Digilux 2 problem, need urgent advice

[rivi1969]

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Hello,

 

First of all thanks for reading my thread. Well, yesterday evening I got my recently acquire Leica D2. Everything was looking good, the camera cosmetically is absolutely in like new condition. I put a fresh battery in it, and then start to do some tests which I am attaching here.

 

The seller said the camera works in perfect order, but as you can see in the pictures there is something really bad happening here. Everything I shoot with an even light looks fine, but if there is a bright light source looks with a terrible solarized effect.

 

I want to ask you if this is a common problem when the cameras need a new sensor or if this is something else. I can go to all the ebay process and claim a refund, or I can keep it and send it to Solms months and months to get repaired.

 

Any advice will be really appreciate!

 

Ricardo Villagran

[jtharvie]

Hi Ricardo,

Sorry, but your sensor is starting to fail.

This is a fault of the camera and may be covered by warrenty

Here is a link Important Notice - Digital still camera

 

Cheers,

jth

[rivi1969]

Thanks for your reply Jth. I just checked the link for it only talks about the Panasonic versions, do you think Leica will do the same? I don't have the original camera receipt or anything so I wonder if I need it to claim a warranty repair.

 

Thanks!

[earleygallery]

Ricardo,

 

I know how disappointing it is to get something off e bay and find that it's faulty. If the seller is genuine they will want to help you resolve the problem (was it a private or commercial seller?).

 

From what I have read, Leica will simply replace the sensor if you book it in with them - send an e mail or call their service dept. Plenty of others here have had the same issue so I'm sure you'll get a definitive response soon.

 

I would clarify the position with Leica asap. If you know they will repair it without receipts etc you can then make your decision. In the meantime I'd also contact the seller to let them know about the problem.

 

If you want the camera (rather than sending it back to the seller for refund) its probably worth the hassle and wait. You will have a 'good as new' camera which is probably better than one which hasn't been repaired and may fail in the future.

 

Good luck.

[spylaw4]

Assuming you can get it repaired under the extended sensor warranty (if you search the Forums you'll find a link somewhere to the official Leica notice), you certainly won't regret waiting for it to return to you from Solms. It's a special camera as many here will confirm!

 

I would second the advice already given!

[rivi1969]

Thank you guys,

 

Yes, I just sent Leica an email with the serial number of the camera asking about the extended warranty. if I can get it for free I definitely keep it, it is really like brand new so I think is worthy to repair it. But if I have to pay 400-500 dlls as others had to pay for the sensor if I won't get the warranty offer then I would go the refund way. The seller told me he thought the images looks fine to him, but he is a nice guy willing to refund my money.

 

And I just got its brand new Luigi's case!!! :-(

 

 

Ricardo

[d_lague]

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Hope it works out. This is a great camera. Terrifc lens.

Dick

[laptoprob]

Sorry to hear about this. Now you haven't gotten excited on the camera before it failed... What serial is yours? All D2's starting with 2... seem to fail sooner or later, see my thread on serials and sensors.

 

Do get it fixed. You will love the camera.

 

cheers, Rob.

[jaapv]

Thanks for your reply Jth. I just checked the link for it only talks about the Panasonic versions, do you think Leica will do the same? I don't have the original camera receipt or anything so I wonder if I need it to claim a warranty repair.

 

Thanks!

Yes Leica will,they did mine last year without quibble.

[rivi1969]

I don't have the camera with me at the moment but I think the serial starts with 299, maybe 299385 or 6. I heard some of the cameras with serials in the 3's are already dying too!

I hope Leica will respond soon, if they give me the warranty I will keep it, if I have to pay more than 400dlls for it, maybe I will ask for the refund, but I don't see the case to look after another D2 since basically ALL are going to die sooner or later :-(

 

Is it really impossible to fit in this camera an upgraded sensor? that would be so good!

 

R

[jaapv]

The serial number is not absolute. If the camera comes in for a repair that needs a replacement of the bottom plate, Leica will issue a new serial number.

[dugby]

Here is the still displayed Official NEWS item on the D2 sensor warranty on the UK Leica website

 

<http://www.leica-camera.co.uk/news/news/1/3898.html>

 

Quite a few people on this forum, including myself have gone through the

sensor replacement process for our D2's.

 

You will go through "DSAD" ( Digilux Separation Anxiety Disorder ).....

Your consumption of pain killers, alcoholic beverages, laxatives and

shopping binges will be on the increase during this time.

 

For me it was the latter as i needed a camera for an urgent shoot, so I bought an interrim L1, which turned out to be superb and a keeper, but I still use and cherish my D2

 

(I recall it was a little similar to that waiting period when my wife went into labor with our first born.....)

 

When the D2 is finally delivered back to you, you'll say it was all worth it for your new "Precious...."

[jbstitt]

I too can attest that Leica will fix it no questions asked. They did mine. I got it back in December. It was in for quite some time and I was shooting with a 5D in the mean time. I even bought a G9 for a travel camera while I waited. Then I got it back and took it out for a shoot. Wow, like finding a long lost friend. Sure the 5Dis smooth and has great low light capability and the G9 is nice too, but there is something about a D2 picture that is just plain "LEICA!" At 100 the pictures have a clarity and snap that others just do not have. No, I cannot make a 30" x 40 inch, but for the prints I make, up to 12 x 16 inches, at 100, it holds it own. Even the D3 does not compare.

 

GET IT FIXED UNDER WARRENTY AND FIND SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT. TAKE CARE OF ALL BUSINESS BEFORE GETTING IT BACK BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES BACK YOU ARE IN STORE FOR A REAL TREAT!

[laptoprob]

"DSAD"

 

So there is a name for what I'm going through... Looking again at my old Minolta SLR glass I decided to get me a 7D. And ordered some M42 - AF adapters to convert the old glass. Some tinkering to do but then I have a new toy with old glass!

Big and heavy though, quite another beast than the D2.

[rivi1969]

Yes, DSAD starts the very moment one realized that the camera will be away for long time.

I had an L1 with the additional 25mm lens, I like it a lot but never felt in love with, so I sold it all and never felt that separation feeling with it, so I won't take any offer to upgrade or whatever they could offer... I just want this baby back, its Luigi's case is waiting to be fit on :-)