Mark Pope Posted May 27, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I bought an ex-demo M8 body from Ffordes in Scotland last week. When I uploaded my first batch of shots, I noticed the dreaded vertical line problem at about the 2500 pixel mark, with a line crossing virtually the whole frame. The problem manifested itself at ISO 640 upwards, though I could detect a line at 160 if I played around with the fill light in Lightroom. So, having read up on the problem on the forum, I was preparing myself for a long wait without the body as it went away for repair and contacted Ffordes yesterday, initially by email (with examples of the problem) and later on by phone. I had a call from Steve Byford this morning to say that a replacement body would be with me tomorrow and that Leica UK would be calling me later to arrange for the faulty camera to be returned to them. Within 20 minutes, Charlotte from Leica UK had rung and we'd arranged for the body to go back to them tomorrow. An excellent result I think. Here's hoping the next one will be OK..Suffice to say, I will be using Ffordes again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 27, 2009 Posted May 27, 2009 Hi Mark Pope, Take a look here Vertical line problem - in praise of FFordes and Leica UK. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dcuthbert Posted May 27, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 27, 2009 Agreed, Charlotte has been dead helpful with me, mine is hopefully being fixed in time for my return to Burma in July Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem7 Posted May 27, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 27, 2009 Good to hear this was worked out so fast! My new M8.2 had the line problem but my dealer sent me a new one via Express mail the moment I told him about it. My new one is PERFECT, with no issues! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pope Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted May 27, 2009 I was delighted with the way FFordes and Leica UK acted. DCuthbert - here's hoping you get yours back in time. Steve - glad your 8.2 is a good 'un. Cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pope Posted May 28, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted May 28, 2009 Well, for a few hours, we were a three-M8 family as the replacement arrived first thing this morning and the the one with the problem went via Fed-Ex to Milton Keynes this evening. Anyway, I've done a quick test - the sensor needs a bit of a spruce-up and my initial tests showed that there is no vertical line. At least none evident with the version of software (1.1.02!) on the camera. As I write this, I've bunged on 2.004 and i've retested the sensor for vertical lines and again no evidence (Phew!). I'm delighted that my problem was resolved in just 48 hours. Given some of the horror stories that I've read on this board, it came as a nice surprise. Time to take some proper pics with it now! Cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicoleica Posted May 28, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 28, 2009 I'm happy to hear that it has all worked out well for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted May 28, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 28, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am extremely disappointed about that 'the line problem' still hasn't been solved - even on the M8.2. I thought of buying one, but no... What is the cause of this line problem? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplomley Posted May 28, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 28, 2009 My concern is why are they not being checked for this well known issue before they leave the factory? Or is this a Kodak QC issue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted May 29, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 29, 2009 ffordes understand the value of customer service. All my dealings with them have been exemplary. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 29, 2009 My concern is why are they not being checked for this well known issue before they leave the factory? Or is this a Kodak QC issue? No - it is a general issue with sensors. It may be that it is easier noticed with the M8 through lack of an AA filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted May 29, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 29, 2009 No - it is a general issue with sensors. It may be that it is easier noticed with the M8 through lack of an AA filter. But that surely can't have any effect on this issue? I must be misunderstanding you Jaap - you seem to be suggesting that the AA filter on other cameras somehow 'blurs' sensor faults, as well as the incoming light information? [sidenote: Incidentally, I find it vaguely amusing that Leica is often praised for the sensor, Kodak blamed for it.] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 29, 2009 No- I may be wrong, and I did think of your remark. But the AA filter does essentially "blur" the incoming light and I feel - but by no means am sure- that it may mask the effect to a certain extent. Certainly the microcontrast of the sensor is affected by such a filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcuthbert Posted May 29, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 29, 2009 whilst i'm sure we will never know the real amount, it would be interesting to see how many sensors are faulty, like 6/10 etc has the problem been solved with the current batch of sensor technology found in the 5d mkII or is it only limited to 35mm sensors. No digital medium format back i've used has ever a vertical line problem Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 29, 2009 Well, for instance: Red pixel + red line? - Steve's Digicams Forums Note that the thread mentions the three-month customer service issue as well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted May 29, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 29, 2009 Well, for instance: Red pixel + red line? - Steve's Digicams Forums Note that the thread mentions the three-month customer service issue as well Jaap - I don't think anyone's suggesting that sensor problems are unique to M8s - far from it. But the incidence of faulty sensors does seem to be unusually high, imo. I'd say that this is something we need to learn to live with - but I'm frankly disappointed that sensor problems are still a feature of M8 production, after two years. And it seems we may even see a totally new release of the M platform, with a totally new sensor, without the old issues ever having been fully resolved - which I feel is disappointing. Anyway, regarding Nikon service, when I mailed Nikon Europe with a question about the D90 they got back to me instantly, and were extremely helpful and forthcoming. Leica CS never answered the mails I sent them when the camera was at Solms for rangefinder adjustment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 29, 2009 It does seem high, I agree. But I doubt whether that is a valid statistical analysis As is the varied experience with Customer Service. I have the impression that there has been a quality drive in that department lately. As for e-mails, I got a receipt returned that a mail from me to Leica was not read a week ago. The mail was sent in January.... - 2007:eek: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 29, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2009 If Kodak are happy with the way Leica have implemented the sensor, they don't have much of a leg to stand on, IMHO. Leica can mask out the bad pixels and column defects during the camera setup process but if the sensor deteriorates in time, this is a sensor quality issue which is firmly at Kodak's door. I don't know whether Kodak make their own sensors or if they are sub-contracted out to a "fab", but I certainly hope the S2 sensor is not going to exhibit the same issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted May 29, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 29, 2009 It does seem high, I agree. But I doubt whether that is a valid statistical analysis As is the varied experience with Customer Service. I have the impression that there has been a quality drive in that department lately. As for e-mails, I got a receipt returned that a mail from me to Leica was not read a week ago. The mail was sent in January.... - 2007:eek: Anyway, as we've discussed before, it would seem that Customer Service needs a push to match the excellent (when everything's working, that is) quality of the cameras. If Leica want to sell the S2 they'll have to get used to at the very least answering a customer's email. Not to do so is an insult, really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted June 1, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 1, 2009 I am not complaining about the Leica service. But I fear that Leica as a company stands the risk of going bankrupt if most of their M8s and m8.2s must be called in for repair. ALL of the Leica M8 I know of that has been sold to Norwegian customers I know have had this line problem and have taken the trip tp Solms etc. Actually all the M8s I know have had the line problem! This 'line problem' must be a service issue of sorts and a ditto profit killer. No company can make money out of warrant servicing practically all the products it has sold. What is the cause to this problem? Is it a poor sensor? Or something else? I have read a lot of speculation about it here at the Leica Forum - but I have not seen any 'official' explanation. With such a service issue, practically including the whole M8 fleet out there, - and now also the M8.2 - is of such a magnitude that Leica should come up with an explanation. That said; I am NOT disappointed with the Leica service. They fixed my 'line problem' - fast and efficient. And it has not turned up again. So, it should be possible to prevent it. And: What do they do at these 'red line warranty repairs'? Change the sensor? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcuthbert Posted June 22, 2009 Share #20 Posted June 22, 2009 Fantastic service from Leica UK (and Germany) and Charlotte. Having sent the M8 to her on the 6th June, she now reckons I'll have it back next week. This goes beyond the level of service i usually experience with Hasselblad, Canon or Phase One. Impressed doesn't even describe the feeling right now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.