My M7's trip to Solms - a summary

[Hilm3]

So I sent my M7, serial number 288501X, in to Leica NJ for two problems:

1-I wanted the optical DX
2-The leatherette covering was peeling off in a few corners and did not seem to fit correctly.

The camera went in the mail to NJ on Dec 23, was sent to Solms for the work. I had asked if the finder was the MP finder. It turned out that it was not, even though my serial number was in the "from 2885000 on" range that was supposedly the improved finder. Here is Leica's repair tracking from their website:

repair tracking
Status request - service order:
repair number 6188XX
Datum Status
21.01.2011 Service order registered on
27.01.2011 Quotation sent on
09.02.2011 In repair
23.02.2011 Repair completed
25.02.2011 Shipment in process.

The following work was done for a measly $660 🙂bang🙂, including shipping:
Adjust shutter times
Adjust DIN/ASA
Adjust exposure meter
Modify for MP finder
Clean and Adjust R/F

And the following done under warranty:
Replace DX reader
Replace leather covering
Adjust all parts
Cleaning and End Control

Received it in the mail today, March 9.
Looks lovely, feels smooth as butter, still does not flare (I could not get it to flare before, either). I am sure my snaps will be much less mundane than before! 😀

 

[Keith]

Well ... for that price ($660) you could have bought a nice clean M3 with THE best viewfinder, (so I read constantly) no need for that crazy DX stuff and probably lovely original chipped vulcanite! :angel:

😀 😀 😀

 

[Hilm3]

Well ... for that price ($660) you could have bought a nice clean M3 with THE best viewfinder, (so I read constantly) no need for that crazy DX stuff and probably lovely original chipped vulcanite! :angel:

😀 😀 😀

Well, I've got one of those M3's - very nice, clear, ample viewfinder for certain, tiny little chip in the original vulcanite to give it character, but not my favorite. Blasphemy, to be sure! 😉

 

[skibeerr]

Hi,

good that your camera works great now.

It is good to know that Leica prices are quite reasonable. I paid 304 euros for the cla on a M5 (Wil Van Manen) this would be about 400$, ad the MP finder, DX and leatherette for 260$, which other repair persons don't do under warranty, and this is almost cheap.

Members around the world especially in the US should know that prices in the EU are almost double.

 

[Robert Lai]

I just sent my M7 in for almost the same thing (except its leatherette is in good shape) to Leica NJ. Mine is a 2003 vintage model, with the original DX electrical contacts, and the "old" viewfinder. Upgrading the DX to the optical reader is free. The MP finder upgrade is a stiff $550. The rest of the adjustments you mentioned they didn't seem to ask anything for.

My estimate is $550. I gave them the authorization to proceed, but I'll see what the final bill is!

 

[nksyoon]

You should talk to Leica New Jersey, mine had all the same work done to it (including new leatherette), except for the MP finder upgrade and it was all free, included as part of the DX upgrade.

 

[monochromeimages]

Recently sent my a-la carte M7 for the DX reader upgrade.

I got really fantastic service from Solms. I phoned the factory and spoke to a very polite person who spoke excellent English. They emailed a PDF of a shipping label to me so I didn't have to pay the shipping to send it. My camera was back in my hands in just over three weeks.

When I bought the camera used it was mint except for marks on the brown leather covering. The covering had to be replaced as part of the job so as a bonus my M7 now looks better than ever and it didn't cost me a penny. It might be all in my mind but I'm sure the film advance feels smoother too. Many thanks to Leica for an excellent job and superb service. I'm impressed !

 

[Hilm3]

The $660 was exactly what was quoted to me. I did not expect that anything but the DX reader or the leatherette, as it has to come off to replace the DX reader, to be at no charge. This camera was built in 2002, so 10 years old and not under warranty, and has had heavy use. I wanted it in like new condition, so I authorized everything. The whole process, from putting it in the mail to receving it took 11 weeks.

By the way, the bulk of the cost was for the MP finder retrofit. Approximately $120 was for the CLA portion.

My post is not meant as a complaint about cost or time. Just as a reference point for those contemplating the same procedures. I am quite happy with the results.

 

[Hilm3]

An update:

The M7 went back to NJ, then Solms for warranty work. After a few weeks, the DX reader failed. TMax 100 would register ISO 3200 most of the time. Portra 400 would also register at too high an ISO. They think it is the DX flex board and are replacing it. They promised a 3-week turn-around. We'll see.

 

[Richard G]

I have hardly seen an M7 on eBay that didn't have ill-fitting leatherette, bunched up beneath the top plate or peeling from there or lower down. Quite extraordinarily shoddy, and seemingly confined to this model. Perhaps the ladies who do this can't get used to the larger body. At one stage I wondered whether sellers were just using the same web image, but I paid closer attention and it is a different image each time. The seller never refers to this defect.

 

[Hilm3]

I have hardly seen an M7 on eBay that didn't have ill-fitting leatherette, bunched up beneath the top plate or peeling from there or lower down. Quite extraordinarily shoddy, and seemingly confined to this model. Perhaps the ladies who do this can't get used to the larger body. At one stage I wondered whether sellers were just using the same web image, but I paid closer attention and it is a different image each time. The seller never refers to this defect.

I have noticed this also and only on the M7. Weird. I wonder if this got fixed on the production floor along the way.

 

[RichardB]

Leica NJ policy when I sent my two M7's back for Optical reader and Finder Upgrade was/is if under USA warranty, no charge.
If not under warranty, Optical Reader, no charge, Finder Upgrade about $550, recovering, CLA seems to be at the discretion of the Technician performing the work. One of my M7's had the front lower covering lifted just a little and didn't bother me. The Technician recovered on his own. Both had CLA's performed and essentially I received new condition cameras back except for a few thousand shutter actuation's.
M7 under warranty, no charge, M7 not under warranty, $550.-Dick

 

[Hilm3]

The leatherette on my M7 was horror show. It was lifting and curled at every corner of the back flap, the cover over the battery cap was crinkling up all the way around, and it was lifting up around the lens mount. It was very obviously a defective batch of material or cement or something. The leatherette is removed from the body completely during the DX optical upgrade, so if that's done, the body is recovered. Maybe not the flap or the battery cap except by technician discretion. I specifically requested reapplying the leatherette and it was done at no additional charge. My main complaint was inconsistent DX reader and leatherette. I asked for a quote for the MP finder upgrade and CLA. That was $660 extra and I agreed.

 

[35mmdelux]

M7 (circa 2003) CLA & DX upgrade all free, warranty service according to Leica NJ. Round trip 3 weeks. Only cost shipping to Leica NJ. No need for MP finder.

 

[Hilm3]

On it's way back from New Jersey. It did not have to go back to Solms. NJ said that they realigned the DX readers, as they were a bit off, and adjusted the thickness of the spacer on base plate. They wanted to put some of the blame on inconsistent markings on film canisters, which I can accept to a small degree.

I should have it back by Friday.