REPAIR SPECIALISTS

[4r36]

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Am 4.11.2021 um 11:56 schrieb MarkP:

Thanks for this. I've just been in communication with Anthony from Camera Obscura. Very impressed with the communication.  I'm just about to send my IIIf and Summitar for CLA/repair/restoration.

I looked at the Camera Works website but they are no longer accepting repairs from outside the UK. 

Same here! I'm in contact with Alexander. He's a young  guy, which I think is really good for the future of the "craft".

I'm having my M3 CLAed (unfortunately I've got pinholes in the curtains and the shutter is capping), but I also seized the occasion for installing titanium curtains and AR windows. As far as I know, in the UK (if not in all Europe) thy are the only ones who offer this (as well as recoating with enamel or cerakote) apart from camerawork-uk. Alan and James Starkie are extremely good of course, but unfortunately they do not accept orders from outside the Uk anymore, plus their waiting time is very long. 

Let's see how Alexander gets the job done. Once my camera is back, I may post a review of my experience with them!

Edited January 28, 2022 by 4r36

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[LocalHero1953]

Sadly I have been unable to get a response from Camera Obscura via his website or by direct email. I'm guessing that he is overloaded with work, but the absence of a phone number makes it difficult to find out.

Malcolm Taylor, on the other hand, only uses a phone, and he answered it this afternoon. I've sent him my II Model D and Elmar 5cm. I don't doubt it will still take some time, but it is reassuring to talk to someone (and he was very cheerful!)

[4r36]

Am 11.2.2022 um 18:00 schrieb LocalHero1953:

Sadly I have been unable to get a response from Camera Obscura via his website or by direct email. I'm guessing that he is overloaded with work, but the absence of a phone number makes it difficult to find out.

Malcolm Taylor, on the other hand, only uses a phone, and he answered it this afternoon. I've sent him my II Model D and Elmar 5cm. I don't doubt it will still take some time, but it is reassuring to talk to someone (and he was very cheerful!)

I'm in the same situation. Alexander emailed me the last time on January 13th, just to tell that the CLA and customisation were almost completed. However, I've not got any news since then. I tried to send him a couple of emails, but no response. That's strange as he usually replies quickly and, at least in theory, he's turnaround is equally fast. I hope he's just overwhelmed with work and gets back to me soon. I miss shooting with my M3...

[LocalHero1953]

15 minutes ago, 4r36 said:

I'm in the same situation. Alexander emailed me the last time on January 13th, just to tell that the CLA and customisation were almost completed. However, I've not got any news since then. I tried to send him a couple of emails, but no response. That's strange as he usually replies quickly and, at least in theory, he's turnaround is equally fast. I hope he's just overwhelmed with work and gets back to me soon. I miss shooting with my M3...

I know of one other member in the same boat.
Please let us know of the outcome. I'd be sorry to hear that a new repairer, which we so much need, is unreliable and uncommunicative.

[grahamm]

2 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I know of one other member in the same boat.
Please let us know of the outcome. I'd be sorry to hear that a new repairer, which we so much need, is unreliable and uncommunicative.

I think that I am the other member that Paul has mentioned, as we had some discussion  last week when I posted about my recent experience with Camera Obscura. I sent my 28mm elmarit for a service early in January and I too had good initial communication but also have heard nothing since 14 January. The expected completion date was 26 January, so a very similar timescale to 4r36’s. As Paul says, a new repairer who does a good job is welcome. I’m more bothered by the lack of communication than a week or two delay. I will update when I hear anything further.

 

Graham

[4r36]

vor einer Stunde schrieb grahamm:

I think that I am the other member that Paul has mentioned, as we had some discussion  last week when I posted about my recent experience with Camera Obscura. I sent my 28mm elmarit for a service early in January and I too had good initial communication but also have heard nothing since 14 January. The expected completion date was 26 January, so a very similar timescale to 4r36’s. As Paul says, a new repairer who does a good job is welcome. I’m more bothered by the lack of communication than a week or two delay. I will update when I hear anything further.

 

Graham

I'm confident Alexander will get in touch soon. If this does not happen, we might try to contact a colleague of him to make sure everything is alright. Last November Mark wrote that he was in contact with Anthony, so it's really likely that he has the latter's email:

 

Am 4.11.2021 um 11:56 schrieb MarkP:

Thanks for this. I've just been in communication with Anthony from Camera Obscura. Very impressed with the communication.  I'm just about to send my IIIf and Summitar for CLA/repair/restoration.

I looked at the Camera Works website but they are no longer accepting repairs from outside the UK. 

Edited February 14, 2022 by 4r36

[grahamm]

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11 minutes ago, 4r36 said:

I'm confident Alexander will get in touch soon. If this does not happen, we might try to contact a colleague of him to make sure everything is alright. Last November Mark wrote that he was in contact with Anthony, so it's really likely that he has the latter's email:

 

Many thanks. Hopefully it’s just a blip, but hopefully nothing sinister - accident or illness etc. Fingers crossed!

[LocalHero1953]

I received an email and booking form late last night. Alexander apologised for the lack of reply - "hands deep in cameras". Too late for me this time. Still no phone number, but the booking form at least gave an address (for the record: Camera Obscura GB, 79 Olive Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 3PX, United Kingdom - 90 mins drive for me).

He proposed similar (short) return times, so I'm still keen to hear how others get on.

Edited February 15, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[4r36]

 

vor 13 Minuten schrieb LocalHero1953:

I received an email and booking form late last night. Alexander apologised for the lack of reply - "hands deep in cameras". Too late for me this time. Still no phone number, but the booking form at least gave an address (for the record: Camera Obscura GB, 79 Olive Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 3PX, United Kingdom - 90 mins drive for me).

He proposed similar (short) return times, so I'm still keen to hear how others get on.

Good to hear that! I hope he gets back to my soon too and I'll post my review when my camera arrives. As I've already written, I'm not just getting a CLA of my M3, but also customising it with AR windows and titanium curtains.

 

The guy is young and the service is promising. The real downside is probably that he's already getting overwhelmed by work and struggles to keep things on schedule. We all know the extremely long return times of other famous repairers after all. Let's see how things evolve...

[grahamm]

14 minutes ago, 4r36 said:

 

Good to hear that! I hope he gets back to my soon too and I'll post my review when my camera arrives. As I've already written, I'm not just getting a CLA of my M3, but also customising it with AR windows and titanium curtains.

 

The guy is young and the service is promising. The real downside is probably that he's already getting overwhelmed by work and struggles to keep things on schedule. We all know the extremely long return times of other famous repairers after all. Let's see how things evolve...

I also had an email last night, my lens will be dispatched back today and should arrive tomorrow. As you say, perhaps just overwhelmed with work. Even though the turnaround time is nearly three weeks longer than the original estimate it’s still pretty rapid.

[nf3996]

I'll add a good word here for Camera Obscura too. I've used them three times over the last year or so, all for LTM body or lens services, and I've been satisfied every time. The latest was a clean and service of an old Summar lens. Total turn-around time was about five weeks, with good communication from Alex: three e-mails including an inspection report, an update on progress (with details of how to pay), and one letting me know the work was completed and the lens would be despatched to me that day. I'm a very satisfied customer.

Alan

[Fetchmycamera]

Hi all,   I just sent my Q into Leica NJ for repair and now received estimate.  I am a bit curious if anyone has had any success in getting any discount from them from estimate?

They seem to charge tax of 6% and then some shipping of $35 back to Leica store here in LA for additional $60 bucks from a $360 service for grand total $420?

Called, but only received voice mail.  (Adjust sensor, repair aperture setting, adjust autofocus, CLA.)

On the list waiting for an M11, so every penny counts!

 

 

[wlaidlaw]

9 hours ago, Fetchmycamera said:

Hi all,   I just sent my Q into Leica NJ for repair and now received estimate.  I am a bit curious if anyone has had any success in getting any discount from them from estimate?

They seem to charge tax of 6% and then some shipping of $35 back to Leica store here in LA for additional $60 bucks from a $360 service for grand total $420?

Called, but only received voice mail.  (Adjust sensor, repair aperture setting, adjust autofocus, CLA.)

On the list waiting for an M11, so every penny counts!

 

 

That is the cheapest repair quote I have seen from Leica for some years. I would just accept it. Could you ask for it to be posted direct to yourself to avoid double shipping charges? 

Wilson

[Fetchmycamera]

yup, already did! i was confused on one charge but now have to wait 5 weeks! hope they might get to it sooner. do a lot of macro and that body is sensational for macro.  cheers!

 

[qqphot]

Anyone interacted with DAG lately?  I sent him my M2 around christmas time and he hasn't acknowledged receiving it or responded to any of the monthly emails I've sent asking about it since. I haven't tried calling because I read he reacts poorly to phone calls.  I'm just trying to evaluate my chances of seeing it again.

[rfaspen]

I heard calling is better.  Just be brief and on topic, and friendly.  I was told that he can work and talk on the phone at the same time, so he can try to stay on top of his work load.  BTW, I heard that his work load is rather full.... relative to the last decade or so.

[LocalHero1953]

3 hours ago, rfaspen said:

I heard calling is better.  Just be brief and on topic, and friendly.  I was told that he can work and talk on the phone at the same time, so he can try to stay on top of his work load.  BTW, I heard that his work load is rather full.... relative to the last decade or so.

You mean full with all those people who got into film and older cameras during the pandemic and sent them off for CLA? 
Guilty as charged: I have one Barnack body and two lenses with UK repairers right now.

[LocalHero1953]

I have just received an Elmar 5cm f/3.5 back from Camera Obscura in the UK, about whom there have been a few mixed comments in this forum. He's done a good job cleaning haze (some cleaning marks, not his, remain), fixing the stiff/uneven aperture ring and cleaning/lubricating the focus thread.

It took three weeks to get a service appraisal and estimate (after a nudge from me) and five weeks to complete rather than the two weeks predicted (again after a nudge from me). Given the months-long turnaround times at other repairers, it's still a step forward! I know others have had different experiences, but I'm just feeding mine into the mix.

Edited April 25, 2022 by LocalHero1953

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[4r36]

I finally received my M3 CLAed and customised with titanium curtains and AR windows by Camera Obscura. Here a few pictures taken by Alexander during the customisation. I'll soon post my experience with them! 

 

 

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[LocalHero1953]

7 hours ago, 4r36 said:

I finally received my M3 CLAed and customised with titanium curtains and AR windows by Camera Obscura. Here a few pictures taken by Alexander during the customisation. I'll soon post my experience with them! 

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Yes, please report on the results and experience. I gave them an Elmar 5cm to clean and sort (posted earlier), a simple job, which they did fine, but I'd like to hear how they got on with something more complicated.