danielsterno
making soup from mud
not sure if this was posted, a nice profile on Youxin Ye on the repair of Leica: http://chrisbilodeauphotographyblog.com/2014/12/23/a-day-with-a-leica-master/
A day with a Leica Master-Youxin Ye
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pete hogan
Well-known
Nice article. Youxin did a good job on my IIf a couple of years ago.
deepminnow
Newbie
Thanks for sharing that. Really interesting and well written.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Youxin is a great camera repairman. He's worked on two Leica IIIf's and completely overhauled/built/customized my old M4-P, now owned by RFF member jwicksana. I still have my combat worn M4 which I should send in one of these days. When I do, it will be to Youxin.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
lemalk
Rebel Without Applause
Thanks for posting this. I just sent in my v3 Summicron 35mm to him a few weeks back. Before that, it was a variety of lenses.
He's always done fantastic work, reasonably priced and with really great communication.
Good to put a face to the name.
Wish there were 100 more like him.
He's always done fantastic work, reasonably priced and with really great communication.
Good to put a face to the name.
Wish there were 100 more like him.
Richard G
Veteran
Interesting discussion of this over on photo.net. One of the repairers with good skills and practice but perpetually overlooked in the recommendations online, strongly objected to the term 'master.'
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Youxin is a very nice man and human being with a passion for Leica's.
What more can you say about a person who invites you to their home and let's you sit with them and watch while he works on your camera gratis.
I read the photo.net thing. Not nice...
What more can you say about a person who invites you to their home and let's you sit with them and watch while he works on your camera gratis.
I read the photo.net thing. Not nice...
daveleo
what?
Thanks for posting the link to this article.
A good read about obviously nice (and talented) people.
A good read about obviously nice (and talented) people.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I don't actually think Gus Lazzari was over the top with his post over at peanut. He didn't attack Youxin personally but did criticize his work practices from his own viewpoint. I agree on several of his points.
That said I like Youxin and have had several cameras repaired by him satisfactorily. The work was fairy priced and the return of the cameras was prompt.
Sparrow
Veteran
... and his bench was a bit of a mess
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
This is my personal view but if i pay someone to fix my camera and he does so, i tend not to care about how messy his work-bench was or how much dust there is under his sofa.
That's my 2c...
That's my 2c...
Sparrow
Veteran
You sound like you got a good deal anyway ... the chap I use charges double to work on that era of Leica lenses ... I think it cost me around £170 to have mine rebuilt, and that was a few years back now
raid
Dad Photographer
I used only once Youxin's services to clean up a Nikkor 5cm/2 and to CLA/fix a Tower RF camera. I usually go to Don Goldberg (DAG). I got used to Don's work. It is a notch or two above the work of other camera repair persons. Youxin does a good job quickly.
Photo.net has a consistency of being polluted with posters here and there who need a forum to unleash their anger at life and the world. Still, PN is a good place for learning.
Photo.net has a consistency of being polluted with posters here and there who need a forum to unleash their anger at life and the world. Still, PN is a good place for learning.
Gus had some valid points in that thread, although it came off as sour grapes.
He posts there often, and it appears he did not appreciate Youxin getting some free advertising on that site.
In the end, it probably won't matter at all. Gus is always backed up for weeks, even at the prices he charges. His prices are quite fair, you definitely get what you pay for.
That does not mean there is not a place in the repair market for people like Youxin, who are self-taught. Sometimes the gear value does not justify the higher cost and longer turn-around of a DAG or Gus.
I would say that having used all the usual repair people, there is no doubt in my mind that Gus is the most meticulous. Just the way he preps and packages the camera for return is impressive. For the record I have had to send items a second time to fix problems with every other shop (Leica USA, Youxin, DAG, and Sherry included) but never with Gus.
I don't expect absolute perfection, I just expect them to back up their work, and they did. Leica, Youxin, and DAG rectified the issues quickly and in a friendly manner. Sherry rectified it but, not-so-friendly.
He posts there often, and it appears he did not appreciate Youxin getting some free advertising on that site.
In the end, it probably won't matter at all. Gus is always backed up for weeks, even at the prices he charges. His prices are quite fair, you definitely get what you pay for.
That does not mean there is not a place in the repair market for people like Youxin, who are self-taught. Sometimes the gear value does not justify the higher cost and longer turn-around of a DAG or Gus.
I would say that having used all the usual repair people, there is no doubt in my mind that Gus is the most meticulous. Just the way he preps and packages the camera for return is impressive. For the record I have had to send items a second time to fix problems with every other shop (Leica USA, Youxin, DAG, and Sherry included) but never with Gus.
I don't expect absolute perfection, I just expect them to back up their work, and they did. Leica, Youxin, and DAG rectified the issues quickly and in a friendly manner. Sherry rectified it but, not-so-friendly.
YYV_146
Well-known
Youxin is the only repairsperson I consistently go to, since my equipment set doesn't afford the kind of turnaround times of Gus or DAG.
Youxin would not work on electronic Ms or lenses of modern designs. He specifically refused to go deeper into my 18mm Distagon, which I eventually repaired at Zeiss USA. This to me is a mark of trustworthiness and prudence.
Everything else I've sent in has come back impeccably. He completely rebuilt my 50mm summilux and even removed haze on the front element.
Youxin would not work on electronic Ms or lenses of modern designs. He specifically refused to go deeper into my 18mm Distagon, which I eventually repaired at Zeiss USA. This to me is a mark of trustworthiness and prudence.
Everything else I've sent in has come back impeccably. He completely rebuilt my 50mm summilux and even removed haze on the front element.
RichardBrown
Member
Hey there guys and gal,
I'm actually in the market to find a repair tech to furnish my Reid & Sigrist type IIIa. I've been doing a lot of research trying to find the right person for the job. I've had previous experience with Leica techs. It's been Leica USA and Sherry in the early 2000s. Leica USA could be a pain but they were able to get the job done. I sent them an M4 that came back AMAZING. Unfortunately I had to let it go. Sherry on the other hand, despite all these referrals and reviews, I sent her an M6 and it completely jammed, completely shut down, within four months and I was a busy working photographer and that is just not acceptable. So Sherry is not in the picture for this camera.
Sorry about the divergent but lets get back. This forum and photonet have been very helpful in my decision. Youxin has mixed reviews, but I can tell that he's a good man. Very professional looking website. His table may be messy and that could cause problems but that's just how he works. He looks like he's open for business.
DAG, great looking site, but the tardiness I've read about, losing a Minox camera and keeping a gentleman's M5 for over a year? Please. I did call him and I said "Oh you get some good reviews on the internet" and he said "Oh I don't read any of those forums. Those so called 'professionals'" with quite a distain for the people supporting him and he bought up the war as well in the conversation? I was out of there and quickly hung up.
So now Gus Lazzari. I read the photonet thread that you're referring to, and it reminded me of the experience I had with him. He privately solicited me with regards to servicing my Reid, which I like stuff like that you know, he's a go-gettter. But he was just rude and really attacked Youxin in a narcissistic and inappropriate way that really put me off. He really had something against him. I still researched him and contacted the people who left referrals and positive feedback on photonet. Everyone gave okay/ good reviews except for one who told me that Gus had manhandled his camera (damaged screws) and left debris in the viewfinder, as well as had his camera for a year. He also has a huge neighbor to neighbor argument going on on his thread and it's like, what is that about??
So here I am thinking who's going to fix my camera? And I've come to a point where I think no one in the USA is going to be able to do it. I think I'm leaning towards Youxin because he's the only one who's got the right spirit/energy for it. But my search continues.
I'm actually in the market to find a repair tech to furnish my Reid & Sigrist type IIIa. I've been doing a lot of research trying to find the right person for the job. I've had previous experience with Leica techs. It's been Leica USA and Sherry in the early 2000s. Leica USA could be a pain but they were able to get the job done. I sent them an M4 that came back AMAZING. Unfortunately I had to let it go. Sherry on the other hand, despite all these referrals and reviews, I sent her an M6 and it completely jammed, completely shut down, within four months and I was a busy working photographer and that is just not acceptable. So Sherry is not in the picture for this camera.
Sorry about the divergent but lets get back. This forum and photonet have been very helpful in my decision. Youxin has mixed reviews, but I can tell that he's a good man. Very professional looking website. His table may be messy and that could cause problems but that's just how he works. He looks like he's open for business.
DAG, great looking site, but the tardiness I've read about, losing a Minox camera and keeping a gentleman's M5 for over a year? Please. I did call him and I said "Oh you get some good reviews on the internet" and he said "Oh I don't read any of those forums. Those so called 'professionals'" with quite a distain for the people supporting him and he bought up the war as well in the conversation? I was out of there and quickly hung up.
So now Gus Lazzari. I read the photonet thread that you're referring to, and it reminded me of the experience I had with him. He privately solicited me with regards to servicing my Reid, which I like stuff like that you know, he's a go-gettter. But he was just rude and really attacked Youxin in a narcissistic and inappropriate way that really put me off. He really had something against him. I still researched him and contacted the people who left referrals and positive feedback on photonet. Everyone gave okay/ good reviews except for one who told me that Gus had manhandled his camera (damaged screws) and left debris in the viewfinder, as well as had his camera for a year. He also has a huge neighbor to neighbor argument going on on his thread and it's like, what is that about??
So here I am thinking who's going to fix my camera? And I've come to a point where I think no one in the USA is going to be able to do it. I think I'm leaning towards Youxin because he's the only one who's got the right spirit/energy for it. But my search continues.
Joe Vitessa
Well-known
Unfortunately, I'm one of few who has had a negative experience with Youxin's services. Several years back, I sent him a Summitar, a Summicron rigid and a Summar for service. The Summitar was the only lens repaired properly. The Summar came back with the aperture ring mounted upside down(!) and the barrel scratched. The Summicron's focus ring didn't turn any smoother than when I sent it. When I emailed him, he was very apologetic and refused any payment. That was a nice gesture, but I'm not sure why there was such a problem to begin with. (Perhaps it was his wife who was just starting to work on lenses? I dunno.) I ended up sending the lenses to Sherry, who fixed everything up perfectly.
I remember a few threads about five years ago attesting to similar experiences with Youxin's lens work. It sounds like that aspect of his service has caught up to his fine work with bodies.
I remember a few threads about five years ago attesting to similar experiences with Youxin's lens work. It sounds like that aspect of his service has caught up to his fine work with bodies.
RichardBrown, yes it appears Gus does resent Youxin. If I owned a Reid I would send it to the best, which would be DAG or Gus. Every person has foibles of one sort or another, as you outlined.
Currently I have a Nicca with Youxin. It's not worth much so it didn't make sense to send it to Gus. I'm sure Youxin will have it in tip top shape. Those old cameras are pretty simple, I don't really care if the parts aren't organized into tiny little boxes while the work is in progress. 🙂
Currently I have a Nicca with Youxin. It's not worth much so it didn't make sense to send it to Gus. I'm sure Youxin will have it in tip top shape. Those old cameras are pretty simple, I don't really care if the parts aren't organized into tiny little boxes while the work is in progress. 🙂
Not to mention Henry...
http://photo.net/neighbor/view-one?subcategory=1&neighbor_to_neighbor_id=346240
More recently...
http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00d1NB
Or, some time back, Charles...
Indeed.
For someone who makes a big deal about a tidy desk, I find his spelling rather LEBERAL. But I don't think I'll engage him, as there might be 'violince.'
🙂
For someone who makes a big deal about a tidy desk, I find his spelling rather LEBERAL. But I don't think I'll engage him, as there might be 'violince.'
🙂
