Leica M Repaint in US?

[jmonat7]

I am looking into getting my M4 painted black, but done properly by not just painting over everything. I am having a hard time finding someone in the US who does it and was wondering if anyone knew of any US Leica specialists that do repaints? If not, I can always use camerawerks in the UK but would prefer to keep it domestic.

Thanks!

 

[Huss]

Contact Youxin Yee. He uses a gentleman named Stuart Vu.

 

[aizan]

I've been taking notes on camera repainting for when I can finally commit to learning how to do it (might be soon):

Professional

1. Shintaro Yaginuma (discontinued), Tokyo, Japan
http://homepage2.nifty.com/Shintaro/top1.html (website down and URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine)
- high quality

2. Kanto Camera, Tokyo, Japan

http://www.kantocamera.com/
- high quality

3. CameraWorks, Alan and James Starkie, Bury, UK
https://www.facebook.com/LeicaRepairs/
- high quality

4. CRR Luton, Peter Grisaffi, Luton, UK

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/
- high quality

5. Masa Saita, Japan

masa-saita at ac dot auone-net dot jp
- not high quality

6. YYeCAMERA (Youxin Ye), Stuart Vu, Canton, MA
 (discontinued)
http://www.yyecamera.com/
Note: Now outsources to Takahashi-san at Lumierè Camera, Tokyo, Japan
https://www.lumierecamera.com/
- high quality

7. marc_gogogo, Shueido’s repainter, Taipei, Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/marc_gogogo/
- not high quality


Amateurs

1. digitalintrigue (Robert Jagitsch) on RFF. Austin, Texas.

Note: This account was deleted, but replies with quotes remain. His current account is splitimagereview.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/member.php?u=15652
rangefinderrestorations.com
http://web.archive.org/web/20090201180424/http://rangefinderrestorations.com/Welcome.html

Used to work at Precision Camera: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-119851.html

2. B-9 (Devin) on RFF. Michigan. Rangefinderguy on Instagram
https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169238&highlight=repaint
https://www.instagram.com/rangefinderguy/


3. nobbylon (John Whitfield) on RFF. The Netherlands.
https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144907&highlight=repaint

4. rlouzan (Robert Louzan) on RFF.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95925

5. Someone in South Korea: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2044022&postcount=75

6. kodaktrix (Oliver) on LUG

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/26049-m2-black-paint-repainted-by-myself/

7. a._nakajima (Akira Nakajima) on Photo.net

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/diy-painting-of-beater-m3-revisited.162443/

 

[oldwino]

Youxin doesn't offer the repaint service anymore. I just conformed that with him (I was thinking about it too!).

 

[neilsdan]

I had my M4 repainted by Cameraworks in the UK. They really did a great job, took some time but was worth it.


M4 front by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr


M4 top 2 by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr


M4 top by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr

 

[jmonat7]

I confirmed with YYE today and he does not offer repaints anymore so it looks like I will be going with camerawerks. That wait looks like it will be worth it after looking at that gorgeous M4!

 

[zenza]

I've been taking notes on camera repainting for when I can finally commit to learning how to do it (might be soon):

Professional

7. marc_gogogo, Shueido’s repainter, Taipei, Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/marc_gogogo/

A Shuedio Canon P was recently posted for sale on a FB group and the paint was completely chipping off. No, it wasn't one of their 'pre-brassed' paintjobs...it was literally chipping off and looked terrible.

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Anyone been able to get in touch with Kanto?

I've been reaching out for a 35mm Summilux pre-asph issue, and tried 2 emails, and an Instagram message. Just curious if they're still working during the COVID-19 concerns. I see that the formal shop is closed, but figured someone might be accepting/returning emails.

 

[WJJ3]

I had my M4 repainted by Cameraworks in the UK. They really did a great job, took some time but was worth it.


M4 front by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr


M4 top 2 by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr


M4 top by Daniel A Neilson, on Flickr

That’s cool you had them paint the frame counter too. You didn’t want the M3 rewind lever fitted as well?

 

[splitimageview]

1. digitalintrigue (Robert Jagitsch) on RFF. Austin, Texas.

Note: His account has been deleted from RFF, but replies with quotes remain.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/member.php?u=15652
rangefinderrestorations.com
http://web.archive.org/web/20090201180424/http://rangefinderrestorations.com/Welcome.html

Used to work at Precision Camera: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-119851.html

This is my current rff account (splitimageview), but I haven't painted Leicas for customers in several years.

If you could, please remove/edit my gmail email address, as posting it here will just generate more spam. Thanks!

I have, however, sent in the neighborhood of 10 bodies to cameraworks-uk.com in the past 2-3 years and highly recommend them. They are not fast, but they are reasonably priced and also offer many other unique services (titanium shutter curtains, frameline masks, etc.)

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've been taking notes on camera repainting for when I can finally commit to learning how to do it (might be soon):

Professional

1. Shintaro Yaginuma (retired), Tokyo, Japan
http://homepage2.nifty.com/Shintaro/top1.html (website down and URL has been excluded from the Wayback Machine)

2. Kanto Camera, Tokyo, Japan

http://www.kantocamera.com/

5. Masa Saita, Japan

masa-saita@ac.auone-net.jp

6. YYeCAMERA (Youxin Ye), Stuart Vu, Canton, MA

http://www.yyecamera.com/

1. I think Shintaro is too busy with his day job as a photographer these days.

2. Kanto is expensive but by most accounts the quality is high.

5. I've heard multiple complaints about Masa's haphazard work. Cheap and fast, and you get what you pay for.

6. IIRC Youxin Ye was using Takahashi-san at Lumiere Camera in Japan. High quality and it might be possible to go direct. I know him personally and highly recommend him, but I'm not sure if he accepts orders from outside Japan.

https://www.lumierecamera.com/

Check out some of Takahashi-san's paint jobs here:

https://www.lumierecamera.com/blank-3

If you could, please remove/edit my gmail email address, as posting it here will just generate more spam. Thanks!

Done.

 

[aizan]

Thanks, Jon!

Updated the list with the new info.

 

[jonmanjiro]

https://www.lumierecamera.com/

Check out some of Takahashi-san's paint jobs here:

https://www.lumierecamera.com/blank-3

Interesting titbit... Takahashi-san was trained by Shintaro.

Thanks, Jon!

Updated the list with the new info.

doitashimasite !

 

[aizan]

Takahashi is carrying the torch now? That's so good to hear!

 

[splitimageview]

There is also Enzo Patagonean, https://www.facebook.com/patagonean/, he has advertised painted cameras here but I can't recall his name on rff.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

On this topic, I have a 501c (and swc/m, while I'm at it) and the black paint on it as well as the backs flakes off so easily. Is it possible to get this camera painted matte black with a much more durable paint/process?

 

[aizan]

There is also Enzo Patagonean, https://www.facebook.com/patagonean/, he has advertised painted cameras here but I can't recall his name on rff.

Missed that one!

Monochrom
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152750

 

[Mackinaw]

Anyone been able to get in touch with Kanto?

I've been reaching out for a 35mm Summilux pre-asph issue, and tried 2 emails, and an Instagram message. Just curious if they're still working during the COVID-19 concerns. I see that the formal shop is closed, but figured someone might be accepting/returning emails.

Maybe the one gal (Ms Suzuki) who is their English speaking rep is on furlough or something. They constantly are adding stuff to their Instagram page, so somebody is working there.

Jim B.

 

[WJJ3]

I can vouch for Jon's recommendation of Takahashi-san at Lumiere Camera. He does great work at very reasonable prices. As Jon mentioned, I'm also not sure if he takes orders from outside Japan, but it's worth contacting him to find out.

Here's an M4 he painted and replaced levers on for me. I would take some better photos of it but this camera is currently at another service center getting more work done to it...