Anybody have experience with service (CLA) by Sherry Krauter, New York?

Depending on what you send her, expect a phone call or some contact.

She is good, and she won't take forever. Turn around is reasonable, and her work is guaranteed.
 
Sherry and DAG are the best. DAG is slow. Quality is the same.

Sherry email is not the best, use phone. She is fun to talk with.
 
Sherry overhauled my Leica CL a few years ago, and replaced the meter. It took a while, but I understand that parts are hard to come by for the CL. I had a couple minor issues with the camera after it was returned, and she fixed them quickly and was easy to talk to. She's a pro.
 
Chris Bail said:
Sherry overhauled my Leica CL a few years ago, and replaced the meter. It took a while, but I understand that parts are hard to come by for the CL. I had a couple minor issues with the camera after it was returned, and she fixed them quickly and was easy to talk to. She's a pro.
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From what she did?
 
Which body do you want to send her? Last time we spoke, she commented about some parts for the M5 she no longer has access to. I think she bought up what parts there were some time ago and she's just run out of some of them and they're no longer available from other sources.

She's a hoot to talk to. There are some physical issues she dealing with that may be starting to slow her down somewhat, but you couldn't send a Leica to a tech that knows more than she does.
 
Most recently I had Sherry custom build me a black Leica SL2-MOT from two cameras that I rescued. One was a black SL2-MOT that had a dead CdS cell and a desilvering prism that otherwise was a shelf queen. This rare camera I bought for only $279.00 at Adorama (only about 1K made).

The other camera was a chrome SL2 that was totally hammered showing 40 years of use/abuse that I bought basically as a donor camera for the perfect prism and the CdS cell. This parts camera was so worn that the lens mount needed replacement.

What I got back was a time capsule from 1975, a factory fresh black SL2-MOT. Sherry tells me that the SL2 is Leica's "most overbuilt camera" and that the build quality is so overdone that SL2's are a pain to work on. LOL.

As far as rare and discontinued parts: check with Sherry because she very recently purchased all the spare parts for the M5 and other Leicas that Leica New Jersey no longer services. She bought the entire lot from Leica New Jersey.

Other custom work that I had performed is having the 75mm frames stripped out of my Wetzlar M6 and black paint MP. Also know that Sherry has personally delivered me my cameras in NYC on occasion.

Cal
 
I have used Don Goldberg's services for my cameras and lenses. It was never slow for me. He is The Pro.
 
I can't say, because I don't know. When I got the camera, the meter needle was sticking at one end, and the film advance jammed on me on the first roll. I chalked it up to vibration in shipping. She didn't repair the advance because it was working when she opened the box after I returned it. It's been flawless since. The meter needle was sticking because one of the stops fell out. Again, flawless since she replaced it. I'm not disappointed. She brought the camera back to factory new, with all of the upgrades that were made during the limited production run.
Huss said:
From what she did?
Click to expand...
 
If you want to go with one of the big names in Leica Repair choose Don at DAG.
Don has worked on ltm and M lenses for me and has been quick and evenly priced.
He's friendly and all business.

The impression I get is,...Sherry is great if you have a relationship established with her. (and live in NY)
As a new customer I had her adjust sticky Frame-lines on an M5 she had previously overhauled.
She charged more than estimated and was frankly quite rude on the phone.
YMMV
 
One horrendous experience overshadowed one good experience = never ever again. She held my camera ransom, doing a repair I had no chance to review prior to the work being done. She is not "all there" socially, so be careful.
 
She did excellent work overhauling a Summaron 35/2.8 and a Summicron 50/2 Rigid for me several years ago, and she was very pleasant on the phone.
But last year I tried to contact her a few times for some more work, but she never responded. Not sure what's going on with her these days.
::Ari
 
Unfortunately, the days when you could walk into Marty Forscher's office and speak to the master are long in the past.

Today there are perhaps only half a dozen people in this whole country who can provide the level of service you want.

Whomever you choose, Patience is the watchword. These people work alone and they could spend eight hours a day just answering emails and speaking on the phone with folks who have entrusted their irreplaceable treasures to them.

I have had experience with Sherry and with Gus Lazzari. In both cases the work took some months (obtaining spare parts, etc.), but when it was returned the results were excellent. I have not had experience with DAG or Mr. Ye and so cannot comment about them.

My experiences were 3-4 years ago so YMMV. To be frank, my main concern today would be the reliability of shipping via UPS or USPS. Their services have really gone downhill in the last couple of years it seems to me.
Good luck!
 
A Happy Sherry customer writes:

A Happy Sherry customer writes:

Although it's been a while..

I have had an M2 an M4
and 3 lenses serviced by Sherry.

For me (YMMV) the work was well done,
returned in a reasonable time
and at a reasonable rate.

It's about time to send her another lens....

David
 
Sherry has serviced a long list of Leicas for me. I once sent her my 75 Lux to be CLA'ed, she sent it back saying the few specks of dust were not worth the bother, she said, "Save your money."

I wanted to have the drive shaft put into a M3 so I could use a Rapidwinder. She refused because the brass gears on the film transport would get overworked.

I always got the clear message that she had more than enough work. Over the almost decade of sevicing several peices of gear a year I have yet to have a problem.

One time she changed the windows on my M6 when I had my 75 mm frames removed so it would match my MP. She described my windows as worn, something I had never noticed, but sure enough my VF'er is brighter, and I'm glad she changed them.

As far as her reputation for being gruff, I know this to be true, but I never-ever experienced that.

Cal
 
Sherry has done lens CLA's for me on several occasions. She also replaced aperture blades on a Rigid Summicron. Her work is outstanding. She's definitely 'old school' in terms of communication, she doesn't have much patience with emails. Her reputation is such that some folks find her very direct, sometimes too much for their liking. I've never had an issue with her or her work.

John Van Stelten at Focal Point recoated the front element on an old Summicron of mine. His work is outstanding.

The only other Leica tech with whom I have experience is Youxin Ye. He recently did a CLA on my 90mm Elmarit-M. He did a great job and I also got a very rapid turnaround from Youxin.

I would recommend any of these repair folks without hesitation.
 
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