Q3: The Last Leica Product I Will Ever Buy (**Jump ahead to post #141 by the OP**)

[frame-it]

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22 minutes ago, PeterGA said:

I've only had my X2D for a few months and noticed dust spots the other day doing a B&W conversion against a 'white' sky - most were easily blown off but I will need to get a wet wipe kit to remove one pesky little fella. 

its not a fixed lens camera

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[PeterGA]

18 minutes ago, frame-it said:

its not a fixed lens camera

I must have misunderstood your question.

[SLamb]

I took some of the sage advice given earlier in this thread, sat down with a drink and had a think about this issue and my reaction.

So, after a Cruzcampo, I have decided that perhaps I am being unreasonable in my expectations.  If I take a picture of a single coloured area, such as a white wall or a blue sky, I can see this mark clearly on the pictures if I shoot at f/16, and I can make it more pronounced by changing contrast, brightness etc.  It is just visible at f/11 and not visible at f/8 and wider apertures.  It is not a black dust spot but a bigger round area that also has colour and texture, so I don't believe it is dust but probably grease or oil that got on the sensor of rear lens element during assembly of the Q3.

So, I thought to myself how often will I be taking pictures of a solid, flat, single coloured surface at f/11 or f/16?  Probably never.  In my five days in Venice recently, I never took a picture past f/8, which on a 28mm lens gave plenty of DOF.  I think if I took a landscape picture at f/11 or f/16 then it probably wouldn't be apparent that the spot is there.

I have decided, as was recommended by someone earlier in this thread, to just enjoy the camera, stop worrying about the issue and when I get to the stage of wanting to rectify it for my own peace of mind, then I will take the camera to the Leica store in London for a free sensor clean.  Maybe I should count myself lucky that I don't have lots of black spots on my pictures such as the OP had.

I am still of the opinion that this defect should not be there, but I can live with it for now.

Thanks for bringing me to this state of peace and acceptance with my Q3 😃

[bobtodrick]

2 hours ago, SLamb said:

I took some of the sage advice given earlier in this thread, sat down with a drink and had a think about this issue and my reaction.

So, after a Cruzcampo, I have decided that perhaps I am being unreasonable in my expectations.  If I take a picture of a single coloured area, such as a white wall or a blue sky, I can see this mark clearly on the pictures if I shoot at f/16, and I can make it more pronounced by changing contrast, brightness etc.  It is just visible at f/11 and not visible at f/8 and wider apertures.  It is not a black dust spot but a bigger round area that also has colour and texture, so I don't believe it is dust but probably grease or oil that got on the sensor of rear lens element during assembly of the Q3.

So, I thought to myself how often will I be taking pictures of a solid, flat, single coloured surface at f/11 or f/16?  Probably never.  In my five days in Venice recently, I never took a picture past f/8, which on a 28mm lens gave plenty of DOF.  I think if I took a landscape picture at f/11 or f/16 then it probably wouldn't be apparent that the spot is there.

I have decided, as was recommended by someone earlier in this thread, to just enjoy the camera, stop worrying about the issue and when I get to the stage of wanting to rectify it for my own peace of mind, then I will take the camera to the Leica store in London for a free sensor clean.  Maybe I should count myself lucky that I don't have lots of black spots on my pictures such as the OP had.

I am still of the opinion that this defect should not be there, but I can live with it for now.

Thanks for bringing me to this state of peace and acceptance with my Q3 😃

I really think that’s the way to look at it.  No matter what the product, if you go over it with a a magnifying glass you’ll likely find some flaws…whether it be high end cameras, cars or whatever.

I have a friend who recently purchased as $25,000.00 watch.  Four months in and it has to go in for service because it’s losing a minute a day….and it’s a very reputable brand.

But he still loves it 😀

Edited May 22, 2024 by bobtodrick

[Olaf_ZG]

10 minutes ago, bobtodrick said:

I really think that’s the way to look at it.  No matter what the product, if you go over it with a a magnifying glass you’ll likely find some flaws…whether it be high end cameras, cars or whatever.

I have a friend who recently purchased as $25,000.00 watch.  Four months in and it has to go in for service because it’s losing a minute a day….and it’s a very reputable brand.

But he still loves it 😀

Must be a Leica watch: its either losing minutes or it is freezing and therefore time get lost…

[SLamb]

19 minutes ago, bobtodrick said:

I really think that’s the way to look at it.  No matter what the product, if you go over it with a a magnifying glass you’ll likely find some flaws…whether it be high end cameras, cars or whatever.

I have a friend who recently purchased as $25,000.00 watch.  Four months in and it has to go in for service because it’s losing a minute a day….and it’s a very reputable brand.

But he still loves it 😀

Part of my change of thinking was talking to my wife about some of the cars I have owned over the years, including Astons and most recently McLarens.  Some of the issues with those have been unbelievable but my wife reminded me that I stuck with it and got them sorted out as I loved the cars.  So why was I thinking differently about the Q3.  A wise woman 😄

As for watches, I am banned by the CFO in our house from buying any more but I have been very lucky with those I have in that I have never had any major issues.  I do take your point though, they are equally as likely to have issues.

[Aram Langhans]

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3 hours ago, SLamb said:

I took some of the sage advice given earlier in this thread, sat down with a drink and had a think about this issue and my reaction.

So, after a Cruzcampo, I have decided that perhaps I am being unreasonable in my expectations.  If I take a picture of a single coloured area, such as a white wall or a blue sky, I can see this mark clearly on the pictures if I shoot at f/16, and I can make it more pronounced by changing contrast, brightness etc.  It is just visible at f/11 and not visible at f/8 and wider apertures.  It is not a black dust spot but a bigger round area that also has colour and texture, so I don't believe it is dust but probably grease or oil that got on the sensor of rear lens element during assembly of the Q3.

So, I thought to myself how often will I be taking pictures of a solid, flat, single coloured surface at f/11 or f/16?  Probably never.  In my five days in Venice recently, I never took a picture past f/8, which on a 28mm lens gave plenty of DOF.  I think if I took a landscape picture at f/11 or f/16 then it probably wouldn't be apparent that the spot is there.

I have decided, as was recommended by someone earlier in this thread, to just enjoy the camera, stop worrying about the issue and when I get to the stage of wanting to rectify it for my own peace of mind, then I will take the camera to the Leica store in London for a free sensor clean.  Maybe I should count myself lucky that I don't have lots of black spots on my pictures such as the OP had.

I am still of the opinion that this defect should not be there, but I can live with it for now.

Thanks for bringing me to this state of peace and acceptance with my Q3 😃

Sounds like a sound decision.  I do really enjoy my Q3 and the Q2 before that.  Heck, I enjoyed my R8 for quite some time.

One flaw in your reasoning, though.  I doubt there is a free sensor clean for a Q camera.  Not like you can pop the lens off in a store.

[SLamb]

As posted earlier:

For spotless digital photography

If you own a Leica camera with interchangeable lenses you can benefit from two complimentary sensor cleansper calendar year during the warranty period. We offer a same-day priority service for customers who book in advance through the website. Cameras with fixed lenses also have access to our complimentary sensor clean during the warranty period. Please note, bookings need to be made in advance and the service takes two weeks.

 

[LocalHero1953]

One further speculative thought: I am aware that the cover glass for some sensors is not immediately on top of the sensor, but has an intervening gap. If that is the case with the Q3, and if the rear element of the lens is close to the cover glass (so light rays approach the sensor surface at a relatively acute angle, as is common in compact retrofocus wide angle lenses), a dust speck could show up as a larger than expected and as a more blurred blemish. The doesn't improve matters, but might explain the technician's opinion.

[SLamb]

Thanks, that may indeed be the issue as the technician did think it was a dust speck. 

[fotografr]

3 hours ago, SLamb said:

As posted earlier:

For spotless digital photography

If you own a Leica camera with interchangeable lenses you can benefit from two complimentary sensor cleansper calendar year during the warranty period. We offer a same-day priority service for customers who book in advance through the website. Cameras with fixed lenses also have access to our complimentary sensor clean during the warranty period. Please note, bookings need to be made in advance and the service takes two weeks.

 

Is this service available in the US or just for cameras purchased from Leica Mayfair?  If I can get this done with a two week turnaround my inclination would be to not bother exchanging it for a new camera.

Edited May 22, 2024 by fotografr

[SLamb]

I don't know if this is available in the US. I only know that it is available in the UK. 

[student]

9 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Must be a Leica watch: its either losing minutes or it is freezing and therefore time get lost…

Well spotted!

[fotografr]

9 hours ago, bobtodrick said:

I really think that’s the way to look at it.  No matter what the product, if you go over it with a a magnifying glass you’ll likely find some flaws…whether it be high end cameras, cars or whatever.

I have a friend who recently purchased as $25,000.00 watch.  Four months in and it has to go in for service because it’s losing a minute a day….and it’s a very reputable brand.

But he still loves it 😀

One thing I should reiterate here is that the dust spots were first brought to my attention by another member who was looking at a typical image that was close to straight out of the camera. It was not heavily processed and the spots, though light, were visible in the sky area with absolutely no pixel peeping. I just hadn't examined the image closely enough prior to posting, partly because it wouldn't have occurred to me to check for dust spots in an image from a new, fixed lens camera that was advertised as dust and water sealed. I most assuredly did not go over my camera with a magnifying glass looking for problems. On the contrary, I didn't examine it closely enough.

[Bobt]

10 hours ago, bobtodrick said:

I really think that’s the way to look at it.  No matter what the product, if you go over it with a a magnifying glass you’ll likely find some flaws…whether it be high end cameras, cars or whatever.

I have a friend who recently purchased as $25,000.00 watch.  Four months in and it has to go in for service because it’s losing a minute a day….and it’s a very reputable brand.

But he still loves it 😀

Must be a Rolex. Their current models with the 3235 movements have a major problem with slowing down, way outside of the +-2 seconds specifications by Rolex within several months or year or so of new. Zero transparency with Rolex any many that get repaired have the same problem again within a year or so.

Love my Q3 but my 2 year old Rolex Sea Dweller loosing 30 seconds a day, not so much.

Edited May 23, 2024 by Bobt
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[LocalHero1953]

I got round to checking my 2-3 year old Q2 at f/16. No blue skies, but stormy grey clouds: I saw two obvious dust spots, and perhaps half a dozen anomalies that might be but might also just be bits of cloud. Perhaps one larger blur but couldn't easily tell. I don't shoot at anything like f/16, so not of concern.

[fotografr]

18 hours ago, SLamb said:

I don't know if this is available in the US. I only know that it is available in the UK. 

I've emailed an inquiry to Leica USA Service. As soon as I hear back I'll post the answer here.

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, fotografr said:

I've emailed an inquiry to Leica USA Service. As soon as I hear back I'll post the answer here.

@SLamb neglected to mention that it was I who posted about the Sensor Cleaning. I've sent you a message.

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[SLamb]

My apologies @Corius , I did indeed neglect to state that you made the post about the sensor cleaning.  I just copied the text and stated that it had been previously posted.  I wasn't trying to imply that it was I who found the information.

[fotografr]

I've just received an email from Leica USA Service (in quotes below) about sensor cleaning for the Q3 while under warranty. Considering this policy, I will not be returning my camera for exchange. I'll use it as is and if the problem becomes too much I'll send it off for a cleaning. 

"Thank you for your email.  Yes, we do offer 2 free sensor cleanings per year as long as the camera is under warranty.  The only difference between us and the UK is we don’t require a booking.  Your camera simply goes into our repair queue.  The turnaround time is 4 weeks."