This item is exclusively for customers from the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway
We offer a reliable DHL Express pickup and delivery service directly at the customer’s location for Leica cameras. This service is not inexpensive, but it provides a high level of reliability and secure international handling. We are therefore proud to announce that we can serve customers from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and other non-EU countries. For this reason, the additional international service fee covers the complete handling process, including insured pickup, international logistics, customs-related processing where required, and secure return delivery of the camera after repair.
Due to customs regulations, the repair must be processed as a “refinement procedure” (customs repair process). If you are from with the EU, please select our cheaper items.
1.After placing your order, please provide us with the serial number of your Leica.
2.We will issue a pro forma invoice for the full repair price.
3.With this invoice, DHL Express will pick up your Leica at the address you specify.
When we return the repaired camera, your local customs office will charge duties and VAT only on the repair amount, not on the full value of the Leica.
Professional Repair of Your Leica M9 Sensor Glass in Cases of Corrosion Damage and Scratches
We replace the damaged filter on the sensor of your Leica camera.
Two-Stage Process
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Sending the camera: You purchase the item “Leica-M9-Inspection” and send us your Leica M9. We carefully examine whether replacement of the defective filter is possible. We repair all Leica M9 models (Standard, M9M, M9-P, M-E, Titanium).
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Probability of success: In approximately 9 out of 10 cases, the repair is possible. We determined this rate after one year of performing these repairs.
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Repair: After our confirmation that the repair is possible, you purchase the item “Leica-M9-CCD-Repair”. If the repair is not possible, we return the camera unrepaired. In this case, the price of the “Leica-M9-Inspection” item covers handling and insured DHL return shipping costs.
Sending the Leica and Repair Time
Please send us your Leica well packed and sufficiently insured in neutral packaging. Accessories and battery are not required. Please remove the memory card. Due to the high technical complexity, repairs may in exceptional cases take up to 8 weeks. A more precise estimate can be provided upon request at any time.
Our Repair Service Includes
- Removal of the defective filter
- Installation of a new corrosion-resistant special filter. We use glass manufactured by Schott, whose properties closely match the original Leica glass used at the time.
- Precise adjustment of the optical characteristics
- Comprehensive final inspection of image quality
- 24-month warranty on the filter glass
Technical Background
Many Leica M9 cameras suffer from what is known as sensor corrosion. The cause is the decomposition of the IR blocking filter. Our solution: We replace the damaged filter glass with Schott BG61 glass, which is optically compatible with the original Leica filter. The images shown include photographs of damaged Leica cameras as well as images taken with repaired sensors. These are real photographs from several repaired cameras.
In some Leica M9 cameras affected by sensor corrosion, another issue has been identified: In addition to the progressive decomposition of the filter glass, the ceramic adhesive that bonds the sensor glass to the sensor decomposes into a liquid consisting of sulfuric acid. This liquid accumulates along the edge beneath the filter glass. Over time, it can migrate inward underneath the glass and come into contact with the delicate microlenses on the sensor. Once this occurs, permanent damage is caused by destruction of the golden bond wires. This acid ultimately means the death of the sensor.
Why is rapid repair important?
Over time, the adhesive continues to decompose, producing more acid and increasing the risk of permanent sensor damage. Timely cleaning is therefore essential.
What does this mean for the repair?
When removing the sensor glass, the acid must be removed extremely carefully and completely. Despite the greatest possible care, there remains a risk that a drop of this aggressive liquid may reach the microlenses or that bond wires may already have been damaged. In such a case, the sensor would be irreparably damaged.
Our New Procedure
After many months of development, we created a process that allows us to remove the acid completely without residue. In addition, we are able to repair damaged bond wires to a certain extent. We continuously improve our methods and tools and can already look back on a two-digit number of successful sensor repairs.
We do not want to make unrealistic promises and we cannot perform miracles. Nevertheless, over the past year we have demonstrated through numerous Leica M9 repairs that we are able to successfully solve demanding cases. Our experience, technical equipment, and careful working methods make repairs possible where other workshops often fail.
For this reason, we believe that many Leica M9 cameras still deserve a chance. In our inspection report, we inform the customer whether the camera only shows classic sensor corrosion or is additionally affected by the acid problem. If the acid problem is present, the repair can still be carried out. The price remains unchanged. However, before the repair we discuss possible consequential damage caused by the already existing acid. Only in cases of damaged bond wires must we charge additional labour by the hour, since each restoration of a bond wire requires one to two hours of precise microscope work. This process also requires special adhesive materials with limited shelf life, which is why this work must be billed separately. Even such extremely fine gold wires – significantly thinner than a human hair – have already been successfully restored by us.
We are sometimes asked why there are no public reviews specifically about our Leica M9 repairs. This is simply due to the nature of these repairs and also our clientele. Leica owners tend to handle their cameras and repairs very discreetly and understandably do not wish to publicly discuss defects, corrosion damage, or restorations of their high-end cameras. We fully respect this. Nevertheless, we would still like to show our customers what is technically possible. For this reason, we publish real before-and-after images of various repairs — anonymously and without naming the respective owners. All images shown originate from actual Leica M9 sensors repaired in our workshop.
Vertical Rangefinder Adjustment
If required, we calibrate the rangefinder. If the images appear vertically misaligned during focusing, we recommend adjustment.
Camera Leather Covering
In addition to sensor repair, we also offer replacement of the leather covering of your Leica camera. Worn parts are replaced with high-quality material (additional charge 50 €).
Our Repair Experience & Method (Update)
So far, we have successfully repaired more than two dozen corroded Leica M9 sensors using our specially developed process. This method is based on many hundreds of hours of research and practical development. Unlike many other camera systems, the sensor glass of the Leica M9 is bonded using a ceramic adhesive that cannot be dissolved either by heat or by chemical processes. Removal of the damaged glass is therefore only possible through precise mechanical work under the microscope.
This process is extremely demanding:
When removing the adhesive, microscopic particles are created which must not reach the sensor. Even the smallest residues can cause visible image defects or quality loss. Achieving a 100% clean result requires hours of highly precise manual work.
A crucial factor is the required precision:
One might assume that work along the sensor edge is performed in millimeter-sized sections – in reality, the process is far more delicate. We work in tenths of a millimeter, step by step, to ensure that absolutely no adhesive residue reaches the sensor surface.
The repair of a Leica sensor therefore requires an entire working day. This repair effort differs fundamentally from other camera manufacturers, where filter glass replacement can often be carried out relatively quickly. In the Leica M9, the process is significantly more complex and involves certain risks.
Additionally, many affected sensors suffer from the acid problem. We are able to treat this issue and can partially repair damaged bond wires. This work requires additional time and carries a certain residual risk due to the pre-existing damage. However, 9 saved sensors out of 10 is a very good result.
About the Replacement Filter
Our replacement glass was selected to match the optical characteristics of the original Leica filter as closely as possible. The decisive difference is not image quality, but material stability: The original Leica filter offered excellent optical performance. However, the material decomposed over time, and our solution is specifically designed to permanently prevent this issue.
This means:
You retain the original image characteristics of your Leica while benefiting from significantly improved long-term durability.
After repairing numerous Leica M9 sensors, we can now confidently say:
We consistently deliver excellent and reliable results. Our process is continuously refined, and already today we achieve a quality level that meets the highest standards for this type of repair.
International customers: Orders from all across Europe are possible. For non-EU countries, a service surcharge of 100 € applies.
Experience and Trust
More than 5,000 cameras and lenses have already been repaired and modified by us. More than one thousand positive eBay reviews create confidence.
Questions? Call us – our contact details are listed in the legal notice.
