Godfrey
somewhat colored
If your money, or your happiness, or your work requires NOT being without an older Leica M—or any other older camera—you are well advised to have at least two bodies, if not three. Any older camera will have unpredictable down time, will occasionally need service.
In fact, this is just as true of NEW cameras as well, although less so.
It's one of the reasons I have a lot of cameras in the closet. When I was younger and didn't have the money to lock up into a bunch of cameras, I still typically had two so that if one broke or needed service, I still had one to shoot with while the other was being repaired.
It's just the way things are. Same goes for most things that we use a lot, although some (like cars) are too much of a pain to store and too expensive to have multiples floating about. (Luckily, cars are easy to rent when required.) Cameras are generally a less essential thing than lots of other things, and less expensive to keep a couple of, so I consider myself lucky that this is where my obsessions lie.
G
Can't hurt to touch base with him, as stated above, just make sure you don't write a tome when you email him. I find he answers quickly if the question is quick/brief.
cjm
Well-known
DAG determined there were issues with two light shields. There was a missing light shield from a previous repair (before I had the camera). He replaced that. He also updated an older style light shield to a newer style.
Miles.
Beamsplitter
Echoing everyone else here by saying you're in good hands. Don's the best, and as always, you often have to wait a bit.
xasthur
Established
I'm curious to know if he managed to get your camera back to you? I spoke to him about a MR-4 meter today and he did confirm that he got a ton of cameras sent to him when Leica closed their repair center for 3 months or so and said mine is coming up yay!
brothernature
Established
Adding to the choir, have only had positive experiences with Don. He must get a ton of emails so I wouldn't worry about a delay.
MISH
Well-known
I have been sending cameras to Don for thirty years and never had a single problem with any of his repairs. I was looking at his web site recently and noticed two things. He is taking his phone off the hook on Mondays and threatening to do that even more because of the amount of time he has to spend on the phone and not doing repairs. He is also encouraging us to send him repairs through your local camera dealers if they offer that service. Cost should be the same as he gives the dealer a discount. I know Dan Tamarkin will send things in for you ( don't know who else will but Dan is close by for me). Something tells me that Tamarkin sends him enough that I would probably get my equipment back quicker going through him.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
An update for anyone following along at home.
I just got an email from Don saying that my M2 is ready. In the end it was with him for about four and a half months.
The upside, he fixed the issue that two local technicians couldn’t, and it cost a lot less than expected
I just got an email from Don saying that my M2 is ready. In the end it was with him for about four and a half months.
The upside, he fixed the issue that two local technicians couldn’t, and it cost a lot less than expected
Papercut
Well-known
An update for anyone following along at home.
I just got an email from Don saying that my M2 is ready. In the end it was with him for about four and a half months.
The upside, he fixed the issue that two local technicians couldn’t, and it cost a lot less than expected
Wow. Lucky man! My M4 has been with him for ten months. Not a word. Guess it's time to call him again.
Tim Gray
Well-known
Just got an email about my lens. Been there since September, now it’s done. Have faith Papercut!
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
He did mention (and apologise) that he has a huge backlog due to work received when Leica US closed due to Covid.
Mooshoepork
Established
Sent some stuff off and I did email to confirm arrival (you never know with the tracking. Don’t want to find out months down the line your $10000 worth of camera equipment never arrived)
It’s been 2 months so far.
My last “repair” with someone else took 12 and it came back in worse condition than I sent it in. Happy to wait
It’s been 2 months so far.
My last “repair” with someone else took 12 and it came back in worse condition than I sent it in. Happy to wait
steveyork
Well-known
Ha, ha, DAG does quality work but he can be a bit of a black hole at times. Been like that for decades. He's always been busy. Once sent him a camera and when I didn't hear from him in a year, I just told him to send it back. That got his attention!
Be aware about camera techs, sometimes they wait until they have multiples of the same body before they work on them, as I guess that increases their efficiency. Also, there's a bit of preferential treatment for long established customers ect. Sherry use to get my stuff done fast because there was a period I sent her a lot of stuff. That's just the way it is.
Fortunately there are many camera repair techs not named DAG or Sherry Krauter who can do a similar excellent job.
I've thrown some repair to the head bartender here (Camerquest), and it didn't involve lengthy wairts.
Be aware about camera techs, sometimes they wait until they have multiples of the same body before they work on them, as I guess that increases their efficiency. Also, there's a bit of preferential treatment for long established customers ect. Sherry use to get my stuff done fast because there was a period I sent her a lot of stuff. That's just the way it is.
Fortunately there are many camera repair techs not named DAG or Sherry Krauter who can do a similar excellent job.
I've thrown some repair to the head bartender here (Camerquest), and it didn't involve lengthy wairts.
Mooshoepork
Established
I recently sent a $7500 part internationally. Got the notification it was delivered and signed for.
Turns out it was delivered to a house down the road...luckily they took it to its correct destination.
DHL too
Halftrack
Member
Who are they?
My 50mm Summicron has been at DAG for 3.5 months, awaiting a focus calibration. Sherry Krauter said she was too busy to work on lenses, and Youxin Ye said he couldn't calibrate focus.
Also, who can repair recent-model Voigtlander lenses? Even B&H Photo doesn't know, and they're a dealer. Another USA dealer, Cameraquest, used to repair them but stopped for the pandemic. (BTW, why would a virus cause them and Leica USA to halt repairs? Camera repair is a solitary task -- a safer job than many others that haven't been interrupted.)
A sticky list of experienced, responsive repair shops that can work on classic and recent rangefinder equipment would be useful.
xasthur
Established
Yeah I'm still currently waiting waiting for him to email me about my M2. It's been 4 months. I'm thinking I may have him send it back to me and take to a local guy that recoated my lens. My M2 has a really weird issue so I figured I would send it to the best but I'm really starting to miss it.. the only thing that keeps me from getting it back is knowing that when he fixes it finally it will be amazing and likely well worth the wait. But do I really want to wait a year?
About month ago he did say my M2 was coming up via a email. I emailed him related to another item but figured I'd ask about my M2.. so... waiting
About month ago he did say my M2 was coming up via a email. I emailed him related to another item but figured I'd ask about my M2.. so... waiting
james.liam
Well-known
jeffrypittman
Jeff Pittman
In early January, I sent my M Type 240 to Leica NJ for a CLA and rangefinder repair. It came back in 5-6 weeks in beautiful condition. The same day I also sent an M5 and two M lenses to DAG for calibration and 6-bit coding. I expected it would take longer for DAG but everyone says he does great work at a more reasonable price. Anyway, a few weeks ago I had to send a 90mm summary in for repair (loose/wobbly aperture ring) so I sent it to Leica NJ to see which lens/lenses come back first: the ones at DAG or Leica NJ! I also had an MP (film) repaired by NJ and a M9 sensor replaced by NJ. Overall, I've had very good experiences with them.
Mooshoepork
Established
Sitting at 4-5 months at the moment for an m6 and m2.
Someone else with an m2 has been waiting 6 months so far.
He must be inundated with cameras to do
Someone else with an m2 has been waiting 6 months so far.
He must be inundated with cameras to do
xasthur
Established
I guess so. I'm going on month 6 pretty shorty. Sometimes I wonder if he ever got the camera haha. I've been thinking about giving him a call to send it back to me and taking it to a local guy who fixed my 8 element. When I go to call I think about how nice it will be once he actually fixes the camera and I get it back.