subhash_tiwari Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 I had posted a question yesterday about fixing the rangefinder patch on my M3- http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00FpPK&tag= -and got a whole lot of different answers. Still confused, I called several well known Leica Repair 'experts' and got similarly different responses, albeit with considerably more 'expertise' in their voices. I cannot, of course, name them without inviting protests from some of them- suffice to say that the cost of repairs (and what was needed) varied from $200 to about $900 for fixing the fading patch. This is disconcerting, to say the least, and not unlike the experience one has with some car repair shops, even tho' these people are well known and respected on these forums. I guess, even for such a specialised job, one should get several 'quotes', and then decide. I will probably send my M3 to these guys- http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page10.html Anybody have any personal experience with this issue ? Subhash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayh Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 I have experience with CRR-Luton.. All good. Peter is one of the best in the business in my opinion. He'll send you back a fine camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee hamiel Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 All I can say is that I have used Dag in the past with great results plus I feel his prices are not as high as I would charge for the same kind of work. Dag being Don Goldberg & I have also heard nothing but praise for Sherry Krouter at Golden Touch. Let us know how it goes & Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_rutchik Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 As I posted yesterday, I had a very faded rangefinder patch on my M3. Virtually unusable. Most of the info I found online said I just needed a cleaning. So, initially I sent it to DAG for a CLA and he concurred that a good cleaning of the rangefinder elements would probably solve the problem. Well, he did a fine job cleaning and lubing the whole camera, but it didn't solve the faded patch.. not even a little. So off it went to John Van Stelten (focalpointlens.com) who recemented the beamsplitter and replaced the prism and the problem was resolved. I probably spent more getting this camera in shape than I should have, in part because the common wisdom said it just needed a cleaning, but no regrets. In the end it was still far cheaper than an MP and the camera is absolutely perfect. If sending it to the UK is easier than to Colorado then a rebuild from CRR-Lutton seems like the wise choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per_bostrom Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Peter at CRR did a full service and restoration of the finder on my M3. In this case the finder suffered from balsam separation. He did an excellent job and the M3 is like new in all functions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewlamb Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Peter , at CRR, worked on my M3's rangefinder and did a really terrific job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_chuk Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 I'm another person who would happily recommend Peter at CRR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobtodrick Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Yea...I know what you mean. I call auto mechanics all the time and tell them 'gee, my cars making funny sounds' and I get all these different quotes. Sheeesh. Without a service person acutally SEEING the problem all you're getting is a QUOTE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terence_mahoney1 Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 In reference to Michael's comments, Malcolm Taylor told me once that there are a small number of M3s whose optics will be found to be soiled beyond complete cleaning. He said, some owners will be satisfied with the degree to which they can be cleaned, and some will not. Evidently yours was thussly affected. Good that you found someone to sort it out to your satisfaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subhash_tiwari Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Bob, I believe decribing a relatively well known and specific problem should generate a fairly clear response, and is very different from the vague description of "funny sounds" that your car may be making. The differences in'quotes' has to do with the following issues- 1. Whether a much needed cleaning is the sole or predominant problem causing the faint patch. 2. If even a thorough cleaning will NOT take care of the problem, whether the prism is decementing/Desilvering, and repairing this can be done and will fix the problem. 3. Whether the ONLY solution is to replace the part, which currently comes from the M6J, and costs $600-1200. So, perhaps a better understanding of what I was refering to may help you see this for what it is... Subhash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_a Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Big thumbs up for Peter. He currently has a few bodies of mine to work on. I've had him CLA and paint an M2 for me. Fabulous work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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