AnakChan Posted April 20, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 20, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm going through re-vamping/refurbishing my M7 (getting it engraved, leather re-wrapped, MP-styled winder, fame selector, lens release), and asked if I could switch to the à la carte M7 top plate without the logo. It seems that is not available for existing M7 upgrades, but only for new à la carte M7 purchases, or at least this is what I'm told by the local Leica store. Has anyone successfully gotten Solms to upgrade their standard M7 top to a non-logo à la carte top plate? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 20, 2015 Posted April 20, 2015 Hi AnakChan, Take a look here Leica à la carte M7 top plate not an option for upgrading existing M7?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
PCR Posted April 23, 2015 Share #2 Posted April 23, 2015 Hello, it would cost about 360€ the last time i asked Leica. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted April 23, 2015 PCR, Thank you for your reply. Oh so the Leica dealer you talked to did allow swapping of an existing M7 top plate with an à la carte version. Which Leica dealer was that?? Cos my Leica dealer informs me Solms says "No". Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madNbad Posted April 23, 2015 Share #4 Posted April 23, 2015 It is best if you contact Customer Service at the headquarters in Wetzlar. You can access a repair form through the Leica website and send them a request for information about what you have in mind for changes and upgrades. They will also give you a price quote which may determine if you still want the changes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted April 24, 2015 Cheers. I never thought of going to Leica directly and thought I had to go through the local distributor. My camera's with Leica already. I'll dig up my serial number and may reach out to their HQ in Wetzlar directly. Thks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted May 24, 2015 Just a follow up on this. Thank you for the tip guys. After contacting Wetzlar directly the option is available. I hooked up my Leica Ginza contact to the chap in Wetlzar and all is good now. Thank you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGirton Posted May 24, 2015 Share #7 Posted May 24, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am very interested in this, so you can indeed get the M7 top plate replaced by another one directly in Wetzlar? I want the top plate without any engravings / logos and maybe the M3 winder. Did they state a price? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted May 24, 2015 I'm having mine done via Leica Ginza who's sending it to Wetzlar. Initially Leica Ginza said it couldn't be done. As recommended by others here on the thread, I contacted Wetzlar directly. When they confirmed it could be done, I reached out to Leica Ginza again (since I had already sent my camera to them for other work to be done). Note that the pricing I'm providing below are Leica Ginza's pricing (they cover shipping + insurance, import/export taxes, their management fees, etc.) Japan GST incl :-¥71,280 - plain (non logo) top plate ¥64,800 - engraving¥87,480 - re-leather ¥36,720 - M3 (MP?) styled winder, lens lock/release, frame selector 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGirton Posted May 26, 2015 Share #9 Posted May 26, 2015 Thanks for the info! I contacted the technician I had contact to in the past and will see what the prices are when I send my M7 in directly and in euros. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted June 20, 2015 Share #10 Posted June 20, 2015 Would be interesting to see how it looks when done. I'm having mine done via Leica Ginza who's sending it to Wetzlar. Initially Leica Ginza said it couldn't be done. As recommended by others here on the thread, I contacted Wetzlar directly. When they confirmed it could be done, I reached out to Leica Ginza again (since I had already sent my camera to them for other work to be done). Note that the pricing I'm providing below are Leica Ginza's pricing (they cover shipping + insurance, import/export taxes, their management fees, etc.) Japan GST incl :-¥71,280 - plain (non logo) top plate ¥64,800 - engraving¥87,480 - re-leather ¥36,720 - M3 (MP?) styled winder, lens lock/release, frame selector Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGirton Posted June 23, 2015 Share #11 Posted June 23, 2015 Mine is in Wetzlar since 7 days being rebuild. Will post pics once it's back. The technician I talked to said it will take a maximum of 8 weeks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ah_J Posted June 24, 2015 Share #12 Posted June 24, 2015 re-leather costs more than engraving ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted June 24, 2015 Share #13 Posted June 24, 2015 re-leather costs more than engraving ??? Maybe it's the 're-' part; hand-labor intensive. Engraving is probably just some CNC-ing in a jig. (Yeah, that's an over-simplification.) s-a Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGirton Posted June 24, 2015 Share #14 Posted June 24, 2015 Yes, re-leathering isn't as easy as it sounds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share #15 Posted September 5, 2015 A little update to this thread. I finally got my M7 back from Solms...it was around 5-6 months. The work cost me ¥260,280 (USD$2188) for the engraving, top-plate replacement, MP-styled levers, re-leather, DX reading to optical (this is free). Somewhat pricey but I'm very happy with the workmanship. This is dedicated to my dad who passed last year, so I had his signature engraved. 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! 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/243935-leica-%C3%A0-la-carte-m7-top-plate-not-an-option-for-upgrading-existing-m7/?do=findComment&comment=2882758'>More sharing options...
rirakuma Posted September 5, 2015 Share #16 Posted September 5, 2015 Beautiful, it looks unique with the signature but those costs sure is an eye opener 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnakChan Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted September 5, 2015 Thanks . I would never do this on a digital Leica. I gathered that although the M7 isn't necessarily the most popular of the film series, it was a keeper in my Leica collection - so may as well engrave on that one which can be a hand-me-down to my kids and hopefully they'll remember their grandfather.Leica Japan is a shocker. I think if I had done this in Solms directly it would have been cheaper. However, Leica Japan doesn't just broker the work done but handled the shipment, taxes, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinchers of peril Posted September 8, 2015 Share #18 Posted September 8, 2015 Wow that looks great! What an awesome way to honor your dad. That camera is going to be something really special to be passed down each generation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 6, 2015 Share #19 Posted October 6, 2015 I'm usually not into signatures on cameras, but your's is so beutifully done, both in looks and with the story behind. A good way to remember your father. Quick question: Where did the serial number disappear off to? When I had the top plate changed on my then black chrome M7, they kept the serial number on the hot shoe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted October 6, 2015 Share #20 Posted October 6, 2015 Quick question: Where did the serial number disappear off to? Photoshopped out, I'd imagine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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