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Leica repair/CLA


dford

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I've recently purchased a classic m6 and I want to have it throughly checked and adjusted. I live in San Diego, but am willing to send it anywhere in the US to get top quality service.

Please recommend your favorite place (with phone# or website)for leica service.

Thanks

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Go to:

 

<p>

 

<a href="http://www.lhsa.org/">

http://www.lhsa.org/</a>

 

<p>

 

and click on repair.

 

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I would also add my Leica repair god:

 

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Kindermann (Canada) Inc.

Attn.: Art Parkinson or Gerry Smith

Service Department

361 Steelcase Road West, Unit

Markham, Ontario, Canada

L3R 3V8

Tel: (905) 940-9262 or (905) 479-0167

Fax: (905) 479-9755

e-mail: kindrman@istar.ca info@kindermann.com

 

<p>

 

 

Cheers,

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OK how about this:

 

<p>

 

Kindermann (Canada) Inc.

 

<p>

 

Attn.: Art Parkinson or Gerry Smith

 

<p>

 

Service Department

 

<p>

 

361 Steelcase Road West, Unit #3

 

<p>

 

Markham, Ontario,

 

<p>

 

Canada L3R 3V8

 

<p>

 

Tel: (905) 940-9262 or (905) 479-0167

 

<p>

 

Fax: (905) 479-9755

 

<p>

 

<a href="mailto:e-mail: kindrman@istar.ca">e-mail:

kindrman@istar.ca</a>

 

<a

href="mailto:info@kindermann.com">info@kindermann.com</a

>

 

<p>

 

Cheers,

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Doug,

 

<p>

 

I realize this reply runs counter to your question, but I'd run some

film through it and make sure that it doesn't need anything but your

use of it. I don't see the need to send it off before giving it a

thorough test drive, unless of course it's apparent that it needs a

CLA. Otherwise I recommend DAG, if you need to send it off (can't

find the number).

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Unless there's something obviously out of whack with your M6, I agree

with the view that you can wait until it actually needs a CLA. Just

install a couple of fresh batteries for the meter and test it yourself

on film. That said, I'd recommend Sherry Krauter. After she CLA'd my M6

(1985 vintage), its mechanical operation felt much more like my smooth

M3.

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Doug: "I've recently purchased a classic m6 and I want to have it

thoroughly checked and adjusted"

 

<p>

 

My response: For me the time to have a camera thoroughly checked is

before I purchase it, or during the 10-15 day no-hassle return

period. The standard CLA on an M body runs from about US$175-275

depending on who you use, so that amount should be figured into the

price of the camera if a CLA will be needed. If you've already

bought the camera, I would strongly recommend running some film

through it to check the operation of the transport,

rangefinder/viewfinder, meter and shutter. Use slide film and keep

track of the shutter speeds etc. If you don't notice anything amiss,

save your money. Unless the camera has a serial# less than

1,900,000, or has been used in an extreme (hot, cold, wet, dusty)

environment, or has a specific defect you can identify, chances are

you can just use it and enjoy it. When something goes wrong, then

get it fixed.

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I've used Don Goldberg (DAG)for several overhauls. To me his work is

tops. The shutters he adjusted were more accurate to the marked

speeds than the other Leica repairperson's. He charged significantly

more (like about $100) and took much longer. He's also much easier

to get ahold of during business hours.

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Thanks for all the input.

The camera is 5 years old. Very little use, I think I put more dings

and scratches on it just opening and taking it out of the box.

I ran it through all of the speeds to check the shutter. No sticking

or hang-ups. Now I gotta lens. This weekend I'll run a couple of

rolls of film through it.

Are there any tests for checking exposure at all speeds and apertures?

Ya know, gray card technical stuff?

Thanks

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Point the camera at a blank surface (wall, blue sky etc.)and make a

series of exposures from 1sec-1/1000, varying the lens aperture

accordingly so the EV stays constant. The negs or slides should all

look the same density and even from left to right of frame. If

you're using a lens wider than a 50, you can expect some light

falloff in the corners at the wider apertures, but the center of the

frame should be even with the rest if the shutter is ok. Expect at

1/1000 (and perhaps 1/500 also) the most variance both overall and

from left to right. If it's really pronounced, those 2 speeds can be

adjusted without servicing the entire camera.

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I have never had either my M3 or M6 body worked on but I have had two

lenses checked and overhauled. I sent them to Leica in New Jersey.

The lenses came back like new. The work took about 4 weeks but they

did excellent work. I don't think it a good idea to send your

equipment to anyone but the maker. True, Leica is a little expensive

but some of the other repair people are about the same price. Are

they any faster? I really don't know. I have a friend who had a bad

experience with a Leica R lens sent to someone other than Leica. A

complete and expensive disaster!

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