Leica M “CLA” service

steveyork said:
If speed an economy are an issue, I echo the recommendation of Youxin, but would also throw out the Vermont Camera Store as an option too.
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Are you referring to “Complete camera” formerly known as Lezot’s camera?
They serviced my rollei and I felt a little disappointed, maybe I have high standards. The camera is super old and neglected so they probably did do their absolute best and the further issues were a matter of age rather than workmanship 🙂
 
goamules said:
There was a guy in the Southeast, North Carolina I think, that worked on Leicas. There has got to be more than just THREE people in all of America. Let's see a longer list once in a while, and reviews of OTHER repair shops. I'll start:

Monument Camera in Tucson - great place to browse old SLRs. Bad place to get a precision Leica worked on.
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South east NC is basically my location so a name and contact for that individual would be fantastic!!
 
d.dulin said:
Are you referring to “Complete camera” formerly known as Lezot’s camera?
They serviced my rollei and I felt a little disappointed, maybe I have high standards. The camera is super old and neglected so they probably did do their absolute best and the further issues were a matter of age rather than workmanship 🙂
Click to expand...

No, someone different. Vermont Camera Works. They have a website. They serviced an M3 and several S2 in the past for me. One of the Nikons was a real mess. Affordable. Did a good job too cleaning an old Canon LTM lens full of haze. A mix of standard service and at least one complicated repair. Used the stuff for 1-2 years thereafter w/o problems before passing them on to new homes.
 
I haven’t used analog cameras for at least a decade or so. The axiom of Leica repair used to be this:
Leica screw mount repair: Sherry
Leica M mount repair: DAG

Is it still true today?
 
In 2011 I sent Sherry K. a Leica IIIc stepper in petrified condition. She turned it into a wonderful smooth camera but it was not cheap and talking to her I got the impression that she does not like working on the screw mount cameras. She has also done several M cameras for me but that has been several years ago. She has done wonderful work for me but I can't speak to her current work. Joe
 
goamules said:
There was a guy in the Southeast, North Carolina I think, that worked on Leicas. There has got to be more than just THREE people in all of America....
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Of course! That’s why this gloom and doom of old repair people fading away is silly.
In Los Angeles I know of at least three- Dean’s Camera, Steve’s Camera Repair, Samys (Fairfax location).
 
Jim at Vermont Camera Works is very good on older SLR bodies, but I've not had him do an M. His used camera showroom is quite fun to browse through should you be in the area.

He fixed a large number of 35mm manual SLR bodies for me when I ran the photo dept. at Lyndon State, including three of mine, an FE2, an FM2 and my dad's old Mamiya 1000TL. The TL was the camera I used for demos in class, and now a friends daughter is using it for her HS Photo classes. Going very strong about ten years on.
 
splitimageview said:
For those across the pond, Alan and James Starkie, https://www.cameraworks-uk.com. Great work, unmatched paint work, along with unique offerings like new frameline masks, red curtains for original wartime Leicas, and titanium shutter curtains for Ms and screw mounts.
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i have never used Alan but i can vouch for his knowledge. i usually refer people to him on my repair blog when it comes to barnacks and their clones. he is a nice guy too and we occasionally chat in facebook. i also recommend him because hes not just any 'shade-tree-mechanic' but the real deal with tools etc. 😱😱😱

his guidance for the future generation (ie: me) is invaluable and i appreciate his efforts. i would continue supporting people like him who are not fussy about passing the torch.
 
1. I used Youxin ye to fix my summarit 5cm,1.5 lens.He did pretty well cleaning and also put clicking aperture on the lens, fast too. However my lens did reach horizontal focus. I ask Ye about this problem and his answer is my lens are in Acceptable condition and sometime Leica lens leave factory that way .. Really ? as i know they have tight tollerance on their product .
The other day i send my Summitar lens and he say he cant fix it and return the lens without give me explanation about my lens. Which i think weird.
so i think i never use him anymore, Sorry .

2. I been buying from Don in the past, pretty fast replying email and discuss about his service. So might use his service in the future and deal with long turn around time
3. Never use Sherry
 
splitimageview said:
For those across the pond, Alan and James Starkie, https://www.cameraworks-uk.com. Great work, unmatched paint work, along with unique offerings like new frameline masks, red curtains for original wartime Leicas, and titanium shutter curtains for Ms and screw mounts.
Click to expand...

My M2 will eventually make it to him for a repaint. I wish I could have had the whole thing done with him, unfortunately he is back logged on painting and I want to use the M2 before September-ish 😛
 
Chrisx200 said:
1. I used Youxin ye to fix my summarit 5cm,1.5 lens.He did pretty well cleaning and also put clicking aperture on the lens, fast too. However my lens did reach horizontal focus. I ask Ye about this problem and his answer is my lens are in Acceptable condition and sometime Leica lens leave factory that way .. Really ? as i know they have tight tollerance on their product .
Click to expand...

Actually you'd be surprised as to how little those little final quality check cards that Leica packages with their gear mean.
But to correct it you need a tech with a lens collimator. Youxin does not have one. DAG does.
 
Chrisx200 said:
1. I used Youxin ye to fix my summarit 5cm,1.5 lens.He did pretty well cleaning and also put clicking aperture on the lens, fast too. However my lens did reach horizontal focus. I ask Ye about this problem and his answer is my lens are in Acceptable condition and sometime Leica lens leave factory that way .. Really ? as i know they have tight tollerance on their product .
The other day i send my Summitar lens and he say he cant fix it and return the lens without give me explanation about my lens. Which i think weird.
so i think i never use him anymore, Sorry .

2. I been buying from Don in the past, pretty fast replying email and discuss about his service. So might use his service in the future and deal with long turn around time
3. Never use Sherry
Click to expand...
Horizontal focus? Could you elaborate, please?
 
Leicabug said:
I haven’t used analog cameras for at least a decade or so. The axiom of Leica repair used to be this:
Leica screw mount repair: Sherry
Leica M mount repair: DAG

Is it still true today?
Click to expand...

I think that is not quite right. Sherry is actually an expert with the Leica M5 and the CL. I wouldn't send my M5 to anyone else. And she did a great job on an M3 for me. Butter smooth!
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
Horizontal focus? Could you elaborate, please?
Click to expand...
My RF focus using this lens doesnt reach horizontal infinity focus. . I try this lens in my other Leica which also have the same problem.So is not the body. I try to live with it, until i have to do another CLA i send it to Don DAG . Youxin is good if you want to speedy service but for me isn't acceptable because i have to pay taxes if i send the lens back and forth .

Chris
 
Huss said:
Actually you'd be surprised as to how little those little final quality check cards that Leica packages with their gear mean.
But to correct it you need a tech with a lens collimator. Youxin does not have one. DAG does.
Click to expand...
I send it to Don next time ..cheers

Chris
 
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