Leica Repair in the U.S. (2021)

Miles.

Miles.

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In an effort to consolidate a lot of great information available here and elsewhere, I thought I might get a list started of Leica repair techs who live in the U.S. I hope this list can be useful for both new folks and veterans of the Leica world. I'll also be including a quick "what to know" section that is entirely subjective, so please be kind in the comments if you disagree.

Please feel free to add your experiences and suggestions for modifications/additions and I'll do my best to continually edit this post.

1. DAG Camera
- Owner/Operator: Don Goldberg
- Contact Info: Easily found at dagcamera dot com
- Communication: Responds to phone and email, and depending on his current workload/schedule, you may have to be persistent (kindness and patience will help)!
- What to know: DAG is one of the highest regarded Leica techs in the world and his work and lead-times prove it. He's a go-to for everything between RF calibrations and complete restorations, and likely has the largest vintage parts supply of anyone on this list.

2. Golden Touch
- Owner/Operator: Sherry Krauter
- Contact Info: Easily found at sherrykrauter dot com
- Communication: Responds to phone and email, and depending on her work-load and lead-times, you may have to be persistent (kindness and patience will help)!
- What to Know: Sherry can be quite curt and that rubs some people the wrong way. Health issues in the past has made communication particularly difficult at times and her expertise/experience is only matched by DAG. She's an evangelist for the M5, CL, and the Summitar! You'll find many people who sing her praises and a few who will never again send her gear.

3. YYE Camera
- Owner/Operator: Youxin Ye
- Contact Info: Easily found at yyecamera dot com
- Communication: Responds quickly to email.
- What to Know: Youxin is best known for offering affordable services, being a prompt communicator, and having comparatively short lead-times. While not factory trained like DAG or Sherry, Youxin is trusted by many and is honest when he feels someone else would be best for the job.

4. TLC Camera Repair
- Owner/Operator: Gus Lazarri
- Contact Info: Easily found at tlccamerarepair dot homestead dot com
Communication: Responds to phone and email, and depending on his work-load and lead-times, you may have to be persistent (kindness and patience will help)!
- What to know: Held in high-regard like those previously listed and used to be fairly active over at photo dot net. Often chooses to suspend taking new repairs to get caught up on his backlog. Was one of the last people I knew in the U.S. who still re-coated lenses.

5. Red Dot Repair
- Owner/Operator: Jadon Rosado
- Contact Info: jadon at reddotrepair dot com
- Communication: email and his instagram (reddotrepair)
- What to know: I haven't sent Leica gear to Jadon yet but I learned recently that Blue Moon Camera in Portland, OR is sending all their Leica gear to him and they seem to be pleased with his work. He seems to be targeting the younger and newer members of the Leica world through Instagram and a presence on Youtube.

6. Leica Camera USA
- Owner/Operator: Leica
- Contact Info: Easily found online
- Communication: Responds to phone and email, typically within 72 hours.
- What to know: Leica USA in NJ is likely the go-to for many M7 repairs, as well as any warranty work. By far the most expensive on this list.
 
When Jaden Rosado first started working at Advance Camera Repair in Raleigh Hills, OR, my M4 was his first project. He was delighted to have the opportunity and did a great job. He is a bright and engaging young man giving me hope future technicians will be as good as he is. He has moved on from Advance Camera and deserves recognition. I did send the M4 to Don Goldberg because I wanted a M3 style lens release guard and he had both the parts and the machining to do it.
 
madNbad said:
When Jaden Rosado first started working at Advance Camera Repair in Raleigh Hills, OR, my M4 was his first project. He was delighted to have the opportunity and did a great job. He is a bright and engaging young man giving me hope future technicians will be as good as he is. He has moved on from Advance Camera and deserves recognition. I did send the M4 to Don Goldberg because I wanted a M3 style lens release guard and he had both the parts and the machining to do it.
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I'm relieved and excited to see a younger generation getting into the work!
 
It seems that Leica film cameras can almost always be repaired while digital cameras are often replaced with new cameras at a cost.
 
Both Gus Lazarri and Don Goldberg are friends of mine. Although Gus does wonderful work, I've used him only once. However, Don is the best there is - and he does things no one else will touch.

BTW, my friendship affords me no discount with neither.

11091813-orig.jpg

Leica M2-6 - one of my many FrankenLeica projects performed by DAG. The "post" RW conversion is no easy task!
 
Bill Blackwell said:
Both Gus Lazarri and Don Goldberg are friends of mine. Although Gus does wonderful work, I've used him only once. However, Don is the best there is - and he does things no one else will touch.

BTW, my friendship affords me no discount with neither.
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Same, I'm partial to DAG and have always enjoyed his candor.

I have two FrankenLeicas from DAG: An M4 modified with 28mm frame lines and a Leicavit-M, as well as an M3 with the M4 and newer take-up spool.
 
I'm also partial to Don Goldberg's work, & advice.

42008464115_4d6c4622a7_z.jpg

Flickr
 
Radost said:
Any of them work on Minolta CLE?
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according to previous forum members, David Easterwood will look at CLE's and assert good outcomes. apparently , he generally opines that CLE problems are often due to electronic contact oxidation and not primary failures and that a thorough going over and careful cleaning can often remediate. Most (and especially very busy) technicians are not inclined to put the work into this process or be bothered.

You can read some prior comments about his work including working on CLE's here, along with email address and phone #, as he no longer has a storefront.

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/excellent-camera-technician-serviceman-dave-easterwood.374374/
 
Youxin Ye was very moderately priced for me for an Elmarit 90mm CLA. And, he turned the Lens around in one month rather than his estimated two months. On top of that, super responsive and friendly.
 
Thanks for this list. I’ve been to Youxin’s home twice to have work done; watched and waited while he worked on my cameras and lens. Nice option to have when you live close by. Very friendly and accommodative and does good work.
 
Thanks for this list, Miles! I’ve had good experiences with the top three. Don Goldberg quickly fixed a jammed shutter on a Leica IIIc, did some additional adjustments, and got it back to me in two weeks. He did a full overhaul on my M3… that took a few months, but the wait was worth it. Really nice guy.
 
Bill Blackwell said:
Both Gus Lazarri and Don Goldberg are friends of mine. Although Gus does wonderful work, I've used him only once. However, Don is the best there is - and he does things no one else will touch.

BTW, my friendship affords me no discount with neither.

11091813-orig.jpg

Leica M2-6 - one of my many FrankenLeica projects performed by DAG. The "post" RW conversion is no easy task!
Click to expand...

That's quite a special Leica! Does it retain the original M2 frameline set, but with M6 metering?
 
hap said:
according to previous forum members, David Easterwood will look at CLE's and assert good outcomes. apparently , he generally opines that CLE problems are often due to electronic contact oxidation and not primary failures and that a thorough going over and careful cleaning can often remediate. Most (and especially very busy) technicians are not inclined to put the work into this process or be bothered.

You can read some prior comments about his work including working on CLE's here, along with email address and phone #, as he no longer has a storefront.

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/excellent-camera-technician-serviceman-dave-easterwood.374374/
Click to expand...

I've had two Minolta CLE successfully repaired by Crystal Camera in Asheville, NC. According to them most issues are the same as reported by Easterwood. Early Leica cameras like the CL and R4, R4 had a dearth of issues. Not the Minolta ones.
 
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