My sensor cracked last summer. So far it seems a small batch of sensors (from KODAK) are responsible and from cameras built Sept > November'ish 2009. Serial numbers don't give a direct match as they are assigned in large groups.
But I had to wait seven weeks for a repair as Kodak were on back order and Leica were selling as many M9's as they could make. The seven weeks is all I can quibble about. I don't think Leica would expect to micro inspect every Copal shutter they buy for the M9, never mind micro inspecting every sensor which should be built to the agreed tolerances which are set down by Leica in the first place. If anybody is 'in over their heads' its Kodak, and I resent the idea that I'm in denial by 'Bob'.
Steve
Steve,
Sorry if you do, but think about the situation of a similar attitude were taken by auto or aircraft manufacturers.
Sure Laptop computer manufacturers had issues with one manufacturer's batteries causing the products to burst in flame. Yes the original fault was the part maker, the actual party that YOU do business with is the assembler.
Specify, test, inspect. I will grant that from time to time stuff gets past them but responsible manufactures then do a recall and pro-actively replace units in the field.
Ask yourself the question: Would you buy a Leica pacemaker?
Digital makes all sorts of stuff more complicated and the mechanical to digital transition is not at all easy since it takes a whole raft of new expertise on the part of the manufacturer. Most camera makers have gone through it already and sure, some have had their problems. My peeve is that it seems to be taking Leica an inordinately large amount of time to resolve the "simple" issues. I say simple because these sorts of failures have been known in the industry for several years and there are well known and commonly implemented circumventions.
Frankly, if I did not like the camera I just wouldn't care. It just seems that after my two years of M8/8.2 experience and all the time that they spent in the shop; I get tempted again to buy an M9 and see this stuff is STILL happening.
It is really pretty poor practice to have too much business to resolve a fundamental product defect.
So resent it or not, as long as folks keep buying this stuff and giving the company too much business for it to get its house in order it probably won't get systematically fixed.
If it did, I might actually buy one.
-bob