What does rangefinder calibration have to do with battery cover?!

[brbo]

Well, according to Leica Wetzlar repair service... EVERYTHING.

I sent my M6 for rangefinder calibration to Wetzlar.

Even though I repeated that I only need to have rangefinder calibrated (basically 1-10m range needs to be adjusted, infinity is ok), they insist that cleaning/adjusting/relubrication shutter mechanism, adjusting shutter brake, exposure meter... is absolutely necessary. They basically don't want to leave a single bit untouched.

That's what I call a great service!

They'll even change the battery cover.


There is one catch, though. Or 1000. EUR.

And no, they won't even consider taking battery cover off the repair list. I guess they are afraid that a small scratch on the cover will somehow throw off the rangefinder calibration.


(anyone know of a good repair person in EU that hasn't got a time to waste in rebuilding an otherwise perfectly good M6?)

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Well, according to Leica Wetzlar repair service... EVERYTHING.
[…]

Oh dear … once a repair guy tried to tell me that my Leicaflex Standard repair would be so expensive because of the electronic shutter's complexity … :bang:

 

[oltimer]

$1000 US or almost $1500 Canadian is still enough to get you too notice fast. Your camera obviously needs the service; and I agree with you that a battery cover is cheap. I would wait for some of our fellow members from Europe to see your post, and recommend a certified "retired" leica tech if there's still some doing the work? You can bet Leica Germany is not paying huge wages to employees doing this work.

 

[michaelwj]

1000 Euro will buy you another M6! Out of control. I had the RF calibrated on my M6 in Australia for A$75 (~ 50 Euro). It took all of about 30 min.
1000 Euro! Out of control!

 

[brbo]

$1000 US or almost $1500 Canadian is still enough to get you too notice fast. Your camera obviously needs the service; and I agree with you that a battery cover is cheap

Obviously, that's why I sent it for rangefinder calibration. But obviously I don't want to have exposure meter "adjusted", nor shutter times. I've shot slide film for the past 7 years with this camera and it's fine.

And, no, I don't expect them to give me a new battery cover for free (even if the part only costs 25 EUR). I just assumed that Leica would trust the user is perfectly fine with the old part (it screws in and out and meter works if I have batteries inserted; hmm... I removed the batteries prior to sending the camera, maybe that's why they think the meter needed work 😀). Makes you wonder what other work/parts they listed is unnecessary, too...

 

[brbo]

1000 Euro will buy you another M6!

I know. But buying another M6 means that I might be buying another problem with it. Better to have a camera that you've known to work perfectly otherwise and just fix the problem.

Oh, and it's really just 955.15 EUR. I wasn't completely fair in my first post...

 

[philipus]

I have sent cameras to Leica for service and have always received a pdf with "necessary" works and "recommended" works, giving me the choice to decide what I wanted done. I have often taken issue with what is listed in both categories, but esp. the necessary one, because many things listed seem very unnecessary, like disassembling the entire camera and lubricating parts just to adjust the rangefinder mechanism.

I have not yet been in a situation like yours, though, where the work requested is so distinctly different from what they suggest so I don't know how successful you would be in arguing with them.

The price charged by Leica is a lot higher than other technicians ('obscene' comes to mind).

Since I live in the Netherlands I have used Wil van Manen (kamera-service.info). He charges much more reasonable money. I had the rangefinder adjusted on my TTL during the summer and think I paid 163 Eur. I was very happy with the result. And it was quite fast too, like 1,5 weeks (though time for shipping excluded as I dropped off and picked up the camera since I live nearby).

Br
Philip

 

[giulio stucchi]

I would also suggest to contact Wil van Manen (kamera-service.info)
He normally suggest a full CLA in order to provide a 6 months warranty on the work but worth a try.
Actually I am planning to get in touch with Wil myself to check the meter on my Leitz M6 as it suddenly reads only correct value for 100 iso even if I change the iso setting :-(
Not sure where are you located in EU, shipping and handling add always some extra cost.
Good luck
Giulio

 

[brbo]

I have sent cameras to Leica for service and have always received a pdf with "necessary" works and "recommended" works, giving me the choice to decide what I wanted done. I have often taken issue with what is listed in both categories, but esp. the necessary one, because many things listed seem very unnecessary, like disassembling the entire camera and lubricating parts just to adjust the rangefinder mechanism.

Sending recommended and necessary lists is sensible. Since they want to make more money if possible and there is also a possibility that the user would want to avoid another camera trip to Wetzlar in the near future.

But, I specifically asked if everything on the repair list was absolutely necessary. Answer was "everything!". I must bo on their sucker list (wonder if there is a wealthy sheikh with my name somewhere).

I'll just pay 50 EUR for their inspection fee and have the camera returned without work. I'd go with 300-400 EUR for a competent rangefinder calibration from Wetzlar, but seeing the list with total nonsense on it is just too much...


I'm from Slovenia (EU), and last time Mr. Van Mannen charged me aprox. 150 EUR for shipping 200g lens from Netherlands to Slovenia. No alternative shipping method possible (even if I arranged for pickup and I took full responsibility for transport).

Hmm... Thinking it must be me. I really dislike having sensible options taken away from me. I guess I'll also need to recalibrate myself to the real world out there 😀

 

[jsrockit]

There is one catch, though. Or 1000. EUR.

Yikes, you can just buy another one for that price.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

[…]
(wonder if there is a wealthy sheikh with my name somewhere).

[…]

I'm from sLOVEnia (EU), …

They think you're a certain billionaire's brother in law, simple as that 😀

 

[brbo]

They think you're a certain billionaire's brother in law, simple as that 😀

LOL!!! Had to read it twice to get the joke!

Here in Slovenia we really dislike s̶u̶c̶c̶e̶s̶s̶f̶u̶l̶ famous and wealthy people, so this German retaliation aimed at Slovenia is completely unwarranted. Can somebody that's got Leica's ear make that clear to them?

I'll even say that 90% percent of us hope she was from Austria. Now, Leica, can I have a (more) sensible quote on repair? 😀

 

[Ronald M]

The issue is they warrantee a properly working camera . If the shutter breaks in 3 months, some customers will blame Leica even if they never touched the insides.

The only defense is total rework.

Same reason is they will not repair water damage. They can fix all visible signs, but hidden damage may grow rendering the camera broken again. Leica does not want to cover that.

Then again I know of a case where a customer sent in a M8 for sensor remap and the nice folks put in a M9 frame line set. After subjects heads were cut off for close to a year, he finally figured out the problem. A few more days and warrantee would have been up.

If you are lucky, Leica service is good. Always slow. Always. Some of us have decided, buy new and keep until warrantee is up.

There is always DAG

 

[brbo]

The issue is they warrantee a properly working camera . If the shutter breaks in 3 months, some customers will blame Leica even if they never touched the insides.

The only defense is total rework.

That is simply not true. Or they must have changed their policy lately.

Or this is their policy with "legacy" cameras, which kind a makes sense to their bottom line and no sense to the users.

There is always DAG

Until he isn't any more. Or Leica stops selling him and others spare parts.

 

[571514m3]

Considering postage etc I would adjust it myself. The RF is a simple thing and requires no dismantling. Ultimately there is nothing you can make worse. Have a look here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/118043-m9-coincidence-at-infinity/page-12

 

[brbo]

Considering postage etc I would adjust it myself. The RF is a simple thing and requires no dismantling. Ultimately there is nothing you can make worse. Have a look here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/118043-m9-coincidence-at-infinity/page-12

I adjusted infinity myself. No problem. But the screw for the second arm ("1m" adjustment) was screwed really tight and since I didn't have the correct tool I didn't want to push it and possibly destroy the screw in the process.

 

[jonmanjiro]

But the screw for the second arm ("1m" adjustment) was screwed really tight and since I didn't have the correct tool I didn't want to push it and possibly destroy the screw in the process.

Its very uncommon that this needs adjusting. Are you absolutely sure it does?

 

[brbo]

Its very uncommon that this needs adjusting. Are you absolutely sure it does?

Well, I'm pretty sure.

After I noticed the problem in "real life" (missed focus at close and mid range distances) I did:

- Multiple close distance tests. Front focus with all my lenses.
- Compared test shots from M6 with those from my M3 with the same lenses. Shots on M3 are OK, those on M6 are some 4-5 cm front focused at 1m.
- Distance readings from the distance markings on my lenses when mounted on my M3 agree with laser distance meter. Does from M6 don't. Those tests were made at 3-10m range.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Well, I'm pretty sure.

After I noticed the problem in "real life" (missed focus at close and mid range distances) I did:

- Multiple close distance tests. Front focus with all my lenses.
- Compared test shots from M6 with those from my M3 with the same lenses. Shots on M3 are OK, those on M6 are some 4-5 cm front focused at 1m.
- Distance readings from the distance markings on my lenses when mounted on my M3 agree with laser distance meter. Does from M6 don't. Those tests were made at 3-10m range.

Ah ok. That's pretty comprehensive testing.

Just thinking out loud here but have you considered that the mount to film plane distance might be incorrect? Have you tried shooting a scene at infinity with a fast lens wide open?

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Ah ok. That's pretty comprehensive testing.

Just thinking out loud here but have you considered that the mount to film plane distance might be incorrect? Have you tried shooting a scene at infinity with a fast lens wide open?

LOL, cue: «shimming» 😉


edit: hey, we're talking about a LEICA, not some Fed or Zorki! 😀