mountainrivera
Established
Looking for an opinion if it is worth paying for a CLA. I just bot a IIF on photo.net with a 50mm summicron. It arried but the shutter sticks so it looks like it will need CLA. I think I paid a high price ($475 delivered) since it was listed as checked by an expert and working. I contacted the seller who offered either a refund or a $50.00 credit so he appears to be willing to stand by this. A (DAG) CLA is about $200. Would you sink $$ into this camera or take the refund?
Thanks
Thanks
doubs43
Well-known
If it were me, I'd keep the camera and have DAG do a 3/4 CLA which is cheaper than the full one by about half. A sticky shutter - if the curtains are OK - shouldn't be a big deal.
Considering that a LTM Summacron in good condition can run $250 and up, if you take the $50 refund, you'll make out OK.
Just my opinion, of course.
Walker
Considering that a LTM Summacron in good condition can run $250 and up, if you take the $50 refund, you'll make out OK.
Just my opinion, of course.
Walker
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
depending on the condition of the camera body and the lens $475 may not be a high price. A two hundred dollar CLA over say ten years of use, is only twenty dollars per year. Twenty dollars will not even buy you a handful of HP 5+ film nowadays. The joy of using a finely tuned Leica, over the years, will make you forget whatever the total monetary cost was IMHO.
doubs43
Well-known
For whatever reason, I can't edit my first message so I'll post another.
I've been watching Leica prices for awhile and, as I mentioned to another member just this evening, they seem to be going up almost daily. For instance, a garden-variety 1950 IIIc with a Summitar lens sold a few days ago for $400 and a IIIa in rather worn exterior condition was bid to $227 and didn't meet the reserve price. I believe it had a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens. Still, I consider $227 for a camera in it's condition to be high.
The first IIf model cameras were made in 1951 starting with serial number 451,001. The first 9,000 of a total run of 34,000 were black dial models with 1/30, 1/40 & 1/60th shutter speeds. The red dials (production of 25,000) with 1/25, 1/50 & 1/75th speeds followed with production ending in 1956. With the Summicron lens, the factory code was LOOUN. Other than not having slow shutter speeds, the only other difference between the IIf and the IIIf was the accessory shoe. The IIf had a heavy flat spring held in place by two screws whereas the IIIf shoe had four screws and two pressure bars that held items in place; a more expensive arrangement.
Some of the cameras made in 1952 & 1953 were marked D.R.P. and also G.M.B.H. which is characteristic of later model cameras.
My reference for this information is the book "Leica, The First Fifty Years".
Walker
I've been watching Leica prices for awhile and, as I mentioned to another member just this evening, they seem to be going up almost daily. For instance, a garden-variety 1950 IIIc with a Summitar lens sold a few days ago for $400 and a IIIa in rather worn exterior condition was bid to $227 and didn't meet the reserve price. I believe it had a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens. Still, I consider $227 for a camera in it's condition to be high.
The first IIf model cameras were made in 1951 starting with serial number 451,001. The first 9,000 of a total run of 34,000 were black dial models with 1/30, 1/40 & 1/60th shutter speeds. The red dials (production of 25,000) with 1/25, 1/50 & 1/75th speeds followed with production ending in 1956. With the Summicron lens, the factory code was LOOUN. Other than not having slow shutter speeds, the only other difference between the IIf and the IIIf was the accessory shoe. The IIf had a heavy flat spring held in place by two screws whereas the IIIf shoe had four screws and two pressure bars that held items in place; a more expensive arrangement.
Some of the cameras made in 1952 & 1953 were marked D.R.P. and also G.M.B.H. which is characteristic of later model cameras.
My reference for this information is the book "Leica, The First Fifty Years".
Walker
mountainrivera
Established
Thanks all. The seller agreed to send $75.00 so I guess I did ok and off to DAG it goes. The ad said it was checked by a camera expert and it was perfect. I think his field of expertise was in Kodak disposables.
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
I've got a IIF that arrived with pinholes in the shutter. I sent it to Oleg who did a CLA and put in curtains from an old Zorki. Works like new now and it only cost me $74 (included shipping).