Sending stuff for CLA from AUS

[seifadiaz]

Aussies, I am thinking of sending a stuff out in the future for CLA to Sherry Krauter and would like to know what is your experiences in doing so.

Is sending stuff via Auspost reliable or there is a better way?
Are there any customs charges?
How do you send payments (money order, I don't use cheques)?

 

[fergus]

EMS (international courier) from Australia Post is expensive but insured and trackable.

Compared to DHL, Fedex & UPS it's a bargain.

GST (charged by customs) is on imports, with a taxable value of $1,000 or more. If it's your own camera coming back after service, no problems, you haven't purchased it.

 

[Justin Viiret]

I sent my M3 to DAG several years ago via EMS with Australia Post and had no trouble at all -- quick and trackable. No worries with GST either.

I can't remember how I paid for his services, perhaps with Paypal?

 

[Freakscene]

Yes, use EMS and insure, and write "for repair and return" on the declaration. Sherry will do something similar when she sends it back.

Marty

 

[daveywaugh]

Just out of interest; any reason why OS is a better option? I was going to use Accurate in Brisbane to CLA my M3... for a standard service, would someone like Sherry be better? Thanks.

 

[Lflex]

Although not AUS to US, some of your questions around the practicalities of sending to Sherry Krauter from outside US may be answered if you read my wrap up in the end of this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101657

 

[seifadiaz]

Thanks Lflex!

 

[Freakscene]

Just out of interest; any reason why OS is a better option? I was going to use Accurate in Brisbane to CLA my M3... for a standard service, would someone like Sherry be better? Thanks.

If your M3 doesn't need a CLA, I wouldn't get anything done to it. If it does need a CLA (because it is very dirty or some problem has become apparent) send it to Sherry or DAG. In my experience no one in Australia can CLA an M to the same standards as Sherry or DAG.

Marty

 

[Justin Viiret]

In my case, I had a specific issue I needed fixed. My M3 was seriously misbehaving -- every now and then, the shutter just wouldn't fire. Hold the camera upside-down, and you'd get another frame, and then it would "lock up" again. Not a fun thing to have happen while I was overseas on holiday and using the camera harder than I usually do.

A number of good camera repairers in Adelaide took a look for me, and did manage to fix it for a while ... but it took a visit to DAG to cure it completely. He also replaced a bunch of bits and pieces and cleaned up the finder for me, something that would have been hard to get done locally. There are tons of threads here that sing DAG and Sherry's praises, they're great.

For just a CLA, though, I reckon you could get a good job done locally. I don't know Accurate specifically, though ...

 

[daveywaugh]

Good to know - thanks.

 

[Justin Viiret]

Heh -- it should be noted that Marty has a great deal more experience with Ms, both working or not, than I do 🙂

 

[seifadiaz]

Interesting, too bad for us down here. 🙂

 

[Freakscene]

Heh -- it should be noted that Marty has a great deal more experience with Ms, both working or not, than I do 🙂

Justin's experience tallies with mine, but I would suggest that if your camera is working fine and the VF/RF is clear, it probably doesn't need a CLA.

If your M3 is misbehaving, or has a low contrast RF patch or is very dusty/dirty in the RF/VF it usually takes an M specialist to get it working properly again. None of the Australian service providers I tried properly cleaned the VF in my Ms when they were dirty. The times when my cameras had problems it took these same Australian technicians a few goes to get them working again, and the problems almost always returned. DAG and Sherry have put my cameras right and they haven't needed anything further done to them, some cameras for more than a decade.

But I haven't used Accurate, nor have I tried every Australian camera technician.

Marty

 

[daveywaugh]

I just want the close focus calibrated to my Hex 50 - 0.7m and the shutter dial is a little stiff. There is a fair bit of fungus on the RF patch also which worries me... I assume this is almost impossible to get rid of.

I feel bad hijacking this thread - sorry seifadiaz! But whilst I have the ear of some experts, can I please ask for a little more advice?... ;-)

I bought from a dealer who is new to Leica. The M3 was apparently CLA'd very recently but it's clear it certainly hasn't... shutter and winder is stiff and it's overall pretty messy. The dealer has been a huge help though, and kindly sent me an older SS M3 to evaluate (with a DR Summicron to). It's MUCH smoother and VF is perfect. Mine has the aforementioned fungus and the finder is a little dimmer. It is however a newer model (above 1 million SN) and otherwise is great. If I know the fungus can be cleaned (or assured it's not going to be an issue for a while) I feel I am better off with the newer model and a CLA. Otherwise, I may go with the SS and keep it simple. I must say I quite like the SS advance - that doesn't bother me at all! I read however that the new ones have a few worthwhile improvements (film rewind etc.)

I simply would like an M3 and single 50mm lens, and now I am getting confused ;-) Choices...

 

[seifadiaz]

No worries Daveywaugh! I may also need to send an M body with erratic slow speeds when I have the funds for it, so the discussion is good.

 

[Freakscene]

The closer focus and stiff shutter speed dial are easy fixes. The fungus in the VF depends where it is. At worst it may have already etched a glass or metal plated surface (there are gold and silver plated surfaces in an M3 as it came from the factory) and those parts might require replacing, at best it might be possible to clean with little lasting effect.

The only way to know for sure is to get it worked on and see how it goes.

Marty

 

[daveywaugh]

Thanks Marty. And thanks seifadiaz ;-) And everyone else too!