Leica M9 - Purchase advice

Leica M9 Monochrom CCD mit Leica Summilux-M 50mm 1.4 - 11868 - 6Bit E46 - Pre-Asph. und Leica M Noctilux 50mm 1.0 E60 - 4th - 11822

Sensor problems and sensor replacement with the Leica M9

Some Leica M9 (and accordingly Leica M9-P / Leica M Monochrom / Leica ME) show corroded sensors (glass corrosion - general manufacturing defects). Leica recognized this fundamental problem with the M9 and launched a “recall campaign” that ran until autumn 2017 . The sensors could be exchanged free of charge at Leica.

After that, a Leica exchange program was launched until 2020 in connection with a general overhaul at Leica for 1,550 EUR (Goodwill price).

Currently (as of September 2020) the production of the CCD sensors for the Leica M9 models has been discontinued, subsequent deliveries are no longer possible and defective sensors cannot be replaced. Instead of exchanging sensors, Leica offers its customers the option of trading in their cameras with a defective sensor and purchasing the latest Leica camera models at attractive conditions.

This means that the selling price for a Leica M9 on the used market will also fall (or rise). The vast majority of Leica owners had the replacement carried out free of charge, as this involved a complete overhaul of the camera.

You can do this well Observe on ebay, the term "replacement sensor" is constantly being used in connection with a Leica M9.

Whether a used Leica M9 was being overhauled and the sensor was replaced, can be found out using the serial number after consulting Leica Customer Service in Wetzlar.

You can usually get Leica M9 cameras from us * with the sensor already replaced.

When the sensor is replaced, the Leica M9 is given a & nbsp; General overhaul, which also includes the following services:

Cleaning and overhauling the locking mechanism
Cleaning and repairing the multifunctional wheel
Cleaning the main switch and time wheel
Adjusting the bottom cover lock
Repairing the engravings
Renewing the bottom cover film
Repair of viewfinder displays

* Leica is currently no longer exchanging corroded sensors as part of the goodwill offer described above. CCD sensors are no longer available.

Sensor problems with the Leica M9

Here you can see the problems with the Leica M9 affected by corrosion sensors. Strictly speaking, the filter glass in front of the sensor is affected by the corrosion. Here the glass can be exchanged at a price of approx. EUR 1,500.

Another problem is the (partial) failure of the sensor over time. Initially, "dead pixels" can appear, which show up as individual missing points, often also as mostly vertical lines in the image result.

In the case shown here, even the sensor is "whole" affected by failures. Especially bright image areas show purple areas ("purple curtain").

Here the sensor from another, working but e.g. less beautiful Leica M9 can be installed. However, the price for this sensor exchange is so high that it is more worthwhile to look for a nice M9 with the sensor (glass) already exchanged on the second-hand market.

If you love your Leica M9 dearly, you can commission approx 4,000 EUR a sensor exchange (CCD11 sensor from a used Leica M9) including a corrosion-resistant BG sensor glass.