Sensor Replacement Service for the Leica M9 Camera
$2,500.00
Description
This is a replacement of the entire sensor stack. This service will replace the stack with a fully functioning Leica CCD sensor including our corrosion resistant BG glass of choice.
This service fixes the dreaded failed sensor, half screen, or “purple curtain” type failures, that can look like a fully or half dead screen, or like the effect shown below. If your sensor only has spots, you most likely only need our corroded sensor glass replacement services which can be found HERE
CCD ID Number
Leica made a range of sensors throughout the lifespan of the M9’s production line. CCD 11+ sensors came at a later point and did not suffer from the acid gel formation issue present in earlier models. CCD 11+ sensors have a much harder original adhesive bonding the glass to the sensor and are more time consuming to replace with Schott Glass.
We are also able to install CCD 15 or CCD 16 sensors. These sensors were produced at the end of the M9 production and finally had the corrosion and acid gel issues addressed directly by Leica. We have never seen any CCD 15 or CCD 16 sensor/sensor glass suffer from either issue, and as such, we have no need to replace the glass with corrosion resistant Schott BG glass. If you opt in for a replacement to a CCD 15-16 sensor you will receive an original corrosion proof Leica sensor with fully stock Leica protective sensor glass.
Acid Gel Formation
Earlier Sensors (CCD ID 3-8) have been discovered to suffer from a unique issue stemming from the adhesive used to attach the protective sensor glass to the sensor. This adhesive has been found to denature into an acid gel. If this gel shifts onto the bond wires that feed information from the sensor to the board of the camera, it can corrode these wires and result in permanent digital sensor failure as shown in the image above.
It is for this reason we recommend earlier CCD ID sensors be sent in for glass replacement sooner rather than later as the change of this corrosion and subsequent failure happening has been shown to increase with time.
When we receive a Leica M9 with CCD ID number 3-8 we will inspect the sensor under a microscope to determine the level of acid gel formation and ingress onto bond wires. If we see this gel has shifted onto the bond wires we will reach out before proceeding with the glass replacement due to the higher risk involved. If the gel has not yet shifted onto the bond wires we will proceed with the repair and remove any gel present from the sensor area. This should prevent any future corrosion, and in combination with the corrosion resistant glass, should provide a full life to your Leica M9 unit. We also cover all Leica’s against future glass corrosion when our Schott BG glass is used.
Our Repair
That’s where Kolari came in. We’re happy to announce that we can repair the Leica M9 sensor and replace it with corrosion resistant glass starting at $999. We’ve removed Leica coverglass before, but haven’t looked into this repair earlier since there was a warranty option through Leica. We found out about this recent news after a few customers emailed us asking about the repair. So we picked up an M9 with a corroded sensor, and gave it a shot. We were able to delaminate the corroded filter from the sensor, and replace it with BG60 glass. This glass will last indefinitely without oxidizing per Schott test reports, and also allows us to reduce the Leica sensor stack by 0.2mm, further improving on its excellent corner sharpness. We can also replace the glass with our full spectrum glass making it IR and UV compatible.
BG61 vs the M9 Original Glass
We are now using a new BG61 glass with anti-reflective coating, which is nearly an identical match to the original M9 glass filter. We designed the BG61 to be the same thickness as the original filter while also matching the transmission properties. This is a highly specialized glass made by Schott that is inherently corrosion resistant, even before we put an additional protective anti-reflective and anti-smudge coating to seal it from the environment. This filter cannot corrode by design, even if the coatings get scratched.
We also offer a cheaper BG39 glass with a protective anti-reflective and anti-smudge coating to seal it against corrosion. We offer this option with a lifetime guarantee against corrosion. We have this available right now at a lower price to the BG61. Color and optical performance is virtually identical to the BG61 glass, however this glass may corrode over time if the coatings get scratched or worn off.
By purchasing you agree to our Terms of Purchase
Additional information
| Weight | 2 lbs |
|---|
International Orders
Do you accept international orders?
Absolutely! For accurate shipping costs, please enter your complete shipping address during the checkout process. Some locations may be subject to a remote area surcharge via FedEx Express. The system will not automatically calculate this surcharge. Please check the following link if your city/zip code is considered a remote area: Zipcodes_OPA_ODA.pdf
If you place an order and your city/zip code is on this list, we’ll reach out to you via email to collect the surcharge.
***We legally can not declare lower values for customs and duties. We ship all of our international orders from the United States. Please note that we do not collect taxes, duties, or VAT. International customers are responsible for all duties, taxes, and VAT that may be charged by their respective local customs office. You may also be subject to a brokerage charge when you choose FedEx, UPS, or DHL shipping options.***
DISCLAIMER (Please Read)
When working with corroded equipment, there’s a high degree of risk outside of our control when performing repair services. Most of the Leica M9’s we receive suffer from a heavily damaged ICF that may crack when being removed from the sensor assembly. We’ve also seen Leica M9s arrive with an already cracked ICF due to the corrosion issue. We’re a highly skilled and capable repair shop but unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to avoid this even under extreme care. If your sensor cracks during removal there is a chance that glass dust can land on the bare sensor which can cause fine scratches that can be visible under some shooting settings. Furthermore, we’ve been seeing that some M9’s are also affected by a liquid gel substance that can leak onto the sensor and also corrode through bond wires. This liquid gel is visible under a microscope but can’t always be seen. If we notice that your camera is affected by this substance we will reach out to you before we continue with your repair service and ask for permission to proceed. (We successfully repaired a few M9’s with corroded bond wires and the camera did not have any noticeable issues after being repaired but we can not guarantee this for every camera.) We can not be held liable for damages if the liquid gel spreads to your bare sensor during the repair service. We are also not liable for any liquid gel issues or electronic issues stemming from corroded bond wires after the repair service in the event that it is not visible during the repair. Lastly, some repairs are not possible (or very high risk) because of extremely strong bonding that can not be softened for a safe filter removal. If we find that we can not safely remove your ICF we will stop the repair process, reassemble your camera, notify you, and send it back after your confirmation. (This is the main reason we do not support the Leica M9M, M9-P, and M-E.)
In the event that we can not move forward with your repair for any reason, we will notify you, wait for your response, send back your camera, and process a refund for your repair minus a 5% processing fee and shipping costs.
We’ve also been noticing that some M9 sensors are affected by electronic failure. Unfortunately, we can not repair this. Here’s an example of what electronic sensor failure looks like below:
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