M10-P Leica Repair USA (NJ) Experience

[EricJangg]

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Dear Everyone,

I hope everyone's Leica is in good condition. I wanted to share my experience with Leica Repair USA—some good, some bad.

Time It Took:

The repair took a total of seven months, despite their initial estimate of two months.

The main issue was a checkerboard pattern appearing on my LCD when using the camera in hot weather or keeping the LV (Live View) on for 10–15 minutes.

Issue:

I recently bought this camera secondhand through a marketplace, so I had no warranty or insurance—a costly mistake in hindsight.

I contacted the previous owner, but unfortunately, that led nowhere.

Leica diagnosed the problem as a faulty motherboard (image complete board), which was overheating and causing the checkerboard pattern. The camera still functioned, and if I had sold it, the issue might have gone unnoticed. However, I couldn't do that in good conscience.

Timeline:

• August 5th: Dropped off my Leica M10-P at Leica USA, NJ.
• November: Notified that the motherboard was out of stock, causing a delay.
• November: Requested a loaner.
• December 24th: Received a Leica M10 (not M10-P) as a loaner.
• February 27th: Notified that the repair was completed.
• March 5th: Sent the loaner back and received my repaired camera.

What I Liked About the Repair:

Responsive Customer Service:
Beth F****t, a service representative, went above and beyond with quick responses (though some representatives never replied).

Issue Resolved:
No more checkerboard pattern. Tested LV for 30 minutes—no overheating.

Camera Feels Great:
Turning it on and off now has a satisfying "thump" feeling.

Leica Loaner Program:
I wasn’t aware of this program until Beth added me to the list. Huge help!

Extra Requests Completed Perfectly:

1. Screw Alignment Fix: I disliked how the original screws sat nearly vertically. They replaced them, now with a perfect 45-degree turn.
2. Bottom Plate Tightened: Mine wasn’t loose, but it feels more secure now. Not sure if they adjusted it.

Extras I Didn’t Expect:

• Viewfinder dust cleaned—looks brand new.
• My previous LCD had a ding—now it’s gone (though the quote didn’t mention LCD replacement).
• 15% LSI discount on the repair.
• Full CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) performed.

What I Didn’t Like:

Seven-Month Wait: Initially promised two months, but it took seven.

Loaner Program Not Mentioned Earlier: If I had known, I could have gotten a loaner much sooner.

Leather Skin Issue:

• The new leather covering is misaligned.
• The back has a gap at the bottom; the front has a gap at the top.
• The worst part—huge gap around the strap lugs.
• Two technicians supposedly checked the camera before sending it back, but this was missed.

Final Thoughts:

The initial repair quote was $1,500 (after LSI discount: $1,297). A very expensive fix for a camera I had used for only a month.

The seven-month delay was frustrating, and the misaligned leather covering is disappointing.

However, the loaner program and the responsiveness of some staff give me some hope for Leica’s service.

That said, my Leica Mp (Film-new) had issues (motherboard) and now my M10-P had issues, yet my Leica M3 and M8 are still running strong. My M8 has only 7,000 shutter actuations, so it’s practically new.

I didn’t like the M11’s shutter sound and long startup time, so I avoided it. With the M12 coming soon, I feel hesitant to invest in the M system.

To me, Leica used to represent quality and reliability, but now it feels more like an expensive toy for the rich—which I am not.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Have you had any good or bad experiences with Leica Repair USA? I’d love to hear your stories.

Thanks for reading this long rant (and praise) about my Leica repair experience!

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[Pieter12]

If the photos were not affected, I would  live with the checkerboard on the LCD and keep the $1500 in my pocket. I never use live view anyway. On the other hand, $1500 for a Leica repair is not outrageous. It is a premium camera with premium repair costs.

[TomB_tx]

My only modern service by Leica was the sensor replacement on my M9, for free after about 7 years of use after they discovered the sensor glass corrosion and notified users. Yes there was a long wait, but then they were replacing a LOT of M9 sensors. The camera was perfect when I got it back, and still is perfect. I gave it to my son yesterday.

Otherwise for service I use independent techs - and except for the M9 sensor haven't needed any digital camera repair. (on Leica and others).

[pedaes]

3 hours ago, EricJangg said:

M11’s shutter sound and long startup time,

In my view both are fine, but if this is important to you don't anticipate any change with the M12.

[EricJangg]

1 hour ago, Pieter12 said:

If the photos were not affected, I would  live with the checkerboard on the LCD and keep the $1500 in my pocket. I never use live view anyway. On the other hand, $1500 for a Leica repair is not outrageous. It is a premium camera with premium repair costs.

I agree with you! with Leica, $1,500 is not outrageous. Still, it's a lot to swallow after only having the camera for a month. Regarding the checkerboard pattern on the LCD, I know Leica will eventually stop servicing the M10 due to parts scarcity. I had to wait seven months to get the necessary parts for the repair. So my thought was, let's get it fixed while we still can. I plan to keep this camera for a while, but I agree with you. I went back and forth debating the repair.

[EricJangg]

44 minutes ago, TomB_tx said:

My only modern service by Leica was the sensor replacement on my M9, for free after about 7 years of use after they discovered the sensor glass corrosion and notified users. Yes there was a long wait, but then they were replacing a LOT of M9 sensors. The camera was perfect when I got it back, and still is perfect. I gave it to my son yesterday.

Otherwise for service I use independent techs - and except for the M9 sensor haven't needed any digital camera repair. (on Leica and others).

Your son is very lucky to have a Leica M9! Such a Kodak CCD classic. My M8 is still going strong! Long live CCD! Maybe they just don’t make them like they used to

[EricJangg]

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5 minutes ago, pedaes said:

In my view both are fine, but if this is important to you don't anticipate any change with the M12.

I hope the start up time gets faster. 

[intangiblethings]

6 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

If the photos were not affected, I would  live with the checkerboard on the LCD and keep the $1500 in my pocket. I never use live view anyway. On the other hand, $1500 for a Leica repair is not outrageous. It is a premium camera with premium repair costs.

Luxury should equate to signalling, quality and service (turnaround time/speed/communication style). Leica currently is missing the mark on a few of these. 

Good on Leica though. They invested into the system and the brand. As essentially the only brand to offer a rangefinder experience with an optical viewfinder, they can do things below expectation because there are no other options in that experience bracket (we can agree a Pixii is not the same experience as an M). 

 

[LeicaR10]

EricJangg,   Interesting story and timeline.  Personally, I no longer send anything to Leica unless its under warranty.  Any out of warranty M gear goes to DAG and Don Goldberg. As for the misaligned skin, I would call Leica NJ and tell them about the issue.  Leica should have you send the camera back at their expense, and perhaps reissue you a loaner.  But you need to ask for the loaner.  The good news for you, all Leica repairs that were not properly done, go to the front of the queue.  You should get your camera very fast considering it is a reskin.  This is all based on my many decades of experience with Leica NJ and Wetzlar.  Considering what you paid for the repair and wait, the repair should have been done right the first time.  r/ Mark

[EricJangg]

On 3/6/2025 at 9:58 PM, LeicaR10 said:

EricJangg,   Interesting story and timeline.  Personally, I no longer send anything to Leica unless its under warranty.  Any out of warranty M gear goes to DAG and Don Goldberg. As for the misaligned skin, I would call Leica NJ and tell them about the issue.  Leica should have you send the camera back at their expense, and perhaps reissue you a loaner.  But you need to ask for the loaner.  The good news for you, all Leica repairs that were not properly done, go to the front of the queue.  You should get your camera very fast considering it is a reskin.  This is all based on my many decades of experience with Leica NJ and Wetzlar.  Considering what you paid for the repair and wait, the repair should have been done right the first time.  r/ Mark

I didn't know DAG and/or Don repairs digital Leicas but from now on I might follow up on your advice. I have sent the camera in for reskin. Hopefully, I get it back soon. Thank you for your kind remarks. 

[adan]

1) Leica USA is unlikely to have done a major rebuild (motherboard replacement) themselves. The camera was almost certainly forwarded to the factory in Germany. Which would not in itself add much time - except that the Leica Germany Service System is totally swamped - and has been warning for at least a year exactly of seven-month delays for older cameras.

2) Which the M10-P is - probably discontinued when Leica changed to the 40-Mpixel M10 Monochrom and then the M10-R - i.e., in 2020. Even allowing for M10-Ps "sitting on dealer's shelves" for a year after that, it was likely in use for 3-4 years. And two camera-generations old, now (which is why motherboards were not in stock).

So in no way a "new" camera, in digital terms.

2b ) "Shutter actuations" are not a good measure of actual use in cameras with live-view capability, since the shutter can be actuated once, and the camera may then be "on" for quite a long time (and getting hot), as the photographer (i.e. any previous owner(s)) frames and reframes possible pictures before finally pushing the shutter button.

It is notable that in the M10 series, Leica famously removed the video capability in the previous M(typ 240), exactly to minimize such overheating in the smaller and "more tightly packed" M10-sized body. 

I do think Leica USA should have been more in touch with, and more accurate regarding, the actual likely repair time, when the camera was delivered to them. Folks on this forum have been commenting on the repair/service situation at Leica Germany for over a year.

Frankly, the last time I sent a Leica (or any camera) in for repair was 2017. An M9 camera with incipient sensor corrosion, which repair **I** delayed until I already had an M10 for actual use (making the M9 my "backup camera"**), and just before the deadline for free sensor replacements. That also took about six months, even then - and I expected as much for a then-7-year-old Leica digital.

**I've always kept at least two similar cameras on hand that can take the same lenses, since 1978 or thereabouts. Thereby providing my own "loaners" in almost every system I ever used (Nikon, Canon, Kyocera/Contax and Leica). Even a week without a camera (under Nikon Professional Service, with hand-delivery/pickup) was more than I would accept.

[pgh]

I was recently quoted 14 weeks for an m10M repair and got the camera back in about 11 weeks. 
This is progress, in my experience - though still shamefully slow for something like this. I was not told about a loan program - I wish I’d known. A luxury car brand has no qualms supplying their customer with one while it’s in the shop. 
 

On 3/6/2025 at 12:29 PM, EricJangg said:

To me, Leica used to represent quality and reliability, but now it feels more like an expensive toy for the rich—which I am not.

Leica has always been fancy boy shit, (HCB the political radical ironically had a quite comfy nest egg to gallivant around the world) but only so much could go wrong in the analog age. Still, look at their marketing strategies - they share more in common with the amoral fashion giants that pollute this earth with impunity and traffic in selling false dreams than they do any other sort of business with practical aims.
 

A few dedicated photographers out there appreciate the tools they make and have to sacrifice to use them, the brand doesn’t much seem to care about unless they want some dramatic photo made for - again - bolstering their brand. 

Edited March 19 by pgh

[EricJangg]

A quick update from my side: after waiting eight months, I finally got my camera back. However, the leather was not properly attached, so I sent it back to Leica. No one informed me that I needed to submit the repair form again, so they just held onto my camera for two weeks. I repeatedly asked for an update on the status, and only after two weeks did they re-enter my camera into the system. I finally got the camera back after 3 weeks or so. 

I took a picture and immediately noticed a huge dead pixel line, which I’ve never seen before on this camera. I can only assume that during the repair, they somehow managed to damage the sensor.

Originally, I sent the camera in due to erratic noise appearing in live view (LV) after about 15 minutes. Now, the noise appears after 30 seconds, and sometimes even after just 5 minutes. So essentially, after eight months, and paying $1300, I received a camera with a broken sensor and a new motherboard that didn’t even fix the original issue.

Apparently, this is the new "Leica Experience." I'm currently in contact with them again, and they’re telling me they will fix the dead pixel issue (a huge black line across the image) with a firmware update… which I find completely unacceptable.

I think this might be the last straw. I’ve loved Leica since 2005. I still have my M3, M4-2, MP (bought new), M8, and M10-P. 

 

[TomB_tx]

12 hours ago, EricJangg said:

they’re telling me they will fix the dead pixel issue (a huge black line across the image) with a firmware update… which I find completely unacceptable.

This is the common cure for dead pixels, and is done even on new cameras as sensors may have such even when new. Some brands even have built-in re-mapping commands to cure these issues.

[EricJangg]

On 4/5/2025 at 8:22 AM, TomB_tx said:

This is the common cure for dead pixels, and is done even on new cameras as sensors may have such even when new. Some brands even have built-in re-mapping commands to cure these issues.

The dead pixels is not the real issue here. The only reason I sent in the camera was because after 15 mins of LV the LV image would show static images. This issue still remains. 

[lekitr]

My M10-p was sent to NJ late January and back last week with a new shutter.  That's 10 week, I can't complain.

Now if only I can get my hands on a new batterie.

[GFW2-SCUSA]

If I may offer a bit of good news, I sent my SL2, lightly used and bought new, to Leica N.J. on March 4 because the three buttons on the back failed to work. It was past warranty period so I was charged. I am happy to report that the camera arrived home yesterday, April 15 (our tax day !!).  Not bad at all, in my opinion.  There maybe hope after all! 

[Reciprocity]

On 4/14/2025 at 1:00 PM, lekitr said:

My M10-p was sent to NJ late January and back last week with a new shutter.  That's 10 week, I can't complain.

Now if only I can get my hands on a new batterie.

If you had to pay for that service, how much if you don't mind me asking?

I use the heck out of my M10-P for work, would not be surprised if it had well over 60K shutter cycles on it so that is the one thing I think could need a replacement at some point. 10 weeks is not terrible on that one either.

[EricJangg]

On 4/17/2025 at 9:16 PM, Reciprocity said:

If you had to pay for that service, how much if you don't mind me asking?

I use the heck out of my M10-P for work, would not be surprised if it had well over 60K shutter cycles on it so that is the one thing I think could need a replacement at some point. 10 weeks is not terrible on that one either.

So sorry for the late reply. It cost me around $1,500 

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[EricJangg]

After nearly a year of ongoing issues with my Leica M10-P, I’m very happy to share that the camera is now fully repaired. I’m not sure if anyone from Leica NJ will see this, but I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To summarize:

• Initial repair: Leica replaced the image board.

• Follow-up: I returned the camera due to misaligned leather. The original symptoms reappeared shortly after.

• Final repair: Leica replaced the entire back panel, buttons, LCD, LCD glass covers and this finally resolved the issue.

Timeline: ~1 year
Loaners provided: 2 (M10 and M9)
Leica-covered shipping: 10 trips (UPS 2-day)
Cost: ~$1,350 total (including $200 for cosmetic replacements (New bottom plate and the front screw (next to the viewfinder), with a 10% LFI discount)

Even after initial board replacement followed by, extensive work, multiple part replacements, cleaning, calibration, and reassembly Leica did not charge additional fees, as repairs are covered under a 3-month warranty if issues persist.

Half the camera now has new components, and I’m genuinely impressed with Leica NJ’s dedication and support.

Is Leica expensive? Yes.
Are repairs costly? Absolutely.
But do they take care of their customers? In my experience yes, they do.

Thank you, Leica NJ.