jakedouglas
Newbie
So I posted a while back regarding my M6's rangefinder out of alignment and I was looking for a technician local to me so I could avoid shipping across or even out of the country. Cameratechs in Ballard, WA was suggested to me. I took my camera in and dropped it off, being quoted $125 and paying $39 up front. This price seems slightly high, but I'd have paid triple that just to have it fixed locally. I was told I would be called when the work was complete.
About 8 days go by and I receive no call, so I give them a ring - to find out it was ready just 2 days after dropping it off. I go and pick it up, they are confident that it has been realigned. Seems to align at infinity correctly, which it didn't before. Put a couple rolls through it and nearly all photos were garbage. I also shoot wide open at nearly all times, so precision really makes a difference.
After shooting more test rolls I discovered that there was a big difference between my 35 and 50 lenses. It also appeared that the lens cam was touching the roller at different points on the focus ring for either lens - ie, there was a 1-2mm of play in the 'closest' part of my 35 where it did not cause the rangefinder image to move at all. This didn't happen with my 50, which caused the image to move at all points.
I returned it to the shop to be worked on further under their warranty. I kept on calling to check if it was ready, knowing I wouldn't be notified. Some days went by before the technician got back to working on it. Eventually I called and got the answer that the technician was unable to figure it out due to it being more complicated than a simple adjustment, but I would have to wait until the following day to pick it up because it was taken apart on his bench. Today I went and picked up my still non-functional camera. To the shops credit, they refunded all but the original $39 I paid. I am not too upset about this.
I just wish I had not been so impatient and foolish and sent it to a pro in the first place. Off to DAG it goes on Monday, hopefully it won't take too long. I'm seconds away from just buying an MP and selling this one. Anyway, I would avoid this place with your M because they really don't seem qualified.
About 8 days go by and I receive no call, so I give them a ring - to find out it was ready just 2 days after dropping it off. I go and pick it up, they are confident that it has been realigned. Seems to align at infinity correctly, which it didn't before. Put a couple rolls through it and nearly all photos were garbage. I also shoot wide open at nearly all times, so precision really makes a difference.
After shooting more test rolls I discovered that there was a big difference between my 35 and 50 lenses. It also appeared that the lens cam was touching the roller at different points on the focus ring for either lens - ie, there was a 1-2mm of play in the 'closest' part of my 35 where it did not cause the rangefinder image to move at all. This didn't happen with my 50, which caused the image to move at all points.
I returned it to the shop to be worked on further under their warranty. I kept on calling to check if it was ready, knowing I wouldn't be notified. Some days went by before the technician got back to working on it. Eventually I called and got the answer that the technician was unable to figure it out due to it being more complicated than a simple adjustment, but I would have to wait until the following day to pick it up because it was taken apart on his bench. Today I went and picked up my still non-functional camera. To the shops credit, they refunded all but the original $39 I paid. I am not too upset about this.
I just wish I had not been so impatient and foolish and sent it to a pro in the first place. Off to DAG it goes on Monday, hopefully it won't take too long. I'm seconds away from just buying an MP and selling this one. Anyway, I would avoid this place with your M because they really don't seem qualified.
