How long does DAG repair take

Rangefinder 35

Rangefinder 35

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I send my M6 to DAG Camera more than a month ago for some CLA and a part replacement. I got one email back just to clarify the return address, otherwise no info on how long will it take. My inquiry about that were just ignored. Is it what one's to expect with DAG? I've heard the guy is good , am I supposed to stay quiet?
 
I call him before sending to understand the expected timing. I send the gear with a cover letter restating the expected timing. I have had it take longer than expected.

I would suggest calling and speaking to him about the expected timing. Then you can send a friendly confirming email. It's easiest not to expect model email behavior from the best independent repair people. Then you'll not be disappointed.

He is very good. In my experience, Sherry Krauter, who is also very good, typically gives 3-week turnaround where parts are not needed. In my experience, Don takes longer than this.
 
Rangefinder 35 said:
I send my M6 to DAG Camera more than a month ago for some CLA and a part replacement. I got one email back just to clarify the return address, otherwise no info on how long will it take. My inquiry about that were just ignored. Is it what one's to expect with DAG? I've heard the guy is good , am I supposed to stay quiet?
Click to expand...

He is probably giving priority to those who told him when they needed it by. The good thing is, it will be a very good job.
 
My experience is that DAG doesn't answer email inquiries about your camera. My camera took several months before he returned it. He does great work but, now I use Youxin. Fast turn around time with him and I am very satisfied with his work. - jim
 
Rangefinder 35 said:
I send my M6 to DAG Camera more than a month ago for some CLA and a part replacement. I got one email back just to clarify the return address, otherwise no info on how long will it take. My inquiry about that were just ignored. Is it what one's to expect with DAG? I've heard the guy is good , am I supposed to stay quiet?
Click to expand...

Why stay quiet? Just send him a note and ask what the status on your repair is. If you have a particular time that you need it by in mind, it is very reasonable to ask if it will be ready by that time.

Don has done service work on a number of cameras and lenses for me over the years. He does excellent work and has always been responsive to email queries in my experience.

G
 
I talked to Don in advance of sending in a couple lenses and we established a reasonable turn around time for both of our schedules. He still has my lenses but it's only been a week and he told me just yesterday they should be done in the next day or two.

His communication with me has been consistent and reasonably timely as well as detailed of his discoveries.
 
Don can spend his time answering emails and phone calls or he can work on repairing cameras - take your choice.

I've used Don for decades, since the late '70's. Found out recently he's younger than me by a few years, jeez I feel old. Anyway a CLA takes anywhere from a month to a year.

I've been told by more than one repairman that they like to collect the same model (say 3 or 4 M3s) and then do them all at once. Just makes it go faster and easier than doing an M2, then a CL and a M6. So If you send the first M3 in you might wait for 3 or 4 months until that last M3 comes in, then they all get done in a few weeks.

Bottom line is Don learned from the best (if you don't know who his father was you should look it up) and spent his apprenticeship at Wetzler.
 
Don is capable of identifying hard to detect problems and he knows most likely how to fix it. Once, Don was willing to build for me aperture blades!
 
I have started with a phone call to see if he has the time to do the work I need when I need it. I then confirm this with a letter enclosed with the cameras/lenses. When I don't need something right away, I'll say so. Same goes if I need a lens done quickly. He has always completed the work to my satisfaction and in a timely manner. He did take longer than I expected with a pair of cameras, but I told him 'no rush' and that's how it was handled. No disappointments here.
 
Over the years there have been numerous threads here on RFF with many individuals both heaping praise on the quality of his work and expressing extreme frustration at how long it takes to get things back. Since photography is not a hobby for me, I could never afford to wait months or years as quite a few folks have reported. That is why I always used Sherry Krauter, though I understand her repertoire of repairs may not be as broad. However, she gave you the time frame and stuck to it. (2 or 3 weeks).
 
If you are in a hurry then don't use DAG. I have given DAG lots of work and he is the best in my opinion. He converted my Canon .95 to M mount and it was perfect though that took nearly two years. The fastest was for a condenser upgrade for my M7 which took 2 weeks. He collimated my 21-35 Duel Hexanon and that took 3 months.
 
My impression is that he's just super busy. He took a month for some lens CLAs recently, but took longer to do a camera once. Youxin can be really fast, if you tell him you have a trip coming up or some other need for rush service. Both guys do great work.
 
Krauter

Krauter

Matthew Runkel said:
I call him before sending to understand the expected timing. I send the gear with a cover letter restating the expected timing. I have had it take longer than expected.

I would suggest calling and speaking to him about the expected timing. Then you can send a friendly confirming email. It's easiest not to expect model email behavior from the best independent repair people. Then you'll not be disappointed.

He is very good. In my experience, Sherry Krauter, who is also very good, typically gives 3-week turnaround where parts are not needed. In my experience, Don takes longer than this.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use Sherry Krauter anymore. She held one of my lenses for four months without repairing it and I finally had to take it back without the repair being done.
 
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