Corrosión en el sensor de las M9/MM... a cuantos os ha pasado?

Yo tengo esta info:

Leica M9 / M9-P / M Monochrom / M-E – sensor problems

Extended Statement upon demand
for reactive use in response to customers’ enquiries and in forums and blogs

Corrosion effects may appear on the cover glass of the CCD sensor in Leica M9, M9-P, M Monochrom and M-E cameras. Above all, these may become visible as marks on images captured at smaller apertures (f/5.6-22). Leica Camera AG offers a goodwill arrangement for servicing the sensors of the products affected that goes beyond the terms and conditions of the mandatory warranty period. The new Leica M (Type 240) with the CMOS sensor is not affected by this problem.

First of all, let us state that we deeply regret any inconveniences you may face with your CCD Sensor. We are totally aware of the seriousness of this issue. In parallel, we are currently investigating further long-term measures for the prevention of renewed damage by corrosion effects.

One essential condition for ideal optical performance with Leica M lenses is to use as few glass layers as possible and the thinnest glass as possible in the optical light path.
Conventional image sensors that are used in competitors’ cameras have several glass layers, such as an optical low pass filter, IR-cut filter and a clear coverglass. Caused by these glass layers of several mm thickness, the optical performance with Leica M lenses would not be satisfying, especially with wideangle lenses in the image corners.

The M9 Sensor (KAF-18500) was developed together with the supplier Kodak ISS (today Truesense Imaging, Inc.) to achieve the best possible image quality with Leica M lenses.
Therefore we decided just to use an IR-cut filter of less than 1mm thickness and to refrain from additional layers. This filter has a special coating to minimise reflections that also protects the sensor against moisture.

Should this coating be damaged, corrosion effects that change the structure of the filter surface may begin to appear after several years. Hot and humid climatic conditions (>40°C and >95% relative humidity) may favour the growth of the affected areas. Furthermore, we assume that potential damages of the sensor surface may also occur due to wet cleaning of the sensor. We, therefore, advise to clean the sensor contact-free or under dust-free conditions as they prevail at Leica Customer Care. Changes to the surface of the glass may be best avoided by reliance on careful and contact-free cleaning or, in cases of heavier soiling, professional sensor cleaning performed by Customer Care at Leica Camera AG.

In the field, there are situations in which an urgent sensor cleaning is essential and a contact-free cleaning does not yield the desired results. Of course, suitable cleaning equipment may be used in such situations. The risk of using wet cleaning solutions in the field, though, is higher.

As our experience is limited to the actual media and agents used at Leica for cleaning sensors, please understand that we may make no concrete statements regarding other special agents or media intended for this purpose.

At Leica, ‘Isopropanol’ (isopropyl alcohol) cleaning fluid and the following tools are employed in the production process and by Customer Care:

Pentax Image Sensor Cleaning Kit, O-ICK1:
shop-de.ricoh-imaging.eu/sensor-cleaning-kit.html

Cleaning swabs made by ‘Visible Dust’:
www.visibledust.com/products.php#swab

With appropriate care and attention, these aids may also be employed for cleaning the sensor yourself. In particular, we request that you painstakingly observe the manufacturers’ instructions with regard to handling and only work with new and unsoiled cleaning aids.

Regarding the goodwill arrangement

Leica Camera AG offers customers a goodwill arrangement for servicing sensors affected by the problem that goes beyond the terms and conditions of the mandatory warranty period.
• Customer care will perform sensor cleaning free of charge by prior arrangement.
• In the case of damage as a result of corrosion, the sensor will be replaced free of charge up to three years following the date of purchase. Leica Camera AG will cover the full costs of replacement, amounting to 1,800 euros plus applicable VAT. This does not apply to sensors damaged by scratching or breakage of the sensor glass.
• In the fourth and fifth year following the date of purchase, sensors damaged by the corrosion effects described will be replaced for a fixed charge of 600 euros plus applicable VAT. Leica Camera AG will cover the remaining costs of 1,200 euros.
• In the sixth and seventh year following the date of purchase, sensor replacement will be offered at a fixed charge of 1,200 euros plus applicable VAT. Leica Camera AG will cover the remaining costs of 600 euros.
• For the eighth and more years following the date of purchase, sensor replacement will be offered at a fixed charge of 1,500 euros plus applicable VAT. Leica Camera AG will cover the remaining costs of 300 euros.
• The prices stated apply for direct shipment of the camera to Leica Customer Care in Wetzlar or the Customer Care department of a national distributor. Additional costs may arise when the camera is sent to Leica through a dealer.
• The CCD sensor is replaced with a sensor of the same type used for serial production. We can, thus, not totally exclude a new occurrence of corrosion effects. Should a replaced sensor be affected by the same damage scenario, the same goodwill arrangement exceeding the terms and conditions of the mandatory warranty period will, therefore, apply from the date of repair as in the case of the first replacement.
• We kindly ask you for your understanding that sensors showing visible scratch marks are excluded from the warranty and goodwill arrangement. If you can make your camera available to Leica Customer Care, we will clean your camera sensor for you professionally, with utmost care and free of charge. This offer also applies for new cases of dirt on sensors.
• As longer waiting times may otherwise occur, the camera should be sent to Customer Care only after prior arrangement.
• Should you be considering an upgrade to a Leica M or M-P (Type 240), Customer Care will make you an attractive offer under the terms and conditions of the goodwill arrangement.
• Contact: website: de.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Reparatur-Wartung ; email: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.; telephone: +49 (0)6441 2080 189.

algo no encaja, en la web hablan de gratis total pero en el comunicado hay unos precios en función de la edad de de la cámara

"Leica offers a free replacement service for the CCD sensors of cameras affected by this problem as a goodwill arrangement. This goodwill arrangement applies regardless of the age of the camera and also covers sensors that have already been replaced in the past"

como en la web se refieran a gratis solo a las que tengan 3 años es para cortarles los huevos, praticamente solo cubriría la M-E y las MM

Pero Toshiro tu de donde sacas esa información. Yo he puesto un link a la pagina de Leica.

Pablo Rodrigo escribió: jaja Eric, vaya humor. Habrá que preguntar la los terrorist qué cámaras aguantan más!

Perdón por mi desconocimiento, pero cuántas unidades, qué porcentaje de cámaras, se ven afectadas por estos problemas??

Por desgracia, todas, antes o despues. La velocidad con que se oxida depende del clima o ambiente en el que esté la cámara.

Cuidado, que no haya confusión. El comunicado en el que tienes que pagar parte es el antiguo.

AHORA, y a partir de AHORA, efectivamente, se hacen cargo ellos del cambio de sensor INDEPENDIENTEMENTE DE LA EDAD DE LA CÁMARA. Queda muy claro aquí:

http://en.leica-camera.com/World-of-Leica/Leica-News/About-Leica-News/Global/Important-Information-Concerning-the-CCD-Sensors

Ahora ya me pensaré comprar una M9 que al menos no tenga ese problema. Aunque lo vayan a arreglar gratis en todas, va a ser tal la avalancha de arreglos que no va a ser raro tener que esperar entre tres meses (la espera actual) y seis meses para tener tu cámara en casa de vuelta.

Un saludo,
diego.

Es lo que he dicho en mi post. Se hacen cargo por el cambio.

Y mas, si alguno ha pagado le regresan el dinero.

No hay duda alguna al comunicado en la página oficial.

Me late que mas de uno, de los antiLeica se quedaran sin chicha.

FERNANDO escribió:
..........................
"va a ser tal la avalancha de arreglos que no va a ser raro tener que esperar entre tres meses (la espera actual) y seis meses para tener tu cámara en casa de vuelta".

Un saludo,
diego.
.......................

¿En que te basas para afirmar esto?
¿Lo dices con conocimiento de causa o por decir algo?

Mmm... Que en qué me baso... Pues desafortunadamente en experiencia personal. He tenido tan mala pata que justo cuando se ha descubierto todo esto envié una recién comprada (de segunda mano) M9 a ajustar el telémetro y me enviaron de vuelta la facturita de que tenía que pagar 800€ por cambio de sensor por este problema. Tiempo de espera para sensor ahora: tres meses. En cuanto la gente se ponga a hacer pruebas y detecte el problema (a mí por ejemplo se me había pasado por que la mayoría de veces disparo muy abierto) me dirás tú a mí si con un volumen "estándar" de reparaciones tardan tres meses, cuando venga la tromba...

Un saludo,
diego.

Seguro que será como dices Dsevilla, ahora se buscará el defecto. Y todos querrán sensor nuevo.

A propósito en tu caso según el comunicado tendrás derecho a que te regresan los 800€.

yo no es que sea antileica, más bien al revés, pero mi plan era volver a comprar la M9 dentro de un tiempo cuando llegase a los 1500 o 2000 euros ya que ese sensor a ISO base me parece simple y llanamente el mejor sensor digital que se haya fabricado hasta la fecha.

Y con la faena de zascarte hasta 1500 euros por cambiarlo ese plan se iba al garete. Pero ahora con esta nueva política la cosa cambia

por cierto que lei por ahi que a uno le ofrecieron el upgrade a la M240 por solo 2300 euros. Me parece un precio bastante razonable si tienes un M9 con 4 o 5 años de caña.

Señores, esto es una tomadura de pelo. Si el sensor nuevo que me montan es un CMOS o es un CCD con el problema corregido vale, sino...

Ya no podemos decir que Leica es como Rolex, para siempre.

No me vale lo que hace Nikanon, porque no vende excelencia. Leica es Rolex, y Canon y Nikon son Longines, no es lo mismo.

No me ha gustado, la verdad. Yo si ahora hago el tremendo esfuerzo de comprar la monochrome es para que me dure al menos 10 años sin problemas. Al cuarto año, 600 euros por un fallo de Leica...ni hablar.