R4 repair, is it worth it?

[martinvath]

Just got repair offer from Solms on my R4, which I resently bought at a bargin price of 200$ incl. Summicron 35 and Elmarit 90.
Leica in Solms wants 770$ for the repair (don´t know yet exactly what they will fix for that amount, probably everything). I had hoped to get a CLA for about 250$. Do You think it is worth spending 770$ on reparing an R4, or should I just buy another camera like RE or R5?

Kind regards

Martin

[stunsworth]

Throw it away and buy another R.

You still got a bargain at that price just for the two lenses.

[zi_freak]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

Throw it away and buy another R.

Let me add: and be shure its not an R4 which may well be the worst cam that ever left Wetzlar/Solms or where ever it may have been assembled.

[earleygallery]

First of all, what's wrong with it?

Leica are going to be top dollar in terms of repair costs, so I'd get a quote from a 'local' repairer too (I had my M2 fixed for £80, Leica wanted £400 - estimated).

[martinvath]

Repair of light sealing and defekt rear filmcartrige window + cla. Think it was too expensive, so I followed Steves advice and threw it away. Now I´m thinking of getting a R-E or maybe a R3 if I can find a good one at a decent price.

[@bumac]

Lightseals, Window and cla should cost here in Madrid 160-200 Euro.

[ejd]

Shame you threw it away. I'm sure someone would have been able to get it repaired economically. The faults don't sound all that serious. Funny you should mention looking for an R-E at a good price. James Earley and I were offered one for 100 pounds at Photographica, but passed up on the offer. John

[earleygallery]

get it out of that bin now and send it to me!!

Light seals you can replace very easily yourself for a few quid, and 30mins of your time.

The rear window could be sourced/glued in or you could just 'block it in'. Its of no real use anyway.

As for the CLA if the camera is working OK otherwise then I wouldn't bother, it's an electronic shutter after all.

Did you really throw a Leica away?

[earleygallery]

Originally Posted by ejd

Shame you threw it away. I'm sure someone would have been able to get it repaired economically. The faults don't sound all that serious. Funny you should mention looking for an R-E at a good price. James Earley and I were offered one for 100 pounds at Photographica, but passed up on the offer. John

Indeed, and it was quite a clean example, not some battered and bruised thing - I was tempted to buy it, but I don't really need another R body.

[rob_x2004]

Wouldnt an R4 be Minoltaish on the inside? Surely it would be within the scope of any repairer?

[Ivar B]

Originally Posted by martinvath

Just got repair offer from Solms on my R4, which I resently bought at a bargin price of 200$ incl. Summicron 35 and Elmarit 90.
Leica in Solms wants 770$ for the repair (don´t know yet exactly what they will fix for that amount, probably everything). I had hoped to get a CLA for about 250$. Do You think it is worth spending 770$ on reparing an R4, or should I just buy another camera like RE or R5?

Kind regards

Martin

Leica lacks judgement if they think that anyone sound in body and mind will spend 770$ on an R4. On the top of my head, I think R4 had new electronics after about 1.85 million, which made them a little more reliable. Leica R5-7 are very low priced these days, you will get a very nice one for half the repair costs.

[dkpeterborough]

Why throw any camera away? There is always a possible market for them via Ebay even if sold for spares. I've ordered a non-working Minolta XM today bought for peanuts in hope that if not repairable I might find another and they can be cannibalized.

Cheers

dunk

[mooky]

Threw it away? As in literally throwing it in the rubbish?

The R4 (not to be confused with the troubled R4mot) was a good enough camera. I used one for years without problems. I can't imagine Leica really(?) charging $770.00 for that little work.

I would choose not to have them do it and get another estimate from a reputable independent shop. The RE as well as the R4sp, and R5 and later models were and are very serviceable. I would never throw away any camera as there are plenty of parts that can be used later for someone else's repairs.

The R3 is okay, but I'd break for the R3mot instead. Threw it away? A Leica?

[martinvath]

Actually I let them keep the camera at Solms, because it would cost me 120$ just to get it send back. There must have been something other the matter with it at the high repair price, but my Leica dealer couldent tell. Instead I just found a nice R-E at 400$, which should work perfectly. Now I´m just waiting for it to arrive whith the postman:-)

[NB23]

Ah so that's a neat trick. You lose 120$ if you don't have it fixed. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!

[Ivar B]

Your dealer is charging you heavily and offers poor service. Leica charnges Euro 40 for repairs the customer declines. When a cost estimate is given, you get a detailed breakdown of all required repairs from Leica. If you send an e-mail to Customer Service, they can e-mail you a pdf of the repair estimate.

[ruiespanhol]

Originally Posted by martinvath

Just got repair offer from Solms on my R4, which I resently bought at a bargin price of 200$ incl. Summicron 35 and Elmarit 90.
Leica in Solms wants 770$ for the repair (don´t know yet exactly what they will fix for that amount, probably everything). I had hoped to get a CLA for about 250$. Do You think it is worth spending 770$ on reparing an R4, or should I just buy another camera like RE or R5?

Kind regards

Martin

Martin,

For that price you simply buy one near new R8.
If you are interested I have one like new for sale in this buy&sell section.
However if the R4 was in good condition and you like it very much search for one less expensive repair outside Leica service.

Best,

Rui

[dkpeterborough]

$770 is exorbitant ... I shopped around this morning for a service/repair to a non working Minolta XM body with 50mm f1.2 lens with a sticky diaphragm and was quoted basic service cost of £87 ... so am sending it to the repair shop .. I asked "Do you also service Leicas?" and was advised 'Yes" so also sending a Leica IIIb and an M2 for CLA's for which quoted approx £80 each ... and they are also going to look at my Rollei Heidoscop Stereo camera with a faulty diaphragm adjustment coupling ... Total cost for the everything will probably be less than £350 ie $700 (ish) for four cameras and one lens.

It is best to shop around and get quotes elsewhere before sending to manufacturers ... unless repair is so complex that a competent repairman cant do it . My Minolta XM is probably more mechanically complex than an R4.

Cheers

dunk

[ruiespanhol]

Originally Posted by dkpeterborough

$770 is exorbitant ... I shopped around this morning for a service/repair to a non working Minolta XM body with 50mm f1.2 lens with a sticky diaphragm and was quoted basic service cost of £87 ... so am sending it to the repair shop .. I asked "Do you also service Leicas?" and was advised 'Yes" so also sending a Leica IIIb and an M2 for CLA's for which quoted approx £80 each ... and they are also going to look at my Rollei Heidoscop Stereo camera with a faulty diaphragm adjustment coupling ... Total cost for the everything will probably be less than £350 ie $700 (ish) for four cameras and one lens.

It is best to shop around and get quotes elsewhere before sending to manufacturers ... unless repair is so complex that a competent repairman cant do it . My Minolta XM is probably more mechanically complex than an R4.

Cheers

dunk

My Minolta XM is probably more mechanically complex than an R4.
The R4 is for shure more complex then your Minolta XM.

[dkpeterborough]

Originally Posted by ruiespanhol

The R4 is for shure more complex then your Minolta XM.

I wrote mechanically more complex

Cheers

dunk