Considering a M9 with original sensor

[Rollei35]

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I was offered a M9 with suspicious low shutter count (less than 500), but with original sensor (ID=11).

The dealer claimed the corrosion has never occurred, and the low pass filter was replaced so there won't be any corrosion in the future.

I am skeptical about this.

I heard the IR Cut Filter (ICF) coating (or rather non-coating) was the culprit of corrosion. I have never heard of low pass filter thing.

Anyhow the price is attractive though. Should I struggle about it or just forget about it?

 

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[Indeepthought]

4 minutes ago, Rollei35 said:

I was offered a M9 with suspicious low shutter count (less than 500), but with original sensor (ID=11).

The dealer claimed the corrosion has never occurred, and the low pass filter was replaced so there won't be any corrosion in the future.

I am skeptical about this.

I heard the IR Cut Filter (ICF) coating (or rather non-coating) was the culprit of corrosion. I have never heard of low pass filter thing.

Anyhow the price is attractive though. Should I struggle about it or just forget about it?

 

I think my first question is:- are you dealing with a Leica Dealer? 2nd:- get the serial number and ask Leica Wetzlar if they have any history on the particular camera. 
Buyer Beware…. 🍻

 

[jaapv]

Sounds like a toss-up between a great opportunity and a miserable disaster. Hard to tell which… 

[Warton]

When it’s too good to me true, it’s too good to be true.

However I’m curious about this so called low pass filter thing. Does it really cure the sensor corrosion?

[Anbaric]

Perhaps the dealer means that the cover glass has been replaced, rather than the low pass filter (which the M9 didn't have in the first place)? Some third party repairers, like Kolari, replace the cover glass, and I suppose it's conceivable that someone might have had this done pre-emptively. Anyone even considering buying a camera like this should ask for complete documentation of exactly what (if anything) has been done.

Edited March 10, 2024 by Anbaric

[irenedp]

If it comes as a rare object, maybe. It may rise in price. 
If the objective is to use the camera I would go for an ID 15.

Safer outcome 

Edited March 10, 2024 by irenedp

[dpitt]

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Since I have not seen any original M9 sensor without signs of corrosion, my first question for the seller would be to show me a recent shot to prove it has no issues. Ask him to do this and have him send the DNG or full size JPG to you:

M9 sensor test for corrosion:
1. Set ISO on lowest value (ISO 160)
2. Output must be JPEG L or DNG
3. The lens aperture must be closed fully (highest number 16 or 22)
4. Set camera on A position for exposure
5. Take a white paper minimal A4 size
6. Hold the M9 over the paper so that it fills the frame and turn slowly in circles above the paper, then shoot.

The shot will have motion blur but that is the point. Because any dust or corrosion is moving with the sensor, it will be crystal sharp while any dust  on the paper will show blurred.

Now pixel peep at 100% on your screen:
Any black spots are harmless dust or dirt particles, spots or stripes with lighter halos around them are corrosion defects and can not be cleaned away

 

[dpitt]

For example this one is a clear example of multiple corrosion spots:

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[Ray Vonn]

56 minutes ago, dpitt said:

For example this one is a clear example of multiple corrosion spots:

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

A very important post/ example (thanks), as an M9 user will clearly be able to differentiate between dust and corrosion.

[Pelu2010]

1 hour ago, dpitt said:

For example this one is a clear example of multiple corrosion spots:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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

look like a early Jackson Pollock could be used for experimental things. 

As the new Camera Raw has presets where the the repair brush can be added to many images at once this should not be a problem, or? 

 

[dpitt]

39 minutes ago, Pelu2010 said:

look like a early Jackson Pollock could be used for experimental things. 

As the new Camera Raw has presets where the the repair brush can be added to many images at once this should not be a problem, or? 

 

This is not the worst example of corrsosion by far. This M9M  was offered to me recently. I was tempted, but kindly declined. It will only get worse from here.
Maybe I could use it with lenses wide open for a few years before it becomes unusable, but once that you know it is there, it becomes hard to 'unsee' it.

[John Robinson]

Even if replacement sensors are available (may not be), Leica will charge at least GBP 1600 to replace (at least, that's what it charged me several years ago once the "free sensor" replacement programme had finished).  Not sure any M9 with "original sensor" is worth the risk.

Edited March 10, 2024 by John Robinson

[Ko.Fe.]

Leica with low shutter release count ain't the rainbow unicorn.

Mine was sitting in the store for couple of years. And no corrosion. Once I started to use it, corrosion appeared within few months. 

[Anbaric]

On 3/10/2024 at 4:53 PM, John Robinson said:

Even if replacement sensors are available (may not be), Leica will charge at least GBP 1600 to replace (at least, that's what it charged me several years ago once the "free sensor" replacement programme had finished).  Not sure any M9 with "original sensor" is worth the risk.

They've stopped doing it altogether. I believe they used their stock of new sensors up by sticking them in M9s that had been returned with bad sensors, which they then sold on as refurbished. But Kolari have managed to get hold of some new sensors from somewhere, and offer a full replacement as a more expensive option to replacing just the cover glass.

No matter how clean a sensor looks now, I wouldn't buy an M9 that didn't have one with (fully documented) corrosion-resistant cover glass. It seems very likely all the original cover glasses will eventually corrode.

Edited March 16, 2024 by Anbaric

[Isaacmm]

What’s the attractive price ? Is there a harm in sharing that information? 

[kristyansen]

My M9 had no corrosion attested by regular checks by Leica for around 10 years, thinking this will last forever.

However, and unfortunately, corrosion appeared just after Leica has stopped replacing the Leica M9 sensors.

So corrosion will appear. Do not buy unless you have a certification by Leica that the sensor has been exchanged.

[GinaJ]

Long time lurker in the forum, I almost cried when I realized my m9 black paint had corrosion.  By then Leica was only doing the trade in program so ended up trading up to a Q2, but I still miss my rangefinder.  Kolari is selling some on their site and saying the sensors have been replaced with corrosion proof glass.  Wondering if anybody has had experience with this?  I am sorely tempted.  

 

https://kolarivision.com/product/leica-m9-digital-camera-corrosion-proof-sensor-ccd15-l40m9blr15/

[ohwsho]

I ordered a filter from aliexpress and took my M9 to a service center that repairs various cameras, where they told me it was not the first time they did this. They replaced the filter, but they said that it was stuck to the sensor, and when they removed it, it cracked and damaged the sensor a little. It left one scratch and a few dots on it. They put a new filter on the sensor anyway and didn't charge me any money. Of course I was upset, but the current condition is better than what I had anyway.

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[mikelevitt]

Kolari does a good job replacing the glass.  About $1000.  That's your downside.  If the sensor or glass haven't been replaced, it will corrode.