Leica M9 CCD corrosion: the 2014 goodwill text, the later fee ladder, the 2020 stop — and a case that still has no point-by-point written answers

What was said in public, then what was said to this customer

The Kodak CCD generation of Leica M (M9, M9-P, M Monochrom, M-E and special editions) developed a well-documented cover-glass corrosion / “white spots / halos at small apertures” failure. Leica’s December 2014 public goodwill text, as republished by Leica Rumors, Red Dot Forum, DPReview and diglloyd, is the baseline this archive measures everything else against:

In some cases, particularly when using the camera models Leica M9, M9-P, M Monochrom or M-E with smaller apertures (5.6-22), effects caused by corrosion of the sensor glass may be encountered. 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. Customers who have already been charged for the replacement of a sensor affected by this problem will receive a refund. We have now identified the problem and are currently concentrating our efforts on finding a permanent technical solution.Leica “Important Information Concerning the CCD Sensors”, Dec 2014, as republished by specialist press. Official URL later returned 403 in this case (EX01–EX02).

By August 2017 the free path was limited, in substance, to bodies purchased new within five years; older cameras faced about €982 contribution. From 1 December 2018 the contribution rose again. Ursula Brand of Customer Care wrote this customer on 6 September 2019 (cc complaint.management), matching the public 2018 figure:

Leica has been replacing sensors free of charge for some years now and only charged part for the material cost since 01.09.2017 for affected cameras older than 5 years. We did not come by this decision lightly, but are unable to continue this service any longer. Starting on 01.12.2018 a contribution of €1303 + VAT applies.Ursula Brand, Leica Camera AG Customer Care, 2019-09-06, thread 16d05de9baa9257c.

In August 2020 the public line became: CCD production stopped, defective sensors cannot be replaced, trade-in/upgrade only:

The production of the CCD sensors for the Leica M9 models has been discontinued. Therefore, subsequent deliveries are no longer possible and defective sensors cannot be replaced. Until further notice, all other repairs on the M9 model generation can still be carried out. In place of the sensor exchange we are offering new attractive conditions to our customers to trade in their camera with a defective sensor and purchase a current Leica camera model.Leica statement Aug 2020 as republished by Leica Rumors / Red Dot Forum / Macfilos.

Complaint Manager Kirstin Masney later told this customer the factory cut-off was even earlier:

We explained all this when your camera was here in 2019. The production of the CCD was discontinued in October 2019, sensors are not available any longer, a repair is therefore not possible.Kirstin Masney, Complaint Manager, quoted in thread 1819d9a82aa0691f (2022).

The complainant’s question, still unanswered point-by-point: how does “regardless of age” + “permanent technical solution” become “pay €1303+VAT” and then “cannot be replaced”? Why did the official 2014 URL return 403? How does HQ’s “not acknowledgeable” receipt position sit with the alleged lifetime CCD coverage publicly communicated by Schmidt Marketing (Hong Kong) Ltd?

Full 2014 → 2017 → 2018 → 2020 promise file Case 1058152 Case 1105973

This customer’s path, in HQ’s own words

After estimates and reminders on order 1058152 (August 2019), the complainant sent purchase-proof photographs dated 18 August 2014 for a Monochrom. Nadine Coletta replied:

Unfortunately, the purchase invoice and receipt provided below are not acknowledgeable. Any Leica product comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee that is valid worldwide if the product was purchased from an authorized dealer. If a product was purchased via an unauthorized channel or proof of purchase from an authorized dealer cannot be verified, regular repair charges apply. In such cases warranty claims have to be addressed with the seller/dealer.Nadine Coletta, 2019-09-04, thread 16cfc8aac7da59a2. Receipts: EX07–EX08.

Nicolas Kaufmann had already asked whether to complete the repairs or return the camera unrepaired (29 Aug 2019, thread 16cdd2e20c91abe7). In November 2019 Coletta demanded a European return address, citing customs, and said equipment would otherwise go back unrepaired. The complainant asked for time, citing the Hong Kong Consumer Council, and that Hong Kong shipping had been discussed as tax-free. On 6 March 2020 Liberty Seria said the order would be closed and stored in the workshop. A new related order 1105973 was opened in June 2020 (receipt + estimate + Cost_Estimate).

That is the factual skeleton. The email archive is the flesh: 2015 letters to then-CEO Oliver Kaltner, Paris loaner, order 811072, 2019 media-cc’d complaints, automatic replies, RecipientNotFound bounces, 2022 and 2024 renewals, and the 2026 Ping An statement pack.

Primary exhibits

Click any image for full size. The complete visual set — mail embeds, PDF page scans, web captures — is on the exhibits page.

Same defect, many owners — the public record

This is not a one-camera curiosity. From 2014 onward, M9 / Monochrom owners posted white-halo samples on DPReview, La Vida Leica, L-Camera-Forum and Reddit. Press estimated on the order of 180,000 M9-generation bodies. Third-party shops (Kolari Vision, LDP LLC) still replace the Schott BG-type cover glass because Leica no longer will. PetaPixel (Sep 2020) reported LDP LLC’s claim that the IR filter glass was uncoated BG/UG glass — i.e. oxidation by design omission, not a random “damaged coating.” See other owners and CCD quality.

Annotated source screenshots