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Leica Q sensor dust service

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Getoutandsee

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I'm looking into purchasing a used Leica Q and have some concern regarding sensor dust. As I'm in the USA, I'm only looking for input from USA owners due to domestic experience.

I've inquired on two different sellers and both have been kind and honest enough to provide images that have revealed sensor dust. In their asking price, I must consider the cost to have the issue rectified. I don't want to deal with a seller who claims no dust only to discover spots to have to play with in post.

I don't rule out purchasing one that has it, but I also think it should be factored in the price.

Are there any owners out there who have had the service done on an out of warranty Q, and more importantly, what was the cost and was it performed in NJ, or do they send it off to Germany?

I'm only looking for individuals who have had experience with the issue.

Thanks for looking- I still am
 
Joe Olson said:
I'm looking into purchasing a used Leica Q and have some concern regarding sensor dust. As I'm in the USA, I'm only looking for input from USA owners due to domestic experience.

I've inquired on two different sellers and both have been kind and honest enough to provide images that have revealed sensor dust. In their asking price, I must consider the cost to have the issue rectified. I don't want to deal with a seller who claims no dust only to discover spots to have to play with in post.

I don't rule out purchasing one that has it, but I also think it should be factored in the price.

Are there any owners out there who have had the service done on an out of warranty Q, and more importantly, what was the cost and was it performed in NJ, or do they send it off to Germany?

I'm only looking for individuals who have had experience with the issue.

Thanks for looking- I still am
Click to expand...
There is a very long and detailed discussion of the issue on the Leica forum. Hope this helps:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/273248-how-significant-is-the-sensor-dust-problem-on-the-q/
 
Thanks Dave

I've posted over there as well.

Still, no definitive answer on cost or service availability in US, or if it has to go to Germany, which would further put me off.
 
Joe Olson said:
Thanks Dave

I've posted over there as well.

Still, no definitive answer on cost or service availability in US, or if it has to go to Germany, which would further put me off.
Click to expand...
I would suggest if this is a major concern you may want to skip a Leica camera with a fixed lens.
 
i would suggest that the lack of a response in either forum is an indication of how rare the sensor dust issue is in the Q.

i did read the original post but it strains my credulity that there are not one but two Q's that you have encountered "with two different sellers and both have been kind and honest enough to provide images that have revealed sensor dust".

I am not saying that Q's cannot get sensor dust- i read a review of a Q2 today that had dust in the EVF. But i have not read of a single instance in the 3 years i have owned the camera of anyone actually encountering that issue.

i started a thread (in the other forum) last year about a trip i was planning to Antelope Canyon and dust prevention measures because i was worried about that possibility. Health issues aborted that trip. But no one volunteered their experience with sensor dust in that thread.

To the OP 1)i would obviously look for a different example of the Q-they seem to be going for $3000-3500USD if the prices i have seen are an indication 2) the sensor and lens are one unit and as i read early on when some fractured his lens elements the entire lens/sensor had to be replaced. If my memory serves me=the price of $3500 was used in that thread (you can search it in the other forum--it was sometime in the first year that the Q was in production--i think the unfortunate owner had a bike accident -that may help you find the thread.

Best of luck to you in your search-a) for an answer and b) for a camera to your liking.
 
I don't know the Q but wonder whether it has a sensor cleaner similar to the one incorporated Ito the SL. The SL is the only digital camera, I have owned, which has not required a manual sensor clean
Joe Olson said:
I'm looking into purchasing a used Leica Q and have some concern regarding sensor dust. As I'm in the USA, I'm only looking for input from USA owners due to domestic experience.

I've inquired on two different sellers and both have been kind and honest enough to provide images that have revealed sensor dust. In their asking price, I must consider the cost to have the issue rectified. I don't want to deal with a seller who claims no dust only to discover spots to have to play with in post.

I don't rule out purchasing one that has it, but I also think it should be factored in the price.

Are there any owners out there who have had the service done on an out of warranty Q, and more importantly, what was the cost and was it performed in NJ, or do they send it off to Germany?

I'm only looking for individuals who have had experience with the issue.

Thanks for looking- I still am
Click to expand...
 
I’ve had a Q for 3 years, used it constantly in all conditions and zero dust on sensor. So many Used Q’s around right now, so I’d keep looking, as this seems to be a somewhat rare problem from what people have experienced.
 
The dust issue was mitigated more on the later batches, meaning the first batches had more of this issue, compared to ones built more recently.
 
Verto,

Thanks for the response. I've inquired about two different Q's, both with early production numbers and both have shown dust. Not a big deal, but not an expense I want to deal with in both time and cost. I prefer to be able to clean my sensor.

Cleaning a Q for dust is in the neighborhood of $300-shipped, if that's all that's needed. Leica NJ will only cover it in warranty for only the last 2yrs.

Since posting, I've reconsidered buying one as I've come to the conclusion that 28mm is a little to close to the subject for my taste, and I have a lowly A7II Sony with 28mm Voigt for those times I need it. I also have Leica M8 for several other M lens I use.



95371b70f44c4fd791010b0c35a41b87.jpg

See dust on a sample of one of the Q's I inquired about.

There are numerous spots in the lower right quarter of the image and are more significant than this example reveals.

I'm now considering A7RII with 42mp for cropping purposes for the times I want it.

For those who are dust free- enjoy your camera, The Q looks like a great camera.
 
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