Will van Manen's M6 anti-flare solution

[Toni Nikkanen]

Hi,

(Discussed in another thread) I have a M6 that needs service to fix light leaks. Upon considering my options of where to send it, I found that Will van Manen's Kamera-Service offers a "M6 Anti-Flare solution". I emailed them and got an answer pretty quickly explaining, that this is not the so-called MP finder upgrade, but instead a simpler and much cheaper option:

"During the CLA we can place a polarization filter in the
viewfinder; this reduces the flare with 80% and makes the
frame lines 20% darker. Placing it (during the CLA)
will be 40 Euros extra (19% VAT excluded)"

This is of course tempting since it costs much less than the so-called MP finder upgrade (and yes I know it's so-called since you don't really get exactly the MP finder by that); but how effective is this? My main problem, which I'd like improved, is the flare and the lack of contrast; I don't that that much care whether it is super-bright or anything like that. Did anyone get this done on their M6?

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Yes, I had it done on my M6 and M7. It works. I hardly noticed the framelines being darker.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

As an example: If in dim light you tried to focus on someone's eyes, do you think it is noticeably easier to do with this solution?

 

[skibeerr]

But the cla will cost you around 300 euro+40 for the polariser.

Wim

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

True, but the camera does need to be serviced anyway.

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

As an example: If in dim light you tried to focus on someone's eyes, do you think it is noticeably easier to do with this solution?

If it otherwise would flare yes.

 

[ferider]

1.) The framelines have to darken by 1 stop.
2.) You can try leicagoodie's SHADE which does the same thing from the outside but is removable.
3.) It sounds like you can get CLA and MP finder upgrade from Sherry or Steve's for the same budget.

Roland.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

People keep on suggesting the excellent US-based shops a lot, but I'm an old world guy so you have to remember that there is an extra form-filling step and I have to add VAT+taxes on top of whatever they charge, so it's not THAT nice after you consider all that..

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Yes really no need to send to US from Europe and incur additional expense when we have perfectly capable Leica technicians such as Will closer to home. His workmanship is first class.

 

[ferider]

People keep on suggesting the excellent US-based shops a lot, but I'm an old world guy so you have to remember that there is an extra form-filling step and I have to add VAT+taxes on top of whatever they charge, so it's not THAT nice after you consider all that..

I'm an "old world guy", too, and have nothing against Will. That doesn't change the fact that it's a global economy now, and if Sherry or Steve could provide you an MP upgrade for less than what Will quotes you for a cheap plastic pol filter, I would always pick the cheaper one. I drive a Mercedes that was built in the US, I use Canadian and Japanese lenses on my Leicas, my American iPhone has major parts made in Korea, etc. Where do you think M8 and M9 sensor come from ?

Just had a Leicaflex serviced by Sherry (excellent work, of course, perfect communication including phone conversations) and the camera went back to my father in Germany, no customs, no VAT, no idea why you would have to pay this on repair services.

Roland.

PS: Sherry does even receive orders from Solms, BTW.

 

[Pablito]

I had the "MP" finder upgrade by Sherry not because I found flare much of a problem. What it did do is improve low-light focusing somewhat. It's a subtle difference, though. Can't speak for the polarizer solution but I would not want darker framelines, even if barely noticeable.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

This is getting a bit complicated topic (or a collection of various topics) so the chances for misunderstanding are high.

First of all, I do know what for example DAG quotes for a MP upgrade, around $280 if I remember correctly. Way more than what Will. Of course, it's a bigger upgrade so it makes sense that it costs more.

Secondly, please keep in mind that I am not talking about just getting a finder upgrade. My root problem is that I need my camera fixed for light leaks. On top of that, if they can improve my finder while at it, that's a plus.

About customs and VAT, simply put:
If i send an expensive camera overseas, normally, what the recipient would have to do, is pay import duty on it on it's value. When they send it back I have to do pay it again. Now that WOULD be crazy in case of sending something for repair, because THEY did not buy the camera and neither did I - it just went on a repair round-trip!
So there is a certain procedure, including form-filling and stuff, that you have to do to avoid this, since the legislation does recognize the idea of sending something for repair.
So in the end, let's say doing the finder upgrade at DAG, Sherry Krauter or whoever, costs $280 plus the price of shipping it back - I will be paying customs and VAT on top of that price. Not on the price of the whole camera. But this has to be kept in mind when comparing pricing across the pond.

If you've not had to deal with this, you've just been very lucky. About 70% of the time when I receive a German or Japanese lens from the States (or Japan or Singapore or wherever), it means a visit to the customs office, proving how much I paid, and then paying the customs+VAT on that price. This takes approx. 3 hours in the Berlin customs office when you include travel. I don't like it, so I want to avoid it if I can. That's about how emotional it gets with me - my time costs money, and my money, eh, costs money.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Where did you get that info from. IMHO it is all untrue. When the right forms are checked, you don't pay on services done out of Europe and they won't charge import duties. They will charge those duties only if the US company servicing your camera states on the form that the camera is merchandise. You can get this info quite easily from your local customs - were you have to get the right forms anyway.

About customs and VAT, simply put:
If i send an expensive camera overseas, normally, what the recipient would have to do, is pay import duty on it on it's value. When they send it back I have to do pay it again. Now that WOULD be crazy in case of sending something for repair, because THEY did not buy the camera and neither did I - it just went on a repair round-trip!
So there is a certain procedure, including form-filling and stuff, that you have to do to avoid this, since the legislation does recognize the idea of sending something for repair.
So in the end, let's say doing the finder upgrade at DAG, Sherry Krauter or whoever, costs $280 plus the price of shipping it back - I will be paying customs and VAT on top of that price. Not on the price of the whole camera. But this has to be kept in mind when comparing pricing across the pond.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Might it be that I've misunderstood this:

http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/c0_postal_traffic/postverkehr/index.html#post4

I'd like to have been totally wrong. so maybe i don't have to pay any extra after all, and all I have to put up with is the 3-hour trip.. (I assume I can find the forms online or somewhere else, so I have to go to the customs only once, to pick my camera up.)

 

[johannielscom]

But Van Manen probably can tackle your problem in a few weeks at most, while Don and Cherry apparently take several months due to large backlog in repairs. Plus theres no hassle on outside-EU shipping from Finland to NL.

To me, those seem pretty nice trade-offs for not trying to save a few bucks!

 

[Stuart John]

Plus the cost of shipping an expensive camera from Finland to the US and back again is not going to be cheap either. I would get it serviced as near to home as possible.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Yes my points exactly, except I'm actually in Germany, but anyway, same applies. (in Finland the customs office is not as slow, but it's equally far-away on an average 🙂

 

[Ronald_H]

Will van Manen is not the cheapest guy around, but the extra cost and hassle to send it overseas is not worth it for me. Longer wait, more hassle and ultimately not much cheaper if shipping is taken into account.

Will I can visit if needs be and communcation is easy via mail and/or phone. And it has to be said, his work is first class. He has resurrected a respectable nummer of my cams and lenses, including Leica, Nikon, Canon, Yashica and Hasselblad. I hope he will stay in this business for a very long time to come.

Regards,

Ronald

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Yes my points exactly, except I'm actually in Germany, but anyway, same applies. (in Finland the customs office is not as slow, but it's equally far-away on an average 🙂

I don't get this, if in Germany I would surely have the camera repaired by Leica or by Michaely or Reinhardt. The latter two are few of the German repair men internationally acclaimed the best for this job. Further, consider that a Leica with non Leica parts from Van Maanen will be less attractive for a future buyer, than a Leica repaired with original Leica parts.

Here is a list

Leica Camera AG
Customer Service
Gewerbepark 8
D-35606 Solms
Tel. +49(0)6442-208-0

Wetzlarer Feine Mechanik
Ottmar Michaely
Niedergasse 41
D-35630 Ehringhausen
+49 (0)6443/833880

Fotomechanik Reinhardt
Katzenwinkel 72
D-30966 Hemmingen
+49 (0)5101-585278

Gerard Wiener
Landwehrstr. 12
D-80336 München
+49 (0)89-595072

Paepke-Fototechnik
Inh. Dieter Paepke
Rather Broich 57
D-40472 Düsseldorf
+49-(0)211 – 98 68 88 0

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Might it be that I've misunderstood this:

http://www.zoll.de/english_version/faq/c0_postal_traffic/postverkehr/index.html#post4

I'd like to have been totally wrong. so maybe i don't have to pay any extra after all, and all I have to put up with is the 3-hour trip.. (I assume I can find the forms online or somewhere else, so I have to go to the customs only once, to pick my camera up.)

Not untrue, what they try to ascertain is the value of new parts in the camera as soon as it returns in the EU. They won't levy duties on labourcost.