I still have doubts that a sensor stain (a result of the manufacturing process) would not show up at the beginning. However, if they certified that, what can anyone do? I remember when I had a Panasonic video camera about 20 years ago, the live view went dark but the camera still worked. The warrranty covered parts only, so I have to pay to the dealer/rep $120 for labor and they billed Panasonic for $37 for the part. One month later, warranty expired, I got the same blackout. I decided to open the viewer where that moved up and down and found that one little cable broke from a connector (all the up and down to set the viewer). The dealer had solded and did not replaced anything. They billed $37 to panasonic for a part they didnot replace, and they charged me $120 for a labor they did not do. I bought a welding tool, change the wires and welded myself and it never broke again. I am not suggesting that this is the same case, but I am still thinking about life on Mars...