, and searching  a bit, Leica modified (= sensor replaced by Leica) would have less risc than third parties.

 

Don't overlook the nice Monochrom ( with replaced sensor! ), good spending money for Leica M line.

 

Nicest looking digital M , well also the M262 with this "sexy" corner cut, below with red logo though

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited October 29, 2022 by a.noctilux

[Ko.Fe.]

On 10/29/2022 at 7:16 AM, Tage said:

Thanks for all your comments, I already have an MP240, but what CCD in M9 made me consider to buy it, the file do not have some differences with my M240, but how it rendering look like painting. I also love the shutter sound and how it look like a Film camera by its design. Just because too hard to find a good M9P in 2022, when the price come up to around 4000$-5000$ on EBay for a unit in good condition. I saw the camera I am buying in good shape and there is no much scratch. Also know much of risks when buy this, but actually I want to hear if someone here have been fix the sensor from Kolari and its still work well or not. Do we need to calibrate the sensor? 
 

Thanks

All Leica sensors on M9 series are tend to have cover glass defect. My M-E 220 was on of the last made in late 2015 and it has same issue within few months of daily use. 

If you like the sound and rendering, just get M8. Those are closest digital M in the build feel I ever seen to M4 and earlier. 

 

Info about glass replacement: 

 

[TomB_tx]

Sensor repairs now for M9 mean removing and replacing the cover glass. Sometimes we see reports of this damaging the sensor, as it is an invasive procedure.

Leica never repaired M9s this way - they always replaced the entire sensor/circuit board with an all new tested assembly. I would only consider an M9 repaired by Leica with a new sensor/board. My M9 was repaired by Leica this way after 7 years of use - and is still going strong, but now a backup camera to my M10.

[Adam Bonn]

If it doesn't have to be a Leica (I know, I know) then there's a lot of yester-decade CCD cameras to chose that will offer that low DR punchy look straight from the SD card...

Failing that if it has to be an M9, buy the latest, most mint, full set, trusted seller, sensor replaced by Leica and screw the expense - if it's what you really want, get what you really want... unlike property or a classic car an M9 isn't really a viable fixer-upper

[jaapv]

On 10/29/2022 at 1:16 PM, Tage said:

Thanks for all your comments, I already have an MP240, but what CCD in M9 made me consider to buy it, the file do not have some differences with my M240, but how it rendering look like painting. I also love the shutter sound and how it look like a Film camera by its design. Just because too hard to find a good M9P in 2022, when the price come up to around 4000$-5000$ on EBay for a unit in good condition. I saw the camera I am buying in good shape and there is no much scratch. Also know much of risks when buy this, but actually I want to hear if someone here have been fix the sensor from Kolari and its still work well or not. Do we need to calibrate the sensor? 
 

Thanks

That price is an e-bay Wolkenkuckucksland one. 

[leica5]

To my knowledge, leica ,no longer repair M9 sensors, an upgrade path to CMOS sensor camera might be an option ,if still offered by Leica.

My M9 developed  a default where  screen showed half the image and other half was black,I  didn't have sensor corrosion issues as reported by other.

so sensor/wiring got  corroded w/o warning.

camera is  a brick now.

[pippy]

To consider spending $2000 on any M9 variant which is known to still have the old sensor / cover-glass installed would (IMO) be totally idiotic. Considering the innumerable number of warnings out there on the www it would give a new meaning to the expression 'A No-Brainer'. Have you had a read-through any of the threads started here by Very Unhappy owners of corroded M9s? Perhaps that might be a suggestion you would like to follow before making a final decision.

However; it's your money to dispose of in any way you wish.

Of course if you DO buy the camera then if/when it DOES fail please DO come back here and let us all know.

Philip.

Edited November 2, 2022 by pippy

[MarkP]

On 10/29/2022 at 4:59 PM, Tage said:

Hello everyone! I come up to buy a Leica M9-P with CCD ID 13 which about 2000$ for price, the seller said that this is the new batch of the original, but still get corroded in sensor. From my seeing, sensor get some small point when shooting at F8-11 look at dusk, but a large of number. I know that now Leica do not support for Sensor replacement but see some technicians from HongKong can do this by changing the cover glass for a cheap price. Kolari vision also help to change the glass from 1000-2500$. Can I get some idea from all of you, do you think that is still worth? 

Thanks

Don’t touch it!

[Marac]

I had the sensor cover replaced on my M9 here in the UK by ACS, they done a great job and it works well, there is some 'dust' under the cover glass that does not bother me at all but would definitely bother those of us here who love to zoom in and study pixels.

I wouldn't sell mine for this reason (unless the buyer wasn't bothered either).

So you must ask yourself if you want a perfect M9, if the answer is YES then you need to get a fully refurbished unit from a reputable seller.

My advice would be DO NOT dump $2000 on a faulty unit because a repair can leave scars and in some cases even render the sensor useless.

[leica5]

Kolari vision quoted me a stArting price of $2500 to fix/replace sensor on M9.

Just to update.

 

 

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Hallo,

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[mujk]

Practically all original M9 sensors and also those replaced before the cause for sensor corrosion was found and remedied (approx. autumn 2015) will eventually develop sensor corrosion. The camera may also become useless because of some other fault requiring replacement of parts no longer available.

There seems to be a lot of hype regarding M9 image quality, driving used prices up. The M9 is a great camera, but because of the mentioned serviceability issues I would not pay very much for one, at least not for one without a post-autumn 2015 replaced sensor.