tom5

I've had about 4 cameras worked on by John Maddox. A CLA now seems to run around a

$100 to a little more, depending on the model. My RDST was a bit more expensive

because of the labor working on the self-timer.

 

John is absolutely dependable and does great work.

Just about $100 less than what I paid about 3 years ago for TWO new M6TTL bodies, one

a black enamel LHSA, after rebate and Leica Day discount.

The guy in N. Carolina is probably John Maddox of South Carolina. He is very reasonable in price and does an extremely careful job. I have two f's .. a If and a IIIf RDST. Both required a new second curtain, though my III, IIIa, IIIc and Ig have their original shutters. I don't know if this tells us much about shutters, but I'd allow a $150 or so for a full CLA and perhaps a shutter curtain repair from Maddox, just in case. Any old Leica is leica to need a CLA.

Thanks for the link to the picture of David Douglas Duncan. I still can't find any contact

information for him - perhaps an address to write to or even an email. Maybe someone

knows an agency that handles his work that could forward a message to him. Thanks

again for any information. I think I really should try to write him about the microscope he

gave to the Univ. of Miami.

This is a little off the spirit of the thread but .. is Duncan still alive? I ask because my

university has (in my office now) a Nikon projecting microscope he gave to the univ. (He is

a graduate of the University of Miami.) The rumor is that this microscope has an

interesting history. I'd like to contact him about it but can't find any contact information.

Maybe I'm just not searching right. Any ideas?

After being hassled in a similar fashion at several malls, including outdoor ones, I read the

"code of conduct" carefully at the Sawgrass Mills mall, north of Miami. They have many

restrictions - no skateboarding, etc. - but only prohibit "commercial photography". I took

pictures there with no problem. I commend Sawgrass Mills for a reasonable policy on

photography. I've seen tourists being bothered at some other S. Florida malls, just for

taking tourist snapshots of their family.

Leave your Leica in Miami with me. It will be returned to you at the end

of your cruise with a full roll of preloaded Miami photos. Only a small charge will be

added for the photo service.

I agree about the 35mm finder - SBLOO. I got one as part of a package with a Nicca. The

finder is fantastic. However, the foot is a little wide for prewar Leicas, though it works

great on the Nicca and on postwar Leicas.

Some time after the vents were added to hoods, lasers were invented. The vents were no

longer necessary. The lasers shot the little photons out so fast, that they couldn't wimp

out. One concession was made to the photons - They all could travel together in groups

and so "optical coherence", an important property of lasers, was able to be achieved.

Somehow, in all of this impressive development of the field of physics, Leica and other

major camera manufacturers forgot that most of us don't take pictures of the light

emitting end of lasers. So, vented hoods are now in demand among sensitive

photographers, who want to be kind to their little photon friends. Photographers who are

kind in this way often find that their photographs are of higher quality, because of the

cooperation of the photons.

The SBLOO 35mm finder is just fabulous. I acquired one as part of a lot of camera stuff

that I bought for the Nicca/Tower body.

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I'd check your eyes. I've found that as I've aged and required reading glasses, that at first I

could get a clear view of the displays in all my cameras. But, most recently, the lack of my

eyes to accomodate has meant that the displays in some cameras seem blurry, while

others are fine. My Nikon FM2 exposure + and - indicators seem blurry but the arrows in

my M6 are fine.

 

Have someone else look through your M7 and tell you what they see. If they say that the

LED display is clear, you might benefit from an eye exam.

I send my Leica screwmount work to John Maddox in South Carolina. He does a fabulous

job and at prices that will astound you .. not by how high they are but by how reasonable.

I had one curtain replaced on a IIIf RDST and a full CLA for about 1/2 of the $350

previously mentioned. The only downside is that the turnaround time can be months, as

John is very popular!

Thanks for the reminder, Al. I'll most likely be there - 85% chance. We had a nice group

last year and the lunch stop afterwards was great.

I was there last year for lunch but didn't meet the others for the looking. Meeting early is

a good idea - a chance to learn as we browse. I'm looking forward to Jimmie's again this

year!

The answer to your question is "John Maddox", who will repair screwmount Leicas at quite

a reasonable cost. If you are in the USA, I'd contact John. My Leica III is coming back

tomorrow or the next day from John.

35 Summicron ASPH

If it has a polished brass finish it is almost certain to be one of the many, many Ukraine

Leica copies .. really Feds or Zorkiis. Worth about $100 with lens.

What lens took the second picture? - Perhaps an old Hector, though the etched effect

doesn't look like a typical "Leica glow".

I hate having to pull out the hood and put in back on to use a lens cap.

 

My solution has been to use a 39mm B+W rubber lens shade. It is easy to put the lens cap

on the collapsed (and even uncollapsed) shade. Even though the rubber hood has a deep

metal ring, I've yet to see vignetting, even with a filter between the hood and the lens.

 

I have seen flare on the latest 50mm summicron - The only case was at a party, where a

bright ceiling light was just outside the picture area. Or, was that because I had a case of

something to drink at the party? Oh well, I like the rubber shade on the Summicron -

makes a convenient package, particularly if you don't use a filter.

Years ago, I tried to take a double exposure with an Alpa, by using much the same

procedure (holding down rewind button while winding) and wound up with a stripped

clutch. Fortunately, it was repaired under warranty. I learned my lesson, though!

I saw a Voigtlander 12mm on Ebay .. starting very low, with case and 77mm filter adapter,

but without the regular finder. I was thinking that this might be a great buy for an Epson

digital user, who would likely want to buy the special finder anyway. I have no connection

to the seller but I do have the 12mm lens, which I paid way, way more for! -

 

Item number: 3866469658

Happy New Year from Miami, Florida .. Paul - Are you still on Key Biscayne?