Any info. on CRR, UK?

[yossi]

Hello fellow members, greeting.

Just to see if anyone knows whether CRR, UK is still in business. As I understand, they are probably the very last few who could still do Leica M's VF repair/restoration work. When I go to their homepage, all I see is a bizarre announcement about "No repair or service can be accepted till SEE TOP OF PAGE". When I look at TOP OF PAGE, there is no date but a few pix of the Queen with stamp 21 April 1986! What gives?

Any info./insight would be very much appreciated. TIA.

 

[splitimageview]

I don’t know about CRR but there are several repair shops that can repair prism separation

 

[bucs]

I don’t know about CRR but there are several repair shops that can repair prism separation

I’ve seen [Enzo] Patagonean and Kanto do such repairs. Any others just for reference?

 

[pgk]

I'm pretty sure CRR have gone. You might look here though: Leica repairs and repaints | Bury | Cameraworks-uk although I think they are inundated with work!

 

[Dralowid]

Peter at CRR retired some time ago.

 

[WoodallP]

I'm pretty sure CRR have gone. You might look here though: Leica repairs and repaints | Bury | Cameraworks-uk although I think they are inundated with work!

I will second this on all points. They are pretty well the main agents now for stuff outside of basic CLA in the UK now (correct me if I'm wrong anyone), but they seem very busy. I have had two very good jobs done by them.

Though if I recall well CRR used to do real vulcanite, now that was rare.

 

[Dralowid]

Has anyone tried the Ex Newton and Ellis team? They were quick and efficient when the company was still running, no reason to think that has changed.

Newton Ellis - Newton Ellis film camera repairs

Looking for camera repairs in the UK? Then Newton Ellis is repairing all types of cameras, lenses and camcorders. Digital or film cameras, nationwide service.

www.newtonellis.com

 

[WoodallP]

Has anyone tried the Ex Newton and Ellis team? They were quick and efficient when the company was still running, no reason to think that has changed.

Newton Ellis - Newton Ellis film camera repairs

Looking for camera repairs in the UK? Then Newton Ellis is repairing all types of cameras, lenses and camcorders. Digital or film cameras, nationwide service.

www.newtonellis.com

Yes they would have been my second call but I haven't used them since the change. I think they have focussed a lot more, but that focus is very much on the classics. They should probably spend a few minutes on their web site though, as the old and new bits give mixed messages (but not half as confusing as the continued existence of the CRR site).

 

[splitimageview]

I’ve seen [Enzo] Patagonean and Kanto do such repairs. Any others just for reference?

cameraworks-uk.com, yyecamera.com

 

[Pentudlian]

Yes they would have been my second call but I haven't used them since the change. I think they have focussed a lot more, but that focus is very much on the classics. They should probably spend a few minutes on their web site though, as the old and new bits give mixed messages (but not half as confusing as the continued existence of the CRR site).

I used Newton & Ellis a lot before "the change", and have used them once (entirely satisfactorily, for some Olympus XA2 repairs) since then.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

EDIT - I see their website is down. They may well be out of business too.

Camera Obscura in London repaired an M2 for me recently. Nice work and efficient.

 

[chuckroast]

Hello fellow members, greeting.

Just to see if anyone knows whether CRR, UK is still in business. As I understand, they are probably the very last few who could still do Leica M's VF repair/restoration work. When I go to their homepage, all I see is a bizarre announcement about "No repair or service can be accepted till SEE TOP OF PAGE". When I look at TOP OF PAGE, there is no date but a few pix of the Queen with stamp 21 April 1986! What gives?

Any info./insight would be very much appreciated. TIA.

View attachment 4882974

I know you specified a UK vendor, but since you're shipping internationally anyway, you might consider DAG Camera Repair in the US. He is Weztlar trained and does excellent work. He has serviced/CLAed my IIIf, M2, M5, and 50mm V3 Summicron. All came back pretty much perfect.

I know he does do international service work but I don't know what his current backlog might be. An email to get a sense of cost and time would be in order should you decide to explore this option. What I find it that - once the shipping carrier has confirmed delivery - I call a week or so later to confirm turn around time, and then again a week or so before that delivery date.

Best of luck.

 

[rayfoxlee]

If your M simply needs a viewfinder clean, give PPP Cameras and also Red Dot Repair a try first of all. Both do general Leica M servicing. For more difficult work:-

cameraworks-uk.com are to my knowledge the only company that can do a full overhaul of an M viewfinder in the UK, including re-silvering when necessary. It is not cheap, as this is highly skilled work and, as you might expect, the company has a long wait time. Alan Starkie of cameraworks-uk serviced my Leica M3 and found that re-silvering was needed for the additional viewfinder work. He did a terrific job on the service to the M3 and the viewfinder. All the info you will need is on the website. As well as the long wait time, don't expect to hear anything until your camera is ready, except where there is a problem! Very highly recommended.

I hope this helps.
Ray

 

[markoterz]

I'd give Newton and Ellis a try. I believe Ian Pettman looks after the Leica repairs and he seems like a skilled technician. I inquired about a faulty Leica M5 meter a few weeks ago. The repsonse time was lightning fast and advice very sound.

 

[yossi]

I know you specified a UK vendor, but since you're shipping internationally anyway, you might consider DAG Camera Repair in the US. He is Weztlar trained and does excellent work. He has serviced/CLAed my IIIf, M2, M5, and 50mm V3 Summicron. All came back pretty much perfect.

I know he does do international service work but I don't know what his current backlog might be. An email to get a sense of cost and time would be in order should you decide to explore this option. What I find it that - once the shipping carrier has confirmed delivery - I call a week or so later to confirm turn around time, and then again a week or so before that delivery date.

Best of luck.

Yes, Don/DAG is highly skilled and reputable, but he is way too busy and so the lead time is long and often unpredictable. I had sent my M4 to him for VF work before so I know.

As for camerawork-uk.com, they state on their homepage: "We can now only accept work from within the UK"😔

I used to send my Leica lenses to Kanto/JP for CLA. They are very good and charge reasonable price. About 3 months waiting time. However, with so many people/camera stores sending their Leica camers and lenses to them for CLA/repainting, they have indicated up to 7 months waiting time for a lens repair!

I need to get my M3's VF prism resilvered/restored, and I don't think yyecamera could do that. If no other choice, I guess I just have to send the M3 to Kanto and wait for half a year. OTOH, I have found someone from China selling an M3 team splitter prism for about $300 plus shipping:



It is tempting BUT....assuming that the prism is of high quality/precision as advertised, I am not so sure if I could install it successfully on my M3. After all, my DIY repair skill is up to M3 VF window internal haze removal level, ONLY.😅

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[bucs]

OTOH, I have found someone from China selling an M3 team splitter prism for about $300 plus shipping

Where? Can you share for my reference?