Crazy repair request 1100. Your thoughts?

Highway 61 said:
Marc Nicolas in Bordeaux, southern France.

Absolutely highly recommended, trusted and praised by the European Leica users community.

www.nicorep.fr

Way less expensive than Will Van Manen, and 100% equal work quality.
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I had never heard of Marc Nicolas before, took a look at his page. Interestingly he also does lens polishing, take a look at his example-page with a before/after (pictures of and with a 5cm Summicron):
http://nicorep.pagesperso-orange.fr/fr/reparation/avant_apres.htm

Greetings, Ljós
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

Leica are often expensive but, in my experience, will often do small things for free. Well, they did up to a couple of years ago for me. And they will return the camera usually back at the original specification; rather than just repaired. And some of the equipment they use is way beyond the ordinary repair shop. It's like owning an Audi...

Regards, David
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+1! That is my exprience, too!

I had my M3 in Solms for an overhaul a few years ago.

First, I was shocked by the price of the suggested list, but then, I saw, that they put everything in the suggested list, what they COULD do. Including a new body (as like you/mine hat some vulcanite off, that's why they suggested a new body. Also, when you take the top apart, it yould happen, that the vulcanite break at some places.) and a new bajonett ring.
That does not mean, that everything is necessary.

At the end, I decided not to take a new body and no new bajonett ring. And spent about 500 Euro, which was like the half, they said with new body and bajonet ring.

Well, what they write in the suggested list, sounds kind of laconic. But in reality, they do much more. Really, it will be totally taken apart inside and cleaned. Not just repaired and adjusted and a little bit lubricated.

Never regret the money I spent for that.
I was really satisfied.
Jan.
 
Thank you all for your suggestion. I'll try the guy in France.
@Errorlogin: the suggested list has been brought to me as an imperative list! In their minds I had to believe that everything they suggested is necessary! And, once again, my vulcanite is still perfect 🙂. I knew it could be exensive but I never thought that much. So, I think I'll never have my M2 overhauled in Solms 😀.
Now I'm just waiting for it to come back, fingers crossed 🙂
I'll let you konw.
 
Hmmm, I should have added that often they say that the opportunity should be taken to check or replace something whilst it's all in bits. And don't forget that they are really rebuilding it as though it was a new one on the production line.

Anyway, I guess you've set the wheels in motion but I have to stick up for a firm that have been very good to me over the years.

Regards, David
 
Youxin Ye just turned around an Ltm camera for me in one week. Shutter curtain repair and CLA. Price was 1/10 of what Solms quoted you. The work list was less sure, but just saying. There are more economical choices. I would not hesitate to have Solms repair a later camera. An M2??
 
Glad it worked out so reasonably for you.

That Solms bunch should all have eye patches and parrots on their shoulders! 😱
 
I just had to pay close to $500 to have Leica NJ to repair an M8. In their defense, the camera looks brand new now. Seems like they replaced everything except for the sensor, rangefinder and shutter.
 
Cagliostro73 said:
I asked the reason for the vulcanite replacement and they told me it's normal because technicians must change it after the repair. Is this true???
.
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Leica will rebuild the camera to 'new' spec. With any older Leica body the vulcanite can easily crumble when the top plate is removed, this is why they replace it as a routine, ready for another 50 years of use.

If you send it to another repairer any age related damage to the vulcanite during a CLA is often just patched up unless you ask for it to be replaced. There is no good or bad either way, it is just that Leica themselves go all out to make the camera as like new as possible, for others you need to specify how far you want to go.

Steve
 
Glad it worked out for you, 100 EUR seems to be a bit more sensible to me than 1100 EUR.


I need to have my M2 serviced (rangefinder needs alignment, the 1/1000 speed is not working, the viewfinder is hazy and probably some other stuff that I don't know about) and is quoted ≈ 430 EUR (apparently the standard price of his) by one of the few remaining repairman in Sweden. I haven't decided yet if I should go for him or try to find someone a bit cheaper in Europe, I'm currently studying so every penny counts... 😉
 
In Europe I can vote for Reinhardt - perhaps the best man for the job.
I heard locally very mixed opinions about Van Manen (he lives nearby) - no experience myself btw
Leica Solms as others state will bring your camera back to new specs and cosmetics, so in fact you pay for an as new cam


edit, I read now that you had a deal for 100 Eur, good for you..
 
Cagliostro73 said:
Ok, I've just sent my M2 for repair at a local trusted repairman here in rome. Guess what?
100 euros for the repair...
Thanks everybody for your suggestions.
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Once you receieve your camera back, please post your impressions here and eventually the name and address of the technician so other members in your vicinity could benefit from him too.

Sometimes two-way insured overseas shipment costs sum up more than that of the service.
 
I'll get it back today.
@errorlogin: he told me it was not the curtain break but only a matter of "condensed" lubrificant and a simple CLA could fix it all back.
I'll let you know my first impression and the field test.
Thank you.
 
Markus B said:
Glad it worked out for you, 100 EUR seems to be a bit more sensible to me than 1100 EUR.


I need to have my M2 serviced (rangefinder needs alignment, the 1/1000 speed is not working, the viewfinder is hazy and probably some other stuff that I don't know about) and is quoted ≈ 430 EUR (apparently the standard price of his) by one of the few remaining repairman in Sweden. I haven't decided yet if I should go for him or try to find someone a bit cheaper in Europe, I'm currently studying so every penny counts... 😉
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Werner? He quoted me ~2500 SEK for rangefinder and shutter adjustment on my M4-2, which was also about the quote from Schönherrs (who use KSC/Alois).
 
kode said:
Werner? He quoted me ~2500 SEK for rangefinder and shutter adjustment on my M4-2, which was also about the quote from Schönherrs (who use KSC/Alois).
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Nope, KSC/Alois. I did email Werner at LP-Foto too but didn't really got any good answer from him (guess his not an email guy.)
 
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