I joined the club today!

[B-9]

I go through Youxin exclusively, hands down the most affordable, he doesn't leave you hanging for weeks without contact (my DAG experience). Youxin simply has the best turnaround times.

I've never waited more than 2 weeks from the time I ship to the time I open the returned.package.
Youxin also encourages you to send prepaid shipping with your package, for return.
In my book, this is awesome! I hate how shops gouge shipping prices, and usually only offer a single service.

Ide give Youxin a try, you won't be dissapointed!
His repair costs are chump change compared to Helen and Dons
(No offense to Helen or Don, these guys are great at what they do!)

 

[rfaspen]

I've sent a few cameras to Don (DAG) over the years. Nothing but joy. Yes, the turnaround time is longer than I hear about YY, but I never used YY🙂. My Canon IIF came back in about 3 weeks. My Leica IIIa came back in about the same time. My M2 came back a little longer than 3 weeks, actually 4 weeks. I have ordered parts for my M3, Canon 7, Canon IVSB, Leica IIIf from Don and all came quickly after he helped me determine exactly which part I needed. Email communication went fine. I think he is a very busy guy, so I understand when a day or two pass without reply, but never longer in my experience. As to the quality of his work. All my cameras perform as new and I noticed that Don did extras for me without charge, such as re-filling the engraving on my IIIa that had lost some of its black over the years. A nice surprise when I opened my package. That is my personal experience with Don/DAG. If he ever becomes unavailable, I would try YY or Sherry next, based entirely on reputation I read here on RFF.

 

[Vics]

I've had repairs from both DAG and Youxin Ye. Both did excellent work and turned around really quickly. Both were really responsive to my questions via email. I think your camera would be in good hands with either one, based only on my experience.
EDIT: Forgot to say that both were surprisingly resonably priced.

 

[powasky]

I've read Youxin's name for as long as I remember and the email contact with him that I've had for the past few days has solidified my decision to use him as my CLA guy. I will report back when the camera is back in my hands.

I also ordered a griptac kit from cameraleather. I'm going to have Youxin remove the old vulcanite and clean the body in prep for the griptac, which I will do myself.

Now to source a (cheap) 50mm brightline finder...

 

[powasky]

Received the camera back in an inordinately short period of time, and the results are great. Youxin cleaned the 'cron's light haze and it looks seriously beautiful now. Some minor dust but very very few discernible cleaning marks. Youxin commented that it was "quite nice". I griptac'ed the body and it's in user mode now.

I have recently learned that the Summicron is an early lens (1043258) with the Thorium element. Pretty cool to have in as nice condition as it is!

I was concerned that the IIIF was going to be fiddly to use, but in all reality I have found the learning curve to be fairly easy. I love metering with my eye. I'm almost through my first roll and am looking forward to the results!

 

[xia_ke]

Good to hear powasky! I've had Youxin work on a couple Barnacks for me and a couple lenses, including a Thorium 'cron, and he did excellent work on all of them. Looking forward to seeing some shots when you finish off that roll!

 

[mortalenema]

That sounds great! Definitely interested in the results of that first roll. Post them up when you can, please. I'd love to see some pics of the camera as well.

 

[powasky]

Arista Premium 400 is hanging now. We'll see tonight, friends. Fingers crossed!

 

[powasky]

f/2 - fairly impressed. would love to know your feedback. everything was via Nikon ED4000 and cropped for borders.

 

[35mmdelux]

Understood, & I do understand your point. Not sure I understand your user name.😉 I'm always thinking goat-mules & I know that is not your intention. Sorry about that. I think it should be go-amules...interesting none the less.🙂

LOL. I love ad personam attacks. They are usually funny unless you are the attackee.

 

[35mmdelux]

guys....DAG, Sherry (Goldentouch) and Youxin are all top notch Leica repair people. Why the polemics?

Sherry - Half baths and full baths. YES, used her numerous times.
Youxin -- fast turnarounds, knowledgeable. Sometimes too fast. YES, I have used him.
DAG -- Only known by reputation, long wait times, not the best communicator according to many folks. However, he has been very responsive to me.

 

[Keith]

The point being made about YY is valid for me. He's very easy to deal with but I did have three cameras CLA'd and two were with issues when returned. One had a light baffle out of place and the other had a piece of vulcanite trapped under the lens mount which distorted it and made any lens mounted on the camera very tight in the focus. I was able to sort both problems out myself fortunately. I subsequently had an M2 CLAd which leaked some type of oil onto the shutter curtains after a few months.

 

[gb hill]

Greg, just so I understand, you actually haven't used YY's services, right? It seems from your earlier post that you haven't, but I just want to be sure.

I was in the OP's situation when I looked for information about service of my Ms (so far my Leica II has not needed service; but this thread interests me because it will likely do so in the future). At that point, I wanted to hear from those who had actually used the services of various technicians - with good and bad results - because that would assist me in deciding whether to send my equipment to them. "Accurate referral", for me in such a situation looking for useful information to help me decide, would mean that the referring individual has personal experience of a service point. Hearsay would be much less (as in not) helpful.

Just my 2cts, not intended to offend but simply clarify.

Philip

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. No I haven't used YY but like I have stated earlier I trust the words of those around here on the forum who do. Guess I shouldn't because people get in too much of a tissy. Glad to read you are pleased in your decision to send it to YY & hope you enjoy the camera for many years.🙂

 

[gb hill]

LOL. I love ad personam attacks. They are usually funny unless you are the attackee.

That wasn't my intention but perhaps looking back I made a poor statement. For that I do apoligize & wish the best for everyone. 🙂