[Leica] M9 reliability question - from the Leica Website

Thu Jun 2 11:52:33 PDT 2016

Well, we are all better informed than we were yesterday. :-)

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 6/2/2016 1:41 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
> Indeed, it appears that 1.204 is not on Leica’s web site. Anyway, the listing of the M9 I was thinking of has disappeared from the Facebook Leica Classifieds group, so it is all moot anyway.
>
> Cheers,
> Nathan
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
> YNWA
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>> On 02 Jun 2016, at 17:15, Jim Nichols <jhnichols at lighttube.net> wrote:
>>
>> Nathan,
>>
>>  From what I have read, there is no crossover date.  Somewhere around January 2016 they started using the improved sensor cover, but were also still using some of the older covers.  It is implied, no, I have not seen it written, that the factory made the firmware update when they installed the newer sensor system.
>>
>> John M. says in another post that 1.204 is not available for download.  I have no way of knowing about this point.
>>
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>
>> On 6/1/2016 11:54 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>>> This is confusing, though. How can the firmware version indicate the sensor? What if I have an M9 with the original sensor and just update the firmware myself?
>>> It seems from Douglas post that it is safer to go by date of replacement.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Nathan
>>>
>>> Nathan Wajsman
>>> Alicante, Spain
>>> http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
>>> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
>>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
>>> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
>>> YNWA
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>>>> On 01 Jun 2016, at 23:30, Jim Nichols <jhnichols at lighttube.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Douglas,
>>>>
>>>>  From the latest posting I could find, the best clue is the Firmware number.  Apparently, if the new corrosion-less sensor is installed, they update the Firmware to 1.204.  The previous version, for the earlier sensor, is 1.202.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Nichols
>>>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>>>
>>>> On 6/1/2016 4:19 PM, Douglas Sharp wrote:
>>>>> http://uk.leica-camera.com/World-of-Leica/Leica-News/About-Leica-News/Global/2015/Update-CCD-Sensor
>>>>>
>>>>> *Dated 31/08/2015:*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>      /"Update CCD Sensor of the Leica M9/M9-P/M
>>>>>      Monochrom and M-E camera models/
>>>>>
>>>>> //
>>>>>
>>>>> /We are very pleased to inform you that we have successfully completed development on our new generation of CCD sensors and conducted subsequent quality assurance testing under practical conditions. As a result, Leica Camera AG can now begin replacing the sensors in the M9, M9-P and M-E models that were affected by corrosion with sensors from the new generation./
>>>>>
>>>>> /Sensor replacement for M Monochrom models will also begin shortly. We will inform you of the precise date of this as soon as possible./
>>>>>
>>>>> /On this note, we would like to remind our customers that we can only offer replacements for CCD sensors for cameras affected by this particular problem; prophylactic replacement is not possible./
>>>>>
>>>>> /We thank you for your patience and for your loyalty to the Leica brand."/
>>>>>
>>>>> Unfortunately, it doesn’t say exactly from when the "new generation" replacements are being installed. But it seems to indicate that any replacements made before 31 August 2015 must have been with older generation sensors.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>> Douglas
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 01.06.2016 23:03, Jim Nichols wrote:
>>>>>> Nathan & Douglas,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A search turned up this:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/258531-m9-sensor/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jim Nichols
>>>>>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 6/1/2016 3:53 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>>>>>>> I have no idea when the cutover date was. I am basing my statements on Peter Klein’s post.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>> Nathan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Nathan Wajsman
>>>>>>> Alicante, Spain
>>>>>>> http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
>>>>>>> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
>>>>>>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
>>>>>>> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
>>>>>>> YNWA
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> On 01 Jun 2016, at 22:43, Douglas Barry <imra at iol.ie> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Nathan, I'll pick your brain if I might as a Google search has failed to clarify this.
>>>>>>>> I didn't realise the sensor replacement was date critical. The private one near me here in Ireland had its sensor replaced 6 months ago by Leica. I presume that's ok? If so, I just might make him an offer.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Douglas
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu>
>>>>>>>> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2016 8:22 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Leica] M9 reliability question
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks to all who have replied. So the story is not that simple—not only do I need to know whether the sensor has been replaced but also whether it has been replaced with the old one or the new one. I have asked the seller when the replacement got done.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> And no, I do not want to deal with the hassle of sending a camera to Germany and then waiting for who knows how long. My previous experience sending my M8 for repair back in 2009 or 10 was not that great.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>>> Nathan
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Nathan Wajsman
>>>>>>>>> Alicante, Spain
>>>>>>>>> http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
>>>>>>>>> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
>>>>>>>>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
>>>>>>>>> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
>>>>>>>>> YNWA
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>> On 01 Jun 2016, at 14:22, Frank Verizon 2 2016 <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I would buy the one that has not had the sensor replaced, if I could determine the replacement is required. Then I would send it in for sensor replacement, getting the complete camera checked out and adjusted for free.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> There are those that would say buying a non-current digicam is silly. You are buying old technology. Not as good. My argument is that if it does the job you want, when you buy it, the age of the technology is not relevant.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The M9 has proven itself to me to be reliable and a great back end for Leica glass.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> $2500 is a bargain
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Frank
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Jun 1, 2016, at 12:05 AM, Nathan Wajsman <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I have always said that once the M9 prices come down to a level that I am prepared to pay, I will buy one. Well, in the past week I have seen two for sale, for $2500 and $2200, respectively. The one I saw this morning has had the sensor replaced. Those prices are within my range, but I now have doubts about reliability. Clearly, buying an M9 that has not had a sensor replacement is out of the question; but in case one has had it, is the new sensor reliable—or is it just a matter of time before it starts rotting just like the original one did? And are there other reliability issues besides the sensor? Digital Leicas have not had a stellar record.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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