15 Corrosion ~repack~: Leica M9 Ccd Id
In the second-hand market for Leica M9s, the sensor ID has become a massive driver of value.
Moisture eventually penetrates the microscopic layers of the coating. This triggers an electrochemical reaction that results in the coating separating from the glass substrate. It begins as a microscopic bubbling or lifting and eventually progresses to a crystalline or "rust-like" appearance on the surface of the sensor glass. leica m9 ccd id 15 corrosion
Between 2013 and 2016, Leica ran an unprecedented free replacement program. If your M9 sensor corroded, Leica would replace it—often with a newer ID 16 sensor. In the second-hand market for Leica M9s, the
Leica used an older type of BG glass that was chemically prone to oxidation. When exposed to humidity or certain cleaning agents, the coating on this glass would "corrode" or delaminate. It begins as a microscopic bubbling or lifting
For years, ID 15 sensors were considered the safe zone. They lasted longer than IDs 11-14. However, as we enter 2026, reports have surged of ID 15 sensors developing corrosion years after the official Leica replacement program ended. Why? Because the root cause—a hygroscopic (moisture-absorbing) layer between the cover glass and the micro-lenses—was merely mitigated, not eliminated, in ID 15.
