Recommendation for M6 Repair

[Cranialpush]

Hi All,

I'm very new to both Leica and film and this M6 is giving me some problems; not only is the film stuck again (I'll try and black bag it tomorrow) but the exposure meter just seems way off.

Does anyone have any recommendation for places to send for repair/maintenance? As the camera was left to me by my father I have no idea of it's age or if it's under warranty with Leica.

Many thanks,

Ian.

 

[JoeFriday]

hi Ian.. the most recognizable names in Leica repair are Sherry Krauter (http://www.sherrykrauter.com/) or Don Goldberg (http://www.dagcamera.com/)

many people here have had their Leicas repaired by these two.. my M3 is sitting on Don's workbench as we speak

and no, your camera won't be under warranty.. cost of repair will probably be somewhere between $150-300

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Try Lutton. It's a place in your neck of the woods where they repair Leicas. Be warned: they're backlogged, so it'll take some time before they look into your camera. You always have the choice of sending it overseas where Brett recommended.

I remember having found their website a while ago (that's where I first saw a picture of Queen Elizabeth holding an M3 with the MC meter on top). Let me look in my browser's history for it... Or just google it.

 

[rover]

How about one of these guys?

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/007e.shtml

 

[FPjohn]

Leica repair

Leica repair

Hello:

Have you replaced the battery? In addition, the M6 meter is a spot meter which requires metering a represenative or selective field to indicate the correct exposure.

Loading a M6 is easier than early Ms but it is good to check (always!) that the rewind knob turns as you fire the first 2/3 blank exposures. The film advance should feel smooth.

yours
Frank

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Film getting stuck and meter not working well...

As FPJohn mentioned, check the battery about the meter. Then, regarding the film, grab a roll and expose it by pulling it out completely so you have a dummy roll of film. Now... practice loading and rewinding and reloading. When putting film in a Leica, most people think the prongs in the spool are to catch the film. Wrong: it's the sprocket's teeth, together with the film pressure plate. These two drive the film into the take up spool. If you folded the tip or did something similar... just don't do it. It may damage the curtains when you rewind it.

Now... if your woes demand professional service, click and HERE for Luton in England. But notice they won't take any repair job before October 2005. Call or write to them before sending the camera! 🙂

And, of course, good luck with it! 😀

Edit & PS: Almost forgot to add that Robert White (a sponsor of this forum) also does repairs on Leica. So you're not stuck with one shop. Click on the store's link that usually appears on the top right side of the screen, or in the left side of the home page of RFF.

 

[Cranialpush]

Thanks for the responses, I've sent an email off to Luton so they can advise me on turnaround and best time to send. My father also left me a IIIg so I will just have to switch over to that for a while (smile).

I'm pretty confident the battery is fine as the exposure LEDs are extremely bright and the manual seems to indicate they will be quite dim if the battery is on it's last legs. Not sure what's happened with the film, it's been in there some time and I may have over reeled it with the winder; I'll have to open it up in a black bag tomorrow and hope I can save the film.

Thanks again,

Ian.

 

[FPjohn]

Hello:

You are lucky to have the 111g as well. Check the loading instructions here, and at cameraquest, and cast about for a small lightmeter. Good luck and enjoy your father's Leicas.

yours
Frank

 

[Ben Z]

I've heard mention of a guy in England named Malcom Taylor, he's supposedly the Brittish counterpart of DAG.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I know you would probably prefer someone in Europe.

But another nod for Don Goldberg (DAG) if you do decide to send it to the US. Excellent work, fast responses to emails, very easy to deal with. good luck