Bought a Used M4-P from the Lady in the East, but...

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philosli

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Recently I bought a used M4-P from a renowned repair lady in the US east. The camera has been CLA'ed, and it came w/ a 6-month warranty.

So far I put through some rolls through it and have no big issue.

But after a few weeks I noticed the beam splitter shows separation. Photo attached.

I called the lady to see if this can be fixed. No luck.

Then I also noticed that the viewfinder window has some slight haze, and a white spot that now looks to me like fungus. I was really surprised, since this shouldn't be there on a CLA'ed camera.

So I called again to see if the camera can be cleaned.

Again no luck.

In the conversation I found out the camera originally belonged to a customer of hers and was CLA'ed 3-4 years back based on her recollection. Not sure exactly what happened in between.

Anyway, I'm not very happy and I'll find a different technician to have the camera cleaned.
 

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Does this affect your photos? If not I would just live with it as these are old cameras, you know.
 
If you are still in the warranty period, she should deal with it.
Or REFUND YOUR MONEY.
Otherwise, I always use Don Goldberg.

No, you should not "live with it" if it's fungus. it will grow, get worse, etch the glass, and spread to your other cameras.

Anyway, if the RF is delaminated (RF patch is black?), then the camera is of no use. I think there is a repairer in England that can separate and recement these. The other option (highly expensive) is to have a new VF/RF unit put in, maybe an M6 or MP unit.
 
If it is under warranty then send it back. Why are you even debating sending it to be repaired?
There are so many M4-Ps around, it's not worth the hassle. Send it back and get another.
 
philosli said:
Recently I bought a used M4-P from a renowned repair lady in the US east. The camera has been CLA'ed, and it came w/ a 6-month warranty....

But after a few weeks I noticed the beam splitter shows separation. Photo attached.
....

Then I also noticed that the viewfinder window has some slight haze, and a white spot that now looks to me like fungus. I was really surprised, since this shouldn't be there on a CLA'ed camera.....

In the conversation I found out the camera originally belonged to a customer of hers and was CLA'ed 3-4 years back based on her recollection. Not sure exactly what happened in between.

Anyway, I'm not very happy and I'll find a different technician to have the camera cleaned.
Click to expand...

So it wasn't CLA'd just before you got it, but four years prior? Maybe more? That haze and fungus could all have appeared in the period after the CLA.
As well as the beam splitter separation. It happened on a camera of mine in a very short period.

Didn't you fully check out the camera when you first received it? I always do that with any purchase, new or used. Waiting a few weeks and then noticing things is not ideal.
What did Sherry say the warranty covers? That is where you need to start. If she won't back her warranty then send it back.

edit- I see on her site that you have 10 days to return for a full refund. You should have used that time to check it out properly. Haze and fungus can appear in a few weeks depending on how the camera is stored, where it was etc. Ever seen how quickly mushrooms can appear on a lawn?
 
Never.......NEVER! Look too closely at old cameras.* I don't care where they came from.

*Cameras you have already obtained and cannot return.
 
Corollary to above post;
Never look too closely or heaven forbid, through old lenses in strong light, especially direct sunlight.
 
zuiko85 said:
Corollary to above post;
Never look too closely or heaven forbid, through old lenses in strong light, especially direct sunlight.
Click to expand...
All very true.

Allegedly, Persian carpets always contained a deliberate flaw, on the grounds that "To Allah alone belongs perfection".

(This'll probably get me on an ISIS murder list, an FBI watch list, and who knows what else. It also calls into question the morality of those who think that unless their flaws are deliberate and manifest, they don't count. But those who understand that perfection on Earth is highly disputable, leaving principally perfection in fantasy or religion, or possibly their own vision of politics, will see what I mean.)

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
All very true.

Allegedly, Persian carpets always contained a deliberate flaw, on the grounds that "To Allah alone belongs perfection".

(This'll probably get me on an ISIS murder list, an FBI watch list, and who knows what else. It also calls into question the morality of those who think that unless their flaws are deliberate and manifest, they don't count. But those who understand that perfection on Earth is highly disputable, leaving principally perfection in fantasy or religion, or possibly their own vision of politics, will see what I mean.)

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...
You will probably miss the FBI list, you didn't say 'bomb'.

Oh rats! I said bomb.
 
michaelwj said:
If it is under warranty then send it back. Why are you even debating sending it to be repaired?
There are so many M4-Ps around, it's not worth the hassle. Send it back and get another.
Click to expand...

I want to send it back for cleaning but she refused to cover it under warranty. She said if something breaks during the 6-month warranty period she'll fix it, but I need to pay the parts.

According to her, the problem of haze and white dot is cosmetic so she won't clean it.

The separation: she said the camera is too old so she won't fix it either.

I'm new to Leica so I decided to buy one that is serviced recently. Before I purchased she assured me the camera is CLA'ed, and after one CLA the camera is good to go for 15 years before the next overhaul, and the one she was selling to me is good for that many years. But I learnt this is not true in the most recent conversation w/ her.

In the first two weeks I only checked the focusing and did two rolls to test it. I didn't know what to look for in a Leica M body only after noticing there is also a vertical line in the focusing patch (and she knew it before she sent the camera to me; she said it's a hair).
 
philosli said:
I want to send it back for cleaning but she refused to cover it under warranty. She said if something breaks during the 6-month warranty period she'll fix it, but I need to pay the parts.

According to her, the problem of haze and white dot is cosmetic so she won't clean it.

The separation: she said the camera is too old so she won't fix it either.

I'm new to Leica so I decided to buy one that is serviced recently. Before I purchased she assured me the camera is CLA'ed, and after one CLA the camera is good to go for 15 years before the next overhaul, and the one she was selling to me is good for that many years. But I learnt this is not true in the most recent conversation w/ her.

In the first two weeks I only checked the focusing and did two rolls to test it. I didn't know what to look for in a Leica M body only after noticing there is also a vertical line in the focusing patch (and she knew it before she sent the camera to me; she said it's a hair).
Click to expand...
Great warranty!

A friend has asked me to sell an M3 for her: it belonged to her late father. I'll even guarantee it as long as I don't have to fix anything that goes wrong.

(Ah: and it must not have been a drone).

Cheers,

R.
 
A similar experience to the one above is why I only deal with Don Goldberg (DAG) for any of my older Leica gear.

Best,
-Tim
 
If she won't handle it, then send it to Don Goldberg.
He is swamped, so expect several months waiting.
Gus Lazzari is an alternative, but he's also swamped. I'm finally getting cameras back from servicing that I sent him 2 years ago.

Anyway, viewfinder cleaning isn't expensive, and they can tell you the condition of the beamsplitter.
 
And this is why ebay is your friend. Have an issue? Send it back.

To the OP, if you paid for it with a credit card or paypal you may be able to get your money back.
 
philosli said:
Recently I bought a used M4-P from a renowned repair lady in the US east. The camera has been CLA'ed, and it came w/ a 6-month warranty.

...the camera originally belonged to a customer of hers and was CLA'ed 3-4 years back based on her recollection.
Click to expand...

I hope you didn't pay a lot extra for that not-so-recent CLA.
 
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