M7 Service Quote - What Would You Do?

[DeanSilliman]

I sent my black M7 to Leica NJ for the DX upgrade and asked for a quote on rangefinder calibration (it's time) and perhaps the MP finder upgrade. Here's what just came back:

DX upgrade = Under warranty

Rangefinder calibration/CLA = $300

MP Finder Upgrade = $500 in addition to the $300 above.

I guess Leica does not give a CLA or MP finder swap with the DX upgrade anymore. My M7 is a 9+ and I've had ideas of either keeping it forever or perhaps trading it toward an MP.

Another disappointment is that I was told before I sent in the M7 that it would be 2-3 weeks turnaround but today I was told 4-5 weeks.

Any input would be appreciated.

Dean

 

[bob338]

I would insist they send it to Germany. I sent mine in for the DX repair, a CLA and the MP finder upgrade.
They only charged me for the MP upgrade. They did the DX reader and CLA for free and replaced some circuit board and the circuitry in the rear door for the film selector.

The factory is usually more generous than New Jersey, but I've had nothing but great experiences with both.

Be prepared to wait.

 

[rolfe]

I would talk to Sherry or DAG -- I'm pretty sure either can do all of the things you want for less than New Jersey and probably better.

 

[TEZillman]

Dean,

My M7 just was returned from NJ about three weeks ago. After eight years the DX reader was getting flaky. I noticed it was reading a roll of HP5 at 100 ISO. They replaced the DX reader under warranty and I had them do CLA as well. I was told that the turn time would be 3-4 weeks and it took the full four weeks. I'm pleased with the job they did and the camera works like new. I rather doubt that anyone else would replace the DX reader for free and my thought was that if it was going to go in for service, I might as well have everything done. The cost for the whole job was $225.00 plus shipping. I guess the rangefinder adjustment must be $75.00. One thing that I didn't think of was the return shipping. One day I received an e-mail message that the camera had been shipped via UPS with a signature required. Since my wife and I have M-F jobs, getting the camera back was sort of a pain.

I frankly do not know if my M7 has a MP finder or not. The serial number is higher than what is quoted on several websites as the point at which they started using the new finder. I've never had an issue with flare. I would think that $500.00 is pretty expensive if its something that hasn't bothered you. Of course I may just have the newer finder and don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I find the flare to be a PITA, but have not had the finder done on my M6 TTL yet.

I love the folks out in NJ at Leica, but their turn around times can be pretty frustrating.

If I could get a decent buck for trading in my M6 TTL on a black paint MP, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I much prefer the MP on pretty much every level. Unfortunately it wasn't available when I got my M6 TTL in 2000.

Best,
-Tim

 

[dogberryjr]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if they work on the finder to do the upgrade, won't they have to calibrate the rangefinder as part of the process?

 

[bwcolor]

Sherry repaired my M6-TTL meter, which was pretty useless and did the MP finder and removed the telephoto frame lines and returned the camera in short order and good working order. She was a joy to work with. It turned out that the ISO potentiometer was faulty and the whole thing came in a bit over $650.

 

[Godfrey]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if they work on the finder to do the upgrade, won't they have to calibrate the rangefinder as part of the process?

The $500 is the exchange cost of the viewfinder parts (I think the outright cost of the parts is about $900). The $300 is the cost of the labor to do the work.

It was funny reading about the DX stuff. My last series film M was an M6TTL, never got to the M7 or MP so I was thinking, "what does Nikon DX have to do with a film Leica M...?" ;-)

My local tech did a CLA of my M4-2's rangefinder for about $120 or something like that.

 

[dogberryjr]

The $500 is the exchange cost of the viewfinder parts (I think the outright cost of the parts is about $900). The $300 is the cost of the labor to do the work.

It was funny reading about the DX stuff. My last series film M was an M6TTL, never got to the M7 or MP so I was thinking, "what does Nikon DX have to do with a film Leica M...?" ;-)

My local tech did a CLA of my M4-2's rangefinder for about $120 or something like that.

I see, thanks. Expensive proposition, these beasts.

 

[Rob-F]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if they work on the finder to do the upgrade, won't they have to calibrate the rangefinder as part of the process?

I don't think so. The finder upgrade involves adding a condenser lens, which may not affect the rangefinder calibration.

 

[Michel154]

i just sent mine to NJ for the DX update and it was free had the 75 and 135 frame-lines masked+CLA for 500 ,that was a week ago

 

[hrzlvn]

I would insist they send it to Germany. I sent mine in for the DX repair, a CLA and the MP finder upgrade.
They only charged me for the MP upgrade. They did the DX reader and CLA for free and replaced some circuit board and the circuitry in the rear door for the film selector.

The factory is usually more generous than New Jersey, but I've had nothing but great experiences with both.

Be prepared to wait.

I would love to know how much does it cost. Any information?

 

[hrzlvn]

In my case, I sent it to Leica NJ for CLA Feb this year; I was told DX reader upgare is free during CLA. it costs around 260USD including freight. It seems like it costs more than before..
FYI, MP VF model serial number starts with 2885XXXX.

 

[bob338]

I would love to know how much does it cost. Any information?

This was a couple of years ago, but I vaguely remember it being around $400.

 

[Robert Lai]

Dean,
I had all of the service you mentioned to my M7 at Leica NJ, for about the same price. They did a great job. The camera looks and works like new.

However, you have to realize that even after that MP finder modification, I can still have the occasional RF patch white out if I'm shooting against strong backlight.

 

[sepiareverb]

However, you have to realize that even after that MP finder modification, I can still have the occasional RF patch white out if I'm shooting against strong backlight.

Nice to see someone else address this. I've shot all kinds of M bodies, including M4-2 and M6 and never noticed any difference in the finders.

 

[ChrisN]

Last January Sherry quoted me $220 labor plus $95 parts for the finder upgrade (for M6-TTL). I opted to not have the finder upgraded, and can see very little difference between the M6 and the M4 (which has the upgrade spec as original build).

 

[mfogiel]

1) The 300 USD for rangefinder calibration, is basically the cost of opening the top plate - you will have to pay it anyway, no matter what you want to do inside the camera.
2) I have upgraded the VF in my M7, but frankly, I have not seen a lot of difference in terms of quality.
3) Changing the M7 for an MP is a misunderstanding - in terms of usability, the MP is just a joke, maybe pretty, but a joke, M7 wins hands down in the street.
4) You are lucky to be in the US, if you have to send your camera to Solms, you will pay the same price, but in Euros.

 

[shadowgun]

You are potentially forking out $800 of hard earned cash for some "work" performed that you may never need nor realize the actual benefit.

It still takes photos right? I know what I'd do with that $800.

 

[Vincent.G]

I upgraded two M6 classics VF to MP flare-free finder. To my disappointment, the improvement (if any) was not much. I compared them side by side to my M4. My M4 VF is much better. I had since sold away my two M6s. My advice is not to do the MP VF upgrade.