This item is exclusively for customers from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and other non-EU countries
For Leica cameras from Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other non-EU countries, we offer a convenient DHL Express pickup and return service directly from and back to the customer's address.
The inspection fee includes DHL Express transportation from your address to our workshop and the return shipment of your camera after the repair has been completed. The fee also includes both customs clearance procedures – inbound and outbound.
When the repaired camera is returned to you, you will only need to pay the locally applicable VAT directly to your local customs authority upon import. The VAT is calculated on the repair amount, not on the full value of the Leica. No VAT is included in our invoice.
This service provides a high level of reliability, convenience and secure international handling.
If you are located within the European Union, please select one of our lower-priced EU items instead.
- After placing your order, please provide us with the serial number of your Leica.
- We will issue a pro forma invoice stating the value of the defective Leica.
- Using this invoice, DHL Express will collect your Leica from the address you specify.
When we return the repaired camera, your local customs authority will normally calculate duties and VAT based on the repair amount rather than on the full value of the Leica.
Professional repair of the sensor glass of your Leica M9 in cases of corrosion damage and scratches
We have been repairing cameras and lenses from various manufacturers for decades. Since 2025, we have also specialised in the repair of Leica M9 sensors. By now, we have successfully repaired more than two dozen Leica M9 sensors.
We repair all Leica M9 models (Standard, M9M, M9-P, M-E, Titanium).
Our work includes replacement of the sensor glass in cases of so-called sensor corrosion, as well as the repair of bonding wires damaged by corrosion or acid exposure.
The process in two stages
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Sending in the camera: You order the item “Leica-M9-Inspection” and send us your Leica M9. We then check whether replacement of the defective filter is possible.
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Chances of success: In approximately 9 out of 10 cases, a repair is possible.
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Repair: Once we have confirmed that the repair is possible, you authorise us to proceed. The repair currently costs EUR 1,210 (excludes VAT). After successful completion, we will inform you. You then pay for the item “Leica-M9-CCD-Repair”, which can be found in our shop. As soon as payment has been received, we will return your repaired Leica in a sufficiently insured DHL parcel.
- If a repair is not possible, we will return the camera to you unrepaired. In this case, we would need to charge a fee of EUR 160 to cover handling, customs processing, and return shipping by insured DHL Express.
Fortunately, this is a very rare occurrence.
Sending in your Leica and repair time
After ordering the inspection, you will be redirected to our website. There you can follow the repair process and receive regular updates on the current status.
Please send us your Leica well packed, sufficiently insured and in neutral packaging. Accessories and battery are not required. Please also remove the memory card.
Due to the high technical demands involved, the repair may take up to 8 weeks in exceptional cases. A more precise estimate is available at any time on request. Please allow us the necessary time: word has now spread internationally that we carry out these repairs, and the number of workshops offering this type of work can probably be counted on one or two hands.
Our repair service includes
- Removal of the defective filter glass. In cases of so-called sensor corrosion, it is not the actual sensor itself that is affected, but the filter glass bonded to it.
- Installation of a new corrosion-resistant special filter. The glass we use is manufactured by Schott and corresponds closely to the filter originally installed by Leica in terms of its optical properties.
- Fine adjustment of the optical properties
- Final inspection of image quality
- 24-month warranty on the repair and the installed filter glass
Technical background
Many Leica M9 cameras develop so-called sensor corrosion over time. The cause is deterioration of the filter glass. We replace the damaged filter glass with Schott BG61 glass, which is optically compatible with the original Leica filter.
The images show both damaged Leica sensors and repaired sensors. All photographs are genuine images of cameras repaired in our workshop.
Some Leica M9 cameras affected by sensor corrosion develop an additional problem: during the deterioration process, the ceramic adhesive used to attach the sensor glass to the sensor can break down into a viscous liquid containing sulphuric acid. This liquid is usually located around the edge beneath the filter glass.
Over time, the liquid can migrate inward underneath the glass and reach the sensitive microlenses on the sensor. If this happens, permanent damage can occur. The fine gold bonding wires may also be attacked and destroyed. In the worst case, the acid can cause complete failure of the sensor.
Why is prompt repair important?
Over time, the adhesive continues to deteriorate, producing additional acid. This increases the risk of permanent sensor damage. Timely opening and cleaning of the sensor is therefore particularly important.
What does this mean for the repair?
When removing the sensor glass, any existing acid must be neutralised and completely removed. Despite the greatest care, there remains a risk that the aggressive liquid may already have reached the microlenses or damaged bonding wires. In such cases, the sensor may be irreparably damaged.
Our new procedure
After months of development, we have created a procedure that allows the acid to be removed as completely and residue-free as possible. In certain cases, we are also able to repair bonding wires that have already been damaged.
We continuously improve our skills, methods and tools and can now look back on a double-digit number of successfully completed sensor repairs.
We do not want to make unrealistic promises, because we cannot perform miracles either. However, over the past year we have shown that we are able to handle even demanding cases successfully.
The key factors are the experience of our technician, our technical equipment and a very careful working method. This allows us to carry out repairs that many other workshops are unable to complete successfully. We believe that many defective Leica M9 cameras still deserve a second life.
After inspecting the camera, we inform the customer whether only classic sensor corrosion is present or whether the additional acid problem has also occurred. In the latter case, we try to prioritise the repair whenever possible.
The price of the actual sensor repair remains the same. Before starting the work, however, we discuss with the customer the risk of possible consequential damage caused by acid that may already be present.
Only in cases where bonding wires are damaged do we charge the additional labour according to the time required, as restoring a single bonding wire can involve up to two hours of precise work under the microscope.
For this purpose, we use a special adhesive originally developed for aerospace applications. Even these extremely fine gold wires – considerably thinner than a human hair – have already been successfully repaired by us.
All images shown here are of Leica M9 sensors repaired in our workshop. The final four images, shown with the kind permission of Ragnar Våga Pedersen from Norway, show the damaged and repaired sensor of his Leica as well as three photographs Ragnar subsequently took with his repaired camera.
Vertical adjustment of the rangefinder
If necessary, we calibrate the rangefinder. If the rangefinder images are vertically misaligned when focusing, we recommend an appropriate adjustment.
Camera covering
In addition to sensor repair, we also offer replacement of the covering on your Leica camera. Worn or damaged sections are replaced with high-quality material. The additional cost is EUR 50.
Our repair experience & method (update)
To date, we have successfully repaired more than two dozen corroded Leica M9 sensors using the procedure developed by us. This procedure is based on many hundreds of hours of research, practical development and experience.
Unlike many other camera systems, the sensor glass of the Leica M9 is bonded with a ceramic adhesive that cannot be reliably dissolved either by heat or by chemical methods. The damaged glass can therefore only be removed by precise mechanical work under the microscope.
This process is extremely demanding:
Removing the adhesive produces microscopic particles that must under no circumstances reach the sensor surface. Even the smallest residues can cause visible image defects or a loss of image quality. Achieving a completely clean result therefore requires many hours of highly precise manual work.
A crucial factor is the level of precision required:
One might assume that the work is carried out millimetre by millimetre along the edge of the sensor. In reality, however, we work in the range of tenths of a millimetre, step by step, to prevent any adhesive residue from reaching the sensitive sensor surface.
The repair of a Leica M9 sensor therefore usually requires a full working day. This effort differs significantly from many other camera systems, where the filter glass can be replaced comparatively quickly. With the Leica M9, the procedure is considerably more complex and involves corresponding risks.
In addition, many affected sensors suffer from the acid problem described above. We are able to treat this problem and repair partially damaged bonding wires. This work requires additional time and, due to existing damage, always involves a certain residual risk.
Nevertheless, a success rate of approximately 9 saved sensors out of 10 is, in our view, a very good result.
About the replacement filter
The glass we use has been selected so that its optical properties correspond as closely as possible to those of the original Leica filter.
The main difference lies not in image quality, but in material stability: the original Leica filter provided excellent optical performance, but the material used could deteriorate over the years. Our solution is designed to prevent precisely this problem in the long term.
This means:
You retain the original imaging characteristics of your Leica while benefiting from significantly improved durability.
After repairing numerous Leica M9 sensors, we can now say with confidence:
We achieve consistently very good and reliable results. Our procedure is continuously being refined, and we already achieve a level of quality that meets the high standards required for this specialised type of repair.
International customers: We accept repair orders from all over Europe. For customers from non-EU countries, an additional service fee of EUR 100 applies.
Experience and trust
More than 5,000 cameras and lenses have already been repaired or modified by us. More than one thousand positive eBay reviews demonstrate the satisfaction of our customers.
Questions? Feel free to call us – our contact details can be found in the legal notice.
