$200 CLA can't be worth it, or can it?

[chikne]

Hi,

a Lynx 14E happened to have made her way in my life for free lately. But she clearly needs a CLA, most speed work but the lowest one only work when they feel like it. The meter also needs to be looked at...

$200 CLA is a truckload of cash, the work done on it will be guaranteed for 6 month but still. I would appreciate if some of you could share their thoughts are on that matter.

Thank you

 

[CameraQuest]

A $200 CLA sounds like it is for an interchangeable lens rangefinder, not a fixed lens Yashica Lynx.

Lynx CLA's are usually between $50 to $100, depending upon who does them.

Stphen

 

[bmattock]

I would not - but that is me. I don't use the slowest speeds on most rangefinders, and I never depend upon their metering (I always use an external meter with classic fixed-lens rangefinders).

I have spent a slightly lower sum on completely restoring my Canon FX, but it was a childhood gift from my father and has a great deal of value to me.

Lynx 14 and 14e cameras are not that uncommon, and don't tend to be terribly expensive. Personally, I'd use the one you have, see if you like it, and if so, consider buying another - you might have better luck (or worse, so don't spend much).

For me, these classic old rangefinders are for fun. If they don't work right, I try to finagle them into working somehow. If they refuse to play nice, they go in the trash can and I move on. But I never pay much for them to begin with.

The options are yours, of course.

 

[planetjoe]

$200 CLA is a truckload of cash...

I agree, and it sounds like the potential cost of parts is already included. I don't know; for a little more money, DAG will CLA your M-body Leica. Just my experience, though; YMMV.

Good luck.


Cheers,
--joe.

 

[kevin m]

I sure hope so. I'm looking at a $245 bill to CLA my VI-T.

I'll let you know if it was worth it. 😉

 

[chikne]

Thank you all for the input!

Here in England, I must look at $300+ to have my Leica serviced at CRR, $160+ was what I paid some time ago to service an X-700.

When I hear $200 to service a Leica my jaws drop =)

 

[kuzano]

I went through a Yashica phase

I went through a Yashica phase

A few years ago, I was grabbing up Yashica GSN, GTN and CC35's quite often. I also had a couple of Lynx 14e with the IC circuit.

The bulk of them were tardy on the shutter speeds and many had shutters that did not open at all. I found, for the most part that exercising the cocking/shutter mechanism repeatedly for long periods of time loosened most of the old lubes up and revived many of them to workable status-very workable. On the obstinate ones, I occasionally resorted to the frugal mans CLA... a judicious Ronsonol Flush. That was usually always successful. The Ronsonol loosens the old lube, and you use just enough to get into the works, and not enough to make it to the lens elements.

The great thing about all those Yashica lenses is that the front surround on the lens removes readily, and the front element grouping screws out. I never went beyond that point, but got close enough to the shutter mechanism to use the Ronsonol

I would not try my first lens removal on the 14e. Buy a broken or cheap G, GS, or GSN to learn how to take the element out. I used to use a rubber crutch tip that was big enough to span the glass and just rest on the surround or bezel around the lens. Once the bezel is off, you can see how to screw the front lens group out.

I only ever had one GSN that was so gummed up it would have required professional help. You are way ahead of that, in that you have a working shutter.... right?

I don't think I paid over $20 for any Yachica ever, and Yashica made huge numbers of them. No way I would ever pay for a CLA on any of them.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Here in the US, KEH in Georgia and Essex in New Jersey are much less expensive.

For the Lynx- My 14e was $25 with a leather case. I popped the front optics and flood-cleaned the shutter, popped the top and soldered a broken wire for the meter. $25 and about two hours for a great camera with working meter. Cleaned the viewfinder glass while it was open.

 

[pesphoto]

I got a recent quote from Mark Hama for CLA on a Yashica GS for $95.
If it's a camera you love using, it's worth it!

 

[januaryman]

I paid Mark about the same, but for the second camera he knocked off 10 or 15 percent, shipping charges on 2 cameras were not much more than the 1, so I had him do my GT and GTN at one shot. Two weeks. They both work great. Unfortunately, I'm not in love with them any more and they sit on my shelf mostly. Moral: Be sure you're committed before you send it off at those prices.

 

[angeloks]

I got myself my first Leica about a year ago. I got so frustrated by it. The cosmetics were perfect but the high speeds were not working, the shutter would jam from times to time, the controls were so stiff !

I then decided to get it CLA'd by Gerry in Toronto. He charged me 250$... It was definitly worth every pennies ! Now, I'm having most the items I buy CLA'd. My new 50mm f1.2 LTM is 'en route' to Gerry !

So, if you intend to use that camera, treat yourself, get it CLA'd !