jeffrypittman
Jeff Pittman
I sent him an email message. Sorry for not being clear.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
Try calling him. He's there - I just spoke with him. He's tremendously busy!
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Godfrey
somewhat colored
The M5 is an outlier in the Leica M range, just like the Leica CL. The CL was incredibly popular and reasonably simple, sadly hurt in reputation (and profitability to Leica) by the poor quality being delivered by Minolta at the time; the M5 was rather unpopular and a lot more complicated/time consuming to work on.
Don has only so much time and likely wants to focus his time working on the models that he feels are both appealing and suit his time better. Dropping the outlier makes perfect sense to me.
My uncle had an M5 way back in their day. I remember looking forward to taking it for a shoot ... until I picked it up. It was so big, so heavy feeling, and so awkward feeling compared to the M4 that I was using at the time that I decided to pass on even taking it for a walk. To me, it was simply a very unappealing camera, and not like any of the previous Leica Ms that I used and loved.
G
Don has only so much time and likely wants to focus his time working on the models that he feels are both appealing and suit his time better. Dropping the outlier makes perfect sense to me.
My uncle had an M5 way back in their day. I remember looking forward to taking it for a shoot ... until I picked it up. It was so big, so heavy feeling, and so awkward feeling compared to the M4 that I was using at the time that I decided to pass on even taking it for a walk. To me, it was simply a very unappealing camera, and not like any of the previous Leica Ms that I used and loved.
G
Dralowid
Michael
Taking emotion etc etc out of it the decision is entirely logical from a financial point of view. Far better to commit to repair cameras where parts are available and the process reasonably predictable than to work on something where a labour cost estimate is much more difficult to get right and where it may need to come back under warranty for whatever reason..
M5...CL...Contax I...Ricoh GR1...all examples of fine cameras that experts will decline to look after for any number of reasons, the list could probably get quite long.
Beemermark
Veteran
Do you mean dagcam@chorrus.net?
Maybe his comment about not sending any more M5's for repair is really just a plea that he doesn't want to work on them but really will if asked. That comment is hidden in the FAQ's and has been there for quite sometime. Longer than last January. I don't think most people read them and they should, some are hilarious. I especially like the one about not over doing it on tape. I hate it when I get a camera or lens with bubble wrap, 20 yards of clear tape, some more bubble wrap, and more tape. Always afraid I'm going to nick the contents with my knife trying to cut through all the crap. Rubber bands work just as well. BTW he charges $455 for an M4 overhaul (different than a CLA) so not less than an M5. I 'll send him an email in two months if I haven't heard back on the M4.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
What is the difference between a CLA and an overhaul?
I can guess: Maybe the overhaul includes new parts? But then I should think the cost would vary depending on the parts being replaced. Or maybe the overhaul is for cosmetic refurbishment. Nahh.
or maybe he just isn't going to work on them...
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
I asked Don Goldberg that question once - his response: "I have no idea"!
hap
Well-known
One is more expensive than the other. You get into a CLA and then find out other stuff and follow the trail until it becomes an overhaul. You can choose in theory one of the two, but if you want the camera to be as good as possible you get the second option whether you choose or not.
hap
Well-known
If you are going to sell your camera, you insist on a CLA.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
That's funny!
It seems to me this happens as a matter of course, when the tech finds something that needs to be replaced. I sent Sherry as Leica for a CLA. She did the CLA and also replaced the rewind assembly.
hap
Well-known
Well , I"ll be...... It's not exactly sinister though. these cameras are old and parts do wear or get abused , or just fail.
Byrdman
Newbie
It’s a shame that DAG isn’t working on the M5 anymore. I just got confirmation that Red Dot Repair in Oregon will work on the M5. I have an M5 arriving today that was CLA’d a couple of years ago by DAG, who also added full MP optics, keept the original M5 frame lines, and and added 28mm lines. I’m glad there’ll still be at least a couple of shops willing to service it in the future. I’ve heard lots of good things about Jadon at Red Dot Repair.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Both of my M5s still have their original L-seals. It's nice that they have been trouble free for so long, though the framelines are looking faint on one of them, and the frameline selector lever is being quirky now. I feel I ought to get them both CLA'd soon, while the service is still available! I feel I'd like Sherry to do it. I think of Sherry as the M5 master!
Beemermark
Veteran
Probably because he doesn't do CLA's? A CLA cleans the camera inside and out, usually flushing the old grease with some type of solvent, re-lubricating with the proper grease and oils, and making any adjustments necessary. I know Don does a lot more. For example he checks for the film plane to be parallel with the lens mount. Checks numerous parts for unacceptable wear which entails a far more disassembly than a CLA.
jeffrypittman
Jeff Pittman
Don let me know the M5 service - full overhaul and CLA - and 6 bit coding has been completed. He was very nice and apologized for the long delay. He had been waiting for parts [6-bit coded flanges] from Leica.