Leica CLA/service in the UK

[RedSwede]

I recently purchased a Leica M4, which I think would benefit from a CLA/service (long story version below).

Having researched places coming well recommended, I have got the following (Inc VAT):
Newton Ellis: £240, 3-4 months lead time
Camserve: £140, 3-4 weeks lead time
Aperture: £240, 3-4 days lead time
Cameraworks UK: £265, 6-12 months lead time
Richard Caplan: £225, 3-4 weeks lead time

NOTE: Newton Ellis and Cameraworks explicitly state that they do not do "CLAs" but "full service". What the work exactly entails at each place I don't know.

Which would people recommend?

The LONG story:
I bought a Leica M3 at a decent price, which was supposedly in full working order. It arrived with a separated prism. After some back and forth with the vendor and basically instant assessment by Alan Starkie of Cameraworks, the vendor and I came to an agreement on price and the camera is now in their long queue. I have 100% confidence in them, but I am going to be without said camera certainly until well into 2021.

So... figuring a well bought Leica isn't going to loose more money than dinner for two, I bought another - an M4, since I was really torn with the different viewfinder magnifications anyway, and this was a good excuse to try both. The one I bought looked a peach, at a decent price, but not a steal.

Anyway, the M3 had 90% of the fabled "buttery" feel (despite no actual viewfinder - and what looked like the original L seal). The M4 has a stiff advance (actually, stiff by any measure, not just the M3), and louder shutter. After reading a forum post, I actually backed off the shutter tensions 1/2 a turn each, which hugely improved feel and sound, but probably ruined any timing accuracy. There was also a spot of screw-sealing wax stuck to the rangefinder roller, so I'm guessing it was CLA'd by a 5 year old at some point in its past. It's a nice camera otherwise, so I think a CLA would sort it right out - but I want a professional one this time! However, I don't just want to have another Leica in Starkies queue that I can't use for ages - so a faster service is required.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Try Richard Caplan in Mayfair (yes I know) as their repairer did a rapid and good job on my Summaron 35mm f2.8 last year. They were also a good 15% cheaper than Aperture. I can highly recommend Newton Ellis but their turnaround time for Leicas is very slow, they are snowed. If there was a single repairer I'd trust for the most difficult jobs it would be Ian there, but he's always busy.

 

[Ste_S]

I think Caplan's outsoure to a third party, whilst Aperture have an inhouse repairer. If that matters to you or not.

 

[James24]

Does anyone know if Malcolm Taylor is still doing repairs? I have no information since 2018.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I think he's retired since then, James. Certainly that was what Ivor at RedDot told me last summer. I know he is consulted by other longstanding repairers, but his actual repair days are over.

 

[Ricoh]

There’s always Cameraworks-UK https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/ if you can part with the camera for some time.

 

[RedSwede]

Yes, absolutely - but I already have an M3 with them that I have parted with for some time!

I really want something less than a couple of months turnaround, but I also want to send it to someone who is going to do a proper job.

 

[Ste_S]

I'd enquire with Aperture on the turnaround, give them a ring.

I like to try and support them when I can as they're great for film shooters- offering used sales, film processing and camera repairs inhouse which I don't think anyone else in the UK does.

They're also nice guys from whenever I've been in to buy something from them in the past.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Not that any of the above is unimportant, but I use Caplan, a specialist in Leicas for years, is because I've bought two cameras from them, an M3 and an M6, both of which were serviced before sale. I sold the M6 as I didn't like it, but my M3 after 3 years is still in every way perfect and an utter joy to use. Ditto the Summaron they did last year.

That counts for me in every conceivable way when it comes to Leicas!

 

[RedSwede]

Not that any of the above is unimportant, but I use Caplan, a specialist in Leicas for years, is because I've bought two cameras from them, an M3 and an M6, both of which were serviced before sale. I sold the M6 as I didn't like it, but my M3 after 3 years is still in every way perfect and an utter joy to use. Ditto the Summaron they did last year.

That counts for me in every conceivable way when it comes to Leicas!

I've emailed Richard Caplan. This is really the recommendation I am after. The camera is pretty much OK - there are 2 issues really:
- It isn't smooth (it's actually stiff)
- It is topping out at about 1/300, even at 1/500 and 1/1000 (it is actually possible to use an iPhone Slo-Mo video to see the slit width and estimate the curtain speed!)

I'm a bit wary of the cheap Camserve price, and there are just not many reviews of Aperture Leica CLAs. I'm sure Newton Ellis is great, but turnaround isn't great.

 

[RedSwede]

I've edited my first post to include Aperture's turnaround time, Richard Caplan, and Cameraworks time/cost. Hopefully this will be a good quick reference for people looking at a CLA in the UK.

Going on nothing more than a hunch, I suspect NE's and Cameraworks statement that they only do "full service" does count for something - and the job is more comprehensive than the rest. I also have a feeling - based on the lead time and other forum posts - that Richard Caplan might be using Camserve.

Cameraworks seems to be the best reviewed, followed by NE, followed by Camserve - the others just don't get talked about much.

So I think I will either send to NE and bite the time/cost bullets, or Camserve. Not sure yet.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I cannot speak highly enough of Ian at Newton Ellis - I just add three months to the quoted turnaround time as that has been my experience to date!

Good luck, I don't think you'll go far wrong with any of the above.

 

[Ste_S]

I've edited my first post to include Aperture's turnaround time, Richard Caplan, and Cameraworks time/cost. Hopefully this will be a good quick reference for people looking at a CLA in the UK.

Going on nothing more than a hunch, I suspect NE's and Cameraworks statement that they only do "full service" does count for something - and the job is more comprehensive than the rest. I also have a feeling - based on the lead time and other forum posts - that Richard Caplan might be using Camserve.

Cameraworks seems to be the best reviewed, followed by NE, followed by Camserve - the others just don't get talked about much.

So I think I will either send to NE and bite the time/cost bullets, or Camserve. Not sure yet.

Wow, that's super fast for Aperture. I've got a Zeiss Contaflex that I keep meaning to get serviced that may end up there way.

 

[Flat Twin]

I think he's retired since then, James. Certainly that was what Ivor at RedDot told me last summer. I know he is consulted by other longstanding repairers, but his actual repair days are over.

Incorrect!!

Malcolm is very well and still working hard. He is currently working on my M4 as I write this... He is expensive and takes a long time but his experience and knowledge are second to none...

Ian at Newton Ellis is also very experienced but takes a while also.

Regards,
Simon

 

[D.O'K.]

I can endorse Charles's comments about Newton Ellis--they're local to me and I've used them quite a bit over c.25years. Always first class work, but slow: and in my experience they almost always take somewhat longer than their quoted return times.

In fairness, they're very busy, which I suppose is further evidence of their quality.

Regards,
D.

 

[RedSwede]

I cannot speak highly enough of Ian at Newton Ellis - I just add three months to the quoted turnaround time as that has been my experience to date!

Wow. So you're saying that in reality, Newton Ellis is in the 6+ month category?

 

[WoodallP]

Have always been very happy with Newton Ellis, never had an M done but they did great jobs on a IIIf and a Contax 2a both of which had specific problems (Ian dealt with both I think), but yes they are not quick. I was also happy with their work on a Super Isolette and a Bessa II. I think with Aperture you are more likely to be able to talk to the repairer (or even see them in action in the shop) but I wouldn't hesitate to deal with Richard Caplan either (though my mind boggles at what the rent on that shop must be given the address).

 

[Black]

PPP Repairs.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

PPP Repairs.

He buggered up the CLA of my Summaron and I've had similar reports from others about Leicas serviced returning with more faults than they went. He also failed to respond to me when I said they'd fallen out of alignment within a week, which is why I sent them to Caplan.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Wow. So you're saying that in reality, Newton Ellis is in the 6+ month category?

All I can say is that my Rollei QBM mount Zeiss Distagon took 5 months and my Dual Range Summicron took 9 months (but that had real issues that no-one had twigged). He did a spectacular job on both, but he's absolutely snowed.