Where to get a lens CLA'd?

[abenner]

Just bought a Summar. Has some of the typical cleaning marks, some haze, some oil on the blades, and it doesn't really want to lock when out in the extended position. When I try to turn the aperture ring, the whole barrel instead spins, as if turning the lens to then retract it to collapsed position. To change the aperture, you have to hold the barrel.

Where would you recommend getting the lens serviced? Obviously these aren't expensive lenses, and mine isn't some atypical mint example, so I'd prefer less cost over more. Sherry Krauter typically charges $99 when working on both the glass and the focus mount, though I'm not sure if more expense would be involved in tackling the barrel spinning issue. Any other thoughts?

 

[colyn]

email Don at the below address

dagcam@chorus.net

 

[Meleica]

I just saw Sherry at the boston show this morning and she is running 2 week turnaround on lens CLA's. AND, I have the same problem with a Xenon...she said $ 95 to CLA the lens including fixing the aperture ring/spinning head of my lens.

Dan

 

[MISH]

i would also check DAG, he has done a great job for me but i am not sure what the current price would be

MISH ....

 

[bob338]

i just had a 50mm collapsible 'cron cla'd by dag for $95. beautiful work!

 

[colyn]

i just had a 50mm collapsible 'cron cla'd by dag for $95. beautiful work!

What's his turnaround? I've heard he is pretty fast..

I'm sending him a M3 for shutter replacement and complete overhaul..

 

[bob338]

i would disagree with anyone who said DAG was fast. they had my M2 and 50mm 'cron for more than two months. i called 5 or 6 times asking about it and was told that it was going to be done in 'the next day or two.' the last time i called, i was a little less polite and Don told me that he'd get to it this week. the camera arrived in the mail that afternoon. it's a little disconcerting that he had no idea that he had already sent it. he did pretty amazing work though, it feels and looks like a brand new camera.

on the other hand, i sent my M3 to zouxin ye the same time i sent the M2 to Don and that experience was a nightmare. the camera was back to me in less than a week but was a mess. the camera was covered with greasy fingerprints, the rangefinder was WAY off and there is now a great big bit of black hair(3-4 mm long) inside the viewfinder that is very distracting. i emailed him about it and he wanted me to ship it back(and pay for it!) and he'd have another go at it. i haven't even paid him yet and i've not heard a word from him since my last email a month ago.

i think in the future i'll pay DAG the $290 for a cla and count on waiting a while for it instead of saving money($100 to zouxin) and getting back an effed up camera.


just my two cents...

 

[abenner]

I had an average experience with Youxin and my III. The RF image was dim and I figured it needed a new prism. DAG and Sherry quoted $200 plus for the service with a CLA, which was too much for me for this camera, which otherwise was functioning well, slow speeds just too slow like typical. So I sent it to Youxin.

His communication was good, kept me up to date pretty well, turnaround total was about 2 weeks. Can't beat the price, of course, less than $100, and he even threw in some leatherette if I wanted it to use, though just plain leatherette, a big chunk, not a custom cut piece or anything, and without adhesive. But a nice gesture.

Perhaps I expected too much for my first Leica CLA. The RF image did brighten up. The camera didn't come back spotless and shiny and all cleaned up like I expected. It was clean and in very good cosmetic condition to begin with, but I figured with disassembly he'd get in all those nooks and crannies and get the grime off.

Instead, it was about the same as when I sent it. Operation of the camera was marginally smoother. The slow speeds were still slow, seemed unchanged. One second was probably two seconds, so not just a hair off or anything. I didn't bother sending it back or anything since I never use it on a tripod and my main goal was to brighten up the RF image.

Anyway, I figured in the future I'd go in another direction for a body CLA and just bite the bullet as far as cost. Though I've heard much praise for Youxin from others, I think like most things in life, you pay for what you get. DAG and Sherry are Leica-trained. Youxin is not.

Have others had experience with sending lenses to Youxin?