Washington DC - Leica repair options

[Tim S.]

I'm looking for some recommendations for repair shops in the Washington, DC area. I have some vintage camera gear that I've acquired (from my dad) and it needs some work. A lot of people send their stuff out and if people feel strongly about places/people in other cities, let me know, I'm open to suggestion.

I've heard of two places in the DC area, and am looking for opinions on them and suggestions of other places as well. One is Pro Photo , of whom I've heard very good things , although some have found them a bit pricey. The other is Strauss Photo-Technical Service , whose reviews have been generally positive but a bit more mixed (especially lately, new ownership and reduced photographic focus). Since these are heirlooms to some extent I'm more concerned with work quality and reliability as opposed to price (although I don't want to get fleeced).

Below I list the repairs I need, but basically I need a CLA for an M3, and some various work on some lenses and spectacles. I've heard with the earlier Leitz lenses that they can be disassembled and cleaned, so I'm hoping that's a possibility here. Opinions welcome regarding the feasibility/worthiness of fixing some of these problems.

Here are the repairs I need:

Leica M3 (serial #1072XXX):

• CLA for sure, hasn't been serviced recently. Seems in good shape, body is pretty good aside from some random comestic things. Meter has been retrofitted with a non-mercury battery of correct voltage.

Summicron 50mm f/2.0:

• There is some sort of joining compound or fungus that is in a ring around the edge of the rear element, approximately 2 mm in width. I have seen photos taken with this lens and it did not seem to affect image quality, although I don't know the aperture setting.
• In the spectacles, the right-side element is loose and would need to get re-set.

Summaron 35mm f/3.5:

• There is a good deal of haze in one of the interior elements. I've heard this is a common problem with the earlier Leitz lenses, and that the lens can be disassembled and cleaned. That won't solve the problem if there is etching on the glass, but worth a shot.
• The focusing for the spectacles is off on the horizontal axis, images do not align correctly (one image is above the other or vice versa).

Elmarit 135mm f/2.8:

• Problem free! Buttery focusing too. I'm almost happy this is the lens w/o problems because it's the one I'd be least likely to want to replace.

[Shootist]

DAG, Don Goldberg.
DAG Camera Parts

[Walt Calahan]

Dick at Pro Photo has serviced my cameras for years. I've used Strauss in the past, but their service desk drove me away. That said, they stand by the work.

[andybarton]

What meter do you have in the M3?

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by andybarton

What meter do you have in the M3?

Andy come on now. The OP is new to this forum. He Certainly has the MR4 meter. They originally took a mercury battery that hasn't been available for some time.
Whether he knows it comes off the top of the camera and how to take it off is still unknown. But I suspect he does otherwise he wouldn't know it had a non mercury battery in it.

[andybarton]

I don't know that. How could I know that?

I have a meter for my M2 that sits in the accessory shoe - it would fit an M3 just as well. It takes a normal non-mercury battery.

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by Tim S.

Summicron 50mm f/2.0:

• There is some sort of joining compound or fungus that is in a ring around the edge of the rear element, approximately 2 mm in width. I have seen photos taken with this lens and it did not seem to affect image quality, although I don't know the aperture setting.
• In the spectacles, the right-side element is loose and would need to get re-set.

What you have is the Dual Range 50mm Summicron. It is up in the air whether the lens can be cleaned of what is on the back and a lot of they lenses develope a haze in them that can not be cleaned. Not sure about the googles. But Don Goldberg of DAG would know for sure.

Originally Posted by Tim S.

Elmarit 135mm f/2.8:

• Problem free! Buttery focusing too. I'm almost happy this is the lens w/o problems because it's the one I'd be least likely to want to replace.

The only problem with these 135mm f/2.8 lenses is the eyes (goggles) go off for no apparent reason. One day they are fine the next you get a double image in the veiw/rangefinder making it very hard to focus it accurately.

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by andybarton

I don't know that. How could I know that?

I have a meter for my M2 that sits in the accessory shoe - it would fit an M3 just as well. It takes a normal non-mercury battery.

What the CV meter or the Sekonic Twinmate.

[andybarton]

No

It's a Leicameter MR made by Metrawatt A.G. Nürnberg

[Jeff S]

I'm in the area, and haven't had to use service here lately, but I've been impressed with visits to Pro Photo. Also, Ace Photo in Ashburn, Virginia, deals with Leica sales and folks there are totally trustworthy...you might call them for suggestions.

Beyond DC, Leica NJ has been very helpful to me when needed. And, I've heard great things about Sherry Krauter, in addition to DAG.

Jeff

[photophile]

Tim: I have used Sherry Krauter / Golden Touch in New York for both camera and lens issues. She is excellent, reliable, reasonable and a delight to talk to. She knows these cameras inside and out ..literally. That said, if she is busy or on vacation, DAG is also an excellent alternative. I have used Strauss in D.C. for Nikon eqt. They used to be very good and lots of pj's used them. I have not used them recently but have heard they are no longer as proficient. My 2 cents worth. Good luck. CH

[Tim S.]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Very appreciated. I have heard recommendations for DAG and Golden Touch, so that is good to hear more positive feedback on that front. Given the cost of Leica glass I'm thinking it might be worth it to send out the lenses and get the body serviced here, since the work for the latter would just be basic maintenance.

Jeff - thanks for the rec on Ace Photo, something to check out.

Any other thoughts - I'm all ears. I can't thank you all enough for the insights.

Incidentally it is an MR meter, I think originally purchased with the M3 in 1962. Originally took a PX-13 mercury battery. Doesn't specify the version of the MR though.

[Jeff S]

[quote. Given the cost of Leica glass I'm thinking it might be worth it to send out the lenses and get the body serviced here, since the work for the latter would just be basic maintenance.
quote]

FWIW, you might want to consider sending Leica body and lenses to same place so they can adjust as a system, if necessary. This is especially helpful if there are any focusing issues, since lens/camera work interdependently.
Jeff

[Tim S.]

Jeff, that's a good point, and one I hadn't considered. Probably a good idea to get serviced together for the reasons you mention.

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by Tim S.

Jeff, that's a good point, and one I hadn't considered. Probably a good idea to get serviced together for the reasons you mention.

Even more important with digital Ms, since tolerances are much closer than with film Ms, since film provides more focus margin. But, still a good idea to do together, I think.
Jeff