How long should DAG's CLAs take?

[erikhaugsby]

A while ago I contacted DAG about getting a CLA done on my M2. I mailed it soon thereafter, and he confirmed reciept of it shortly after that.
That was eight weeks ago. I have emailed him several times, and he still has not given a definitive answer as to when the repairs should be finished.
I, just wanting to be able to shoot with my M2 again, would like to know how long other people's Leicas have taken to be repaired?


For posterity: He told me that my M2 was never opened, needed to have its shutter speeds re-aligned, and haze cleaned from the VF.

 

[erikhaugsby]

Nothing from anybody?
I hoped that there would be somebody with experience...

I do not want to appear as if I am being rude, I merely am wondering what the average time spent is for a CLA (no actual repairs, just re-timing the slowspeeds and cleaning the VF of haze).

 

[wlewisiii]

The only camera I had done by him was back in my hands in 4 days due to an odd set of lucky circumstances. Brett (Joe Friday) had an M3 that took quite a bit longer.

My collapsible Summicron took about a week.

In your case, I'd wonder what is in line ahead of you.

William

 

[Ergo]

Whatever time it takes a master to complete.

 

[MCTuomey]

erik, two weeks door-to-door for the last two lenses i've sent ... there were no parts issues or anything that might've created a delay, however

 

[Mackinaw]

Back in 1995 I sent him an M3 for a CLA. After two months of waiting, I had to call DAG and ask when he'd be getting to my camera. I got it a few weeks after the phone call, put one roll of film through the camera, where it promptly jammed. Off to DAG again, this time to be fixed.

This was eleven years ago so maybe things arre better now. As for me, the next time my M3 needs a CLA, I'm sending it to Sherry Krauter.

Jim Bielecki

 

[Terence T]

I sent a M4-2 in about 2 years ago and it took almost 3 months to come back. He takes his time but man, does he do a good job. It's worth the wait.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Erik--
I sent in a Canon 35mm f/2 lens for a CLA in February of this year. Took 9 weeks but the job done was SUPERB! Don Goldberg may have a backlog depending on time of year. He is very popular though for the great job he does on bodies and lenses.

 

[Todd Frederick]

Get your camera back from DAG and have Sherry krauter do the job.

http://www.sherrykrauter.com/index.php

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'm sorry to hear about your wait, Erik. The longest turnaround from him took about six weeks, the quickest was three, and that was because I had asked him before I shipped my camera whether it would be possible to get it back within a month, because I really needed it for an event I wanted to use it for.

He gets really backlogged. In the beginning I learned that sometimes you had to remind him that you had sent him something at a given date. He's good at writing back. He does get lots of business, and that's the downside of having such a good reputation, I guess.

That's been my only complaint, the turnaround time. Other than that, he's really really good.

I hope you didn't go and buy another one to get your M2 fix 😉

 

[erikhaugsby]

I hope you didn't go and buy another one to get your M2 fix 😉

No, but I have spent a great deal of gas (the fuel, not the addiction) running down to the Golden Valley NatCam several times to fondle some of their MPs and, if lucky, the M2 they have upstairs.

 

[Lee Hamiel]

Best to find out anyone's backlog - I have used Don & knew beforehand that he was backed up but still decided to use him & it was worth the wait.

Good guy & I'm glad I don't have to deal with his customers

 

[ERV]

I had him adjust the meter on my m5 this past Spring.
It took about 4 weeks door to door.
His price was very reasonable, however.