Fellow Leica Users

[bernards]

Hi Guys, I've read this thread with interest. It appears to list places not to go. I want to send my newly procured Nikkor 1.4/50 for some TLC and back/front focus check before I get a M8. Anybody to recommend? A round trip to the US would cost half the lens I imagine.

 

[mrchua]

You guys might want to follow this discussion thread currently still going on at rangefinder forum. Here's the link:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59789

Thanks for the link...

I particularly like one statement made:


:bsmilie:

just a disclaimer, i don't send my stuff to them. i too send it to my local camera technician because i don't like to wait. haha. the people who send their stuff to these technicians are mostly americans i believe, and they typically don't have much choices of where to send their equip for repairs to if they don't live in the major cities. too much business isn't good business i guess, in this case.

 

[boochap]

if my camera is to expensive. i go to expensive repairman. and cheap camera will go to cheap repairman.

 

[nordleadx]

Dear fellow leica users..

What I find is that, paying more in Singapore does not really means their service will be great too..

thanks to those who pm me about which shops they goes to.

 

[fatigue]

Since somebody mentioned about infinity focus problem, let me share (just in case nobody has shared before) some information on how to check/adjust focus for RF cameras:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-123.html

 

[clubgrit]

I have been lucky with DAG, I guess he had nothing much to do with the Leica M4 I sent him, so it was quicker, only a month if I remember. At any rate, someone here is already enjoying the fruits of his labor

If local, I think the best is to send to Leica Singapore distributor, if it is a valued Leica (if cheap like Boochap's, no need ). I only sent mine to DAG because it was "cheaper" (over $500), and it was faster, as Leica Germany was extremely busy at the time trying to fix their M8 problems.

Next time, I will probably send it to Shelly or another qualified person in Europe. Like Harry Fleenor who is famous for fixing Rollei in the USA (I got lucky as well, took only about 2 months ), turnaround time is now too long, but there is someone in Europe now who can do it just as well. Always ask for test with shooting and developing film before they send back of course.


.

 

[nordleadx]

Like what I have told chiif and others.

How many of them actually actually tested the stuff they fix. When I speak to one of them a few days ago. He was still trying to tell me, I need to show him the pics for him to understand the problem and will need me to go down to test the lens. He was telling me, if a camera company makes 500 camera a day. How can they employ 500 staff to check everyone of them.

I paid a full amount $250 for a CLA , which I believe means. Clean, lubcate and adjust.

If I clean , lubcate and adjusted something. I guess the best way is to shoot a roll of film to test the lens or on a digital body.

From what I got from him "He was telling me, if a camera company makes 500 camera a day. How can they employ 500 staff to check everyone of them."

I guess, he did not test my len when I took it back.

 

[Hacker]

Is the way to test not to put a loupe at the film plane? No need to test with actual film in some cases.

 

[clubgrit]

Well, that is an answer which is a bit sarcastic. He should follow Harry Fleenor's example, who said no problem to test with film, pay extra US$30 for film and development. In the end, this paid off, as he found that my Rolleiflex was still out of focus after all the CLA and shutter speed tests and alignment of lenses - the usual suspects. It turned out the backplate was the wrong type. At any rate, all worth it.

I had this done initially in Singapore, and the repairman couldn't fix it, after he said all done, twice. Just my luck, so rather than test my further, sent it out.

At the end of it all, I have no ill feelings towards the repairmen, my thoughts are that if they can't do it, then it's not a problem as long as they didn't make it worse, there are others. My favorite local guys are the Hasselblad Service center, no hesitation at all to use them. Xpan users here can be assured .



.

 

[CAMERA23]

I test all my equipment immediatedly after repaired, all on slide, plus developed, only within a day or two, if that is a problem, bring the slide and show to the technician, he should give full responsible, and fix your problem again, and this is also why I only used one of the local repair shop I trusted. I just send my black paint M4 for service two weeks ago ( shutter jam due to my careless), and they fixed it in 5 days, cost.... less than $200.00

 

[nordleadx]

I know a loupe can be used to test, the thing is. My lens was never been tested, until my 3nd or more trips down to his shop where it was mounted onto my M6 on a stand. The lens can focus at infinity but results shows that infinity was reach slightly earlier before the len's barrel reaches infinity. He thinks that the problem could be the adapter I am using.

After trying a few times, I too gave up and decided to look oversea. Happen to talk to Steven from camera hospital, who is keen to have a look when I was to send to DAG.

Sad to say the technician never fix my problem,if he is professional enough. The 1st time I told him there's a problem he should trust me and believe the problems. I was in his shop where theres another customer , instead of taking the lens back to test. He questioned me about how I tested the lens and detail which should be his job and I should be the one asking him.