I sent my M4 to be repainted...

After reading that Nate I’m glad I took Gabor’s advice and sent my M6 to Leica Ginza.
Two more weeks until I get my hands on the Shintaro M2, two more weeks on the ship :)
 
Ah, Crap. I just sent off my IIIG to Masa for a paint job. Maybe I should have followed up on this thread before I sent it. Literally hours ago... and now it's midway across the Pacific no doubt...

I suppose I should hope for the best. Will let everyone know how it turns out with pictures and a review. If anyone else has positive reviews please ease my mind and post them;)

Regards,
Gonzalo
 
Hmm, interesting comments. Personally, I can find no faults with my camera. I know that the chrome was stripped off because he sent a pic of the stripped parts. The rangefinder was properly adjusted both vertically and horizontally. The leatherette looks like a good reproduction of the original vulcanite, and it is fitted perfectly. The paint is certainly tough, I've been using the camera every day, and I have already run several rolls of film through it, so far there are no scratches.

I had a camera serviced by Youxin Y before coming to Japan, and I can't say that Masa's work is in any way inferior. As I've said before, I'm happy with my camera and with all the work it received.
 
Frontman said:
Hmm, interesting comments. Personally, I can find no faults with my camera. I know that the chrome was stripped off because he sent a pic of the stripped parts. The rangefinder was properly adjusted both vertically and horizontally. The leatherette looks like a good reproduction of the original vulcanite, and it is fitted perfectly. The paint is certainly tough, I've been using the camera every day, and I have already run several rolls of film through it, so far there are no scratches.

I had a camera serviced by Youxin Y before coming to Japan, and I can't say that Masa's work is in any way inferior. As I've said before, I'm happy with my camera and with all the work it received.
Click to expand...

Like I said your M4 looks great. My flash shoe has lots of chrome left on it but I can see some bras sing on it to. Very weird. Baseplate too.
 
mgd711 said:
After reading that Nate I’m glad I took Gabor’s advice and sent my M6 to Leica Ginza.
Two more weeks until I get my hands on the Shintaro M2, two more weeks on the ship :)
Click to expand...

Sh*t! You must be loaded. Leica Ginza charges a fortune dude! I walked in there and asked how much it cost to clean my M4-P's VF and they said 90k yen! I'm like, I might as well buy a whole new camera.
 
RFluhver said:
Sh*t! You must be loaded. Leica Ginza charges a fortune dude! I walked in there and asked how much it cost to clean my M4-P's VF and they said 90k yen! I'm like, I might as well buy a whole new camera.
Click to expand...

Not really loaded but like Nate I’m kind off picky, plus the M6TTL (0.58) is by far my most used and favoured Leica so I figured I’m as well spending the money to have it done right and I’ll have a camera that I can use for the next 20 or so years. As for buying another... well I did, an M2 serviced and painted by Shintaro but the wide angle finder is so nice on the TTL :D

Leica Ginza quoted me 55k for a CLA and maybe 20k or so more for parts as the winding crank had seized up mid roll. I should get the full quotation by the end off the week or early next week.
 
Last edited:
I think if you're going to the trouble of a repaint, it should be done properly. With Shintaro you have a paint finish that matches up the originals. It looks like it was always meant to be black, and you'll recover your money (I did, anyway).

Masa's work might be good value but it will never really look like an original; just doesn't have that sheen.
 
kbg32 said:
Shintaro does great work. I've seen his paint, beautiful, but I hear he is short on communication and can have your camera for months.
Click to expand...

I know that for a fact. In fact . . . I haven't gotten my camera (M2) back and I sent it to him in August 2009.

He acknowledged receipt within a week but other than 1 email (in response to many on my part every few months), I haven't heard from him.

Paid $700 US last year via Paypal and now I fear both my camera and $ are lost.
 
I believe there was someone here on the forum who waited almost two years for their camera to be returned from Shintaro. Besides painting cameras, he is a working photographer. Hence, the unfortunate wait.
 
ymc226 said:
I know that for a fact. In fact . . . I haven't gotten my camera (M2) back and I sent it to him in August 2009.

He acknowledged receipt within a week but other than 1 email (in response to many on my part every few months), I haven't heard from him.

Paid $700 US last year via Paypal and now I fear both my camera and $ are lost.
Click to expand...

So follow up with him? Shintaro has had several cameras for 3 years even. All these things have made me decide not to try and have any other cameras repainted. It makes more sense just to buy original.
 
Mister E said:
So follow up with him? Shintaro has had several cameras for 3 years even. All these things have made me decide not to try and have any other cameras repainted. It makes more sense just to buy original.
Click to expand...


I've tried to follow up with emails as I live in the US and don't speak Japanese. (My mom does . . . maybe I should get my mommy to call :eek: :eek: :eek: ?)

This reminds me. I should email him again today.
 
kbg32 said:
I believe there was someone here on the forum who waited almost two years for their camera to be returned from Shintaro. Besides painting cameras, he is a working photographer. Hence, the unfortunate wait.
Click to expand...

I think (correct me if I am wrong) that was after the OP of that thread contacted Tom Abrahamsson and had him intervene as Tom knows Shintaro and has had several Leicas painted by him.
 
ymc226 said:
I've tried to follow up with emails as I live in the US and don't speak Japanese. (My mom does . . . maybe I should get my mommy to call :eek: :eek: :eek: ?)

This reminds me. I should email him again today.
Click to expand...
He normally is quick to reply via email. He speaks tons of English, so you can email or call him in eigo.
 
Mister E said:
He normally is quick to reply via email. He speaks tons of English, so you can email or call him in eigo.
Click to expand...

For some reason, I haven't heard from him after numerous cordial, non-pressured emails. If you can PM me his phone number, I promise to call him during daytime hours Tokyo time. My Japanese is rusty so I will have to use English.
 
ymc226 said:
I've tried to follow up with emails as I live in the US and don't speak Japanese. (My mom does . . . maybe I should get my mommy to call :eek: :eek: :eek: ?)

This reminds me. I should email him again today.
Click to expand...

A tip ... keep your emails short and to the point. Shintaro reads most of his emails on his I-phone, and if there's too much text to read on the screen, the email will get filed in the "to read later" folder ;)
 
jonmanjiro said:
A tip ... keep your emails short and to the point. Shintaro reads most of his emails on his I-phone, and if there's too much text to read on the screen, the email will get filed in the "to read later" folder ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do keep it short! Like: I sent my camera August last year. Can you let me know when it will be ready?

That's it. Still now response last 2 messages several months apart. Very flaky if you ask me.

BTW, if I ran my communications that way, I would lose my clients in no time. However, I don't have a reputation for painting Leica's amazingly. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom