Thinking about repairing/restoring Leica cameras for fun and profit

[Repairman Larry]

I am a semi-retired camera repairman with over 17 years of experience but I have never worked on Leica cameras. Recently I have been thinking about repairing/restoring Leica cameras for fun and profit and am not sure which model to start with. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Larry Miracle
Spokane WA

 

[John Lawrence]

If it were me, I'd be looking into starting with the Barnack models, and also perhaps the Leica R series.

Both are available relatively cheaply if broken, and in the case of the R series, there's a bit of a dearth of repairers out there.

Both would also give you a chance to build up a stock of spares, should any prove to be beyond repair.

John

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Full manual for Leica M2 repair is available on-line. This might be good check in point.

 

[rscheffler]

If you think you wish to do this as a business, it might be worth doing a poll to see which models you'll most often be working on. Perhaps also ask this question over at LUF?

As a digital Leica user I can only condense comments I've gathered recently in Leica film camera repair threads, which to me indicate rangefinder models, particularly the older M series. Lens servicing is also of interest, whether general CLAs or rangefinder calibration.

Given the backlogs currently at the go-to Leica service 'shops', if you're good, you'll not be wanting for work.

 

[Repairman Larry]

I think that's good advice John Lawrence.
I've done a little research since I posted this question and one of the advantages of the Barnack models is the cheap clones available as ""learner" cameras that can be had cheap, and no one crys if you can't put it back together. While I know that leicas are precision instruments blah blah blah, it's basically the same design. At some point I can move into the M series having a basic understanding of the "Leica way".
I did not consider the R class cameras but I think you may be on to something there. They can be had cheap (not the lenses) and there are plenty of cheap parts available considering these are mostly rebranded Minoltas. While these aren't commanding prices of M cameras they are only going to go up in value and now might be a good time to become familiar with them.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I did not consider the R class cameras but I think you may be on to something there. They can be had cheap (not the lenses) and there are plenty of cheap parts available considering these are mostly rebranded Minoltas.

I'm not sure, but I was thinking he was pulling your leg with the R bodies. Repair-wise this would be the absolute deepest end of the Leica pool. The only ones anyone is likely to spend money on to repair are the Leicaflex, the Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2, the R8, and the R9, none of which have anything in common with Minolta bodies, and are notoriously difficult to work on. Wanting to go there seems almost suicidal.
On the other hand, the Barnacks would be pretty simple, in many ways, for reasons already mentioned, plus, there seems to be significant demand, at least for someone with a solid reputation for excellence and service.

 

[Vickko]

If you've had 17 years of camera experience, the M and LTM bodies will be dead simple for you. You might also be impressed by how well built and adjustable the Leica's are. I'd dive in and go for it. Lots of info on the web, and repair manuals available too for the manual cameras. Once you get to the M6 and onwards, with electronics, things get really tricky and might need "Leica software" to deal with, to deal with the metering. But plenty of manual M's and LTM's around that will need servicing soon.

 

[raid]

I would consider CLA service for all film M cameras, plus repair for the most popular models so that you get many customers. Maybe, M2-M3-M4-M6?

 

[rbiemer]

I think that's good advice John Lawrence.
I've done a little research since I posted this question and one of the advantages of the Barnack models is the cheap clones available as ""learner" cameras that can be had cheap, and no one crys if you can't put it back together. While I know that leicas are precision instruments blah blah blah, it's basically the same design. At some point I can move into the M series having a basic understanding of the "Leica way".

Hmm, I might know of a Zorki or two the owner would be willing to let you practice on...🙂

A bit more seriously, if you get to be good at this, as has been mentioned, there will likely be plenty of work for you--the turn around times for the known repair folks is getting to be pretty significant, I think. Having another option available would tend to be good for us users.

Good luck with this!

Rob