uptong Posted May 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Have just received my LC1 back from Panasonic UK after having the CCD replaced, yes was a FOC repair. Interestingly with the returned camera there was also a little box marked Part No. VEK0F72 Part Name: CCD FLEX U DMC-LC1-K. Inside was a small black bag which was sealed with a small piece of tape and inside that a CCD unit on a board, still with a protective self stick type plastic cover over the CCD unit. No mention made of if this is the old defective CCD or what, suspect its the old one but still somewhat unusual to get this back with the camera I would have thought. Still makes for an opportunity to take a quick snap so people can see what one looks like in the flesh so to speak. For those who may be interested in seeing the part and the 'white box' that Panasonic parts are in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 11, 2009 Posted May 11, 2009 Hi uptong, Take a look here LC1 CCD image. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Riley Posted May 13, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 13, 2009 yeah pretty odd, are you certain that 1/ the sensor was replaced, and 2/ that the packaged item is the old sensor, not another new part Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted May 13, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 13, 2009 Judging from the air bubbles I would say it's the replaced one and the technician just put the foil from the now one on the old one. But it does confirm that the sensor is changed, not the lens and sensor (as some have suggested the sensor and lens is one part). If you care to, I would love a photo of someone (preferable a pretty girl ;-) holding up the sensor in her fingers and a macro/closeup shot of it with her face blurred in the background for my Digilux 2 page. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted May 13, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 13, 2009 But it does confirm that the sensor is changed, not the lens and sensor (as some have suggested the sensor and lens is one part). As the photo shows, the sensor is attached to an aluminum plate and then the aluminum plate is attached to the lens via three screws (and three shims between the plate and lens to adjust its position). I can't imagine that it would ever be necessary to replace the lens and sensor together as a unit unless it's quicker to perform the alignment process on a batch basis or requires the use of equipment not commonly found in a repair facility (both of which, quite honestly, strike me as being unlikely.) In any event, I seperated the sensor and lens when I was converting one of my LC1s to IR-only operation and have noticed no ill effects as a result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koray Posted May 13, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 13, 2009 Which service centre did you send it to? In my case I made the wrong choice and received a camera with two misplaced CCD shims and a sensor with all sorts of crap and finger smudges on it. As a result, focus scale was off by a few meters (you could focus beyond infinity!), and when the lens was stopped down all the crap would show up in bright images. I had to clean the thing myself. To my surprise, when I opened the camera I found one of the missing shims under the flash unit, and the other appeared in the plastic bag that it came in. I ended up losing one of them again (!) and I substituted a thin copper foil instead. I hope they really put a new sensor in my camera, I am not really sure now looking at the work they've done. I thought about complaining to Panasonic first, then I changed my mind, in this bad economy I don't want to risk anybody's job. In the end, it is just a camera, oh and they gave me a good reason to dig in! By the way, there is no reason for Panasonic to replace the lens body for sensor problems. The sensor is held in place with 3 screws and I don't think it takes much of their times to replace it. Here is a step by step disassembly guide that I've created for LC1, if you are interested: Panasonic LC1 Disassembly - a set on Flickr Cheers, Koray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted May 14, 2009 To answer your queries. Riley 1) Yes I am sure sensor has been replaced, the clue to that is - images are now being recorded! 2) I would strongly suspect that it is the old sensor, but without dismantling camera and swapping over there is no real way of telling. As Overgaard points out the bubbles on the little plastic covering would suggest that the tech has simply placed this on the old sensor when he did the swap over, makes sense. Overgaard 1) Think you ar correct about the foil. 2) Will try and find a suitable 'model' can't promise a pretty girl though and with this being 'Leica' oriented possibly a wrinkly old male would be more in keeping Koray Have no idea which service centre undertook the repair. When the problem occurred I spoke with Panasonic UK head office, they arranged a collection by a courier service and returned it. Have no idea if they did the repair in house or sent it on to another service centre, whole process took just under three weeks from collection to return so likely it in house or somewhere very close to Bracknell, no indication on any of the documentation to an outside agency of any kind. Thankfully havn't noticed any issues as yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted May 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the image. I've updated my Digilux 2 page with it (on page 2) leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica Digilux 2 sample photos and tests (as well as Panasonic DMC-LC1) - Page 1 of 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted May 14, 2009 Update on repair. Just got round to doing a test of the new CCD per Koray's observation. Sure enough 'Dust' marks are appearing on light backgrounds when using f8 or smaller. Not as brave as him in attempting a DIY fix so will be a call in morning to Panasonic to see what they have to say. Obviously their conditions and QC in repair shop leaves something to be desired! One incidence could bad luck, twice means something is not right that needs addressing. Will report back on what they have to say, could be interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted May 15, 2009 Contacted Panasonic UK, they were very apologetic and have arranged for camera to be collected same day (this afternoon) to be taken back cleaned and all set up gain. Of course all FOC. We will have to wait and see if they actually do a good job this time or if it will return once more with any new and exciting developments! One day may get to use it again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 15, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 15, 2009 Uptong, please can you share your Panasonic UK contact details? I have an LC-1 in need of surgery and when I contacted them about this some months ago they simply didn't want to know, pointing me at their website and the service centres listed there. Given that I drive through Bracknell twice a day I am happy to save them the courier costs too! Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted May 15, 2009 Hi Bill. I'm sorry I don't have any specific contact person at all at Panasonic I simply rang the number from their website contact details, explained that I had a problem, the camera producing images like a bad 1970's acid trip and that I assumed it was the infamous CDD problem manifesting itself, they just asked for my name and the serial number and that was it they immediately said they would arrange collection and asked when it would be convenient to collect it, presumably looked up that that serial was registered to me on their system and that was all they needed. Sorry I can't be of much help to you in providing a person for you to speak with, none of their paperwork included any names etc just a Bracknell address. I have no idea if the person I spoke with today was same one as before, but they were very helpful again, just asked for name and postcode and brought up all the relevant details their end. There do seem to be mixed stories concerning Panasonic and their service dept, mostly the problems seem to stem from people who havn't registered the camera with them and/or have purchased one secondhand.Perhaps their system shows that a particular serial number has been registered more than once, from what I have read they do seem to have a policy of not providing the warranty to second users for some reason. All I can suggest is that you give them another try or possibly try via one of the out of town service centres rather than Panasonic H/O. I hope you can get something sorted with them under the extended warrenty, the cost of repair outside this is quite high. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 15, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 15, 2009 Many thanks, Uptong. Think what I'll do is just box it up and drop in one day on my way into work. I am the original owner, and the serial number is definitely in the range of suspect ones. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted May 15, 2009 Bill would suggest that you make sure you have the LC1 registered with them. When I was registering my LX3 on line I had a senior moment and for the life of me could not remember if I had ever sent in the LC1 card way back when, so for good measure I also registered the LC1 on line as well and it was accepted no problem Then when I had the problem with the LC1 I found the original box etc and sure enough found that I had sent the card in when I got the camera (make notes of these things) I dont know if my registering it on line helped or not but cant do any harm if you did likewise, may or may not help. As a point of interest from what I have seen on line people have shown a serial number range for affected cameras, mine was actually higher than all the others I found, mine is an H4SYxxxxx number so its not necessarily a within a certain range thing. One last point if you do just drop it in make sure you only drop off the bare camera, no caps/battery/hood/cards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted May 22, 2009 Update. Have just received the camera back from Panasonic UK after having to send it back to them for a sensor clean after they had fitted the replacement. This time all A1 not a mark to be seen and comparing images between now and just after it was returned last time I would say they appear quite a bit crisper in general as well, looks like a good clean has done it a power of good. Hopefully now all sorted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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