New to Leicaflex and a couple of questions

[fiddlefye]

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Longtime M3/IIIf user, but new to the Leica reflex world and the forum in general. Recently I had a couple of lovely '70s Leicaflexes (a SL and a SL-2) come into my life. I am planning on getting them completely restored and have a couple of questions related to that.

 

Both are in lovely cosmetic condition, neither has issues with shutter etc. The meters will remain unknown until I get the battery situation converted and adjusted. The SL-2 looks like it could perhaps use a new prism and the SL has the original red plastic lens removal tab. I have read bits and pieces in articles which mention sources for these parts, but I'm wondering if anyone could tell me where exactly to purchase them? I have an excellent and experienced tech to do the work, but I know that if I can tell him "contact ______ for a prism" and "______ for a metal tab" his enthusiasm for the project will rise!

 

Here is the SL-2 in company with my beat-up old Nikon F2s - lovely thing, isn't it?

DSC_8747 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

[TomB_tx]

I bought my SL in 1969, and it still has the red plastic lens lock, so if it hasn't cracked don't replace it just because its the old style.

I also have an SL2 50-year model like yours, which seems to be all original and working well.

The prisms can have spots de-silver from contact with plastics in the camera, and I haven't heard of a source for parts. I believe DAG (my preferred Leica tech) used to have a source to get them re-silvered, but I don't know it that is still possible. Sherry Krauter still services a lot of these models, so you might check with her.

[fiddlefye]

I bought my SL in 1969, and it still has the red plastic lens lock, so if it hasn't cracked don't replace it just because its the old style.

I also have an SL2 50-year model like yours, which seems to be all original and working well.

The prisms can have spots de-silver from contact with plastics in the camera, and I haven't heard of a source for parts. I believe DAG (my preferred Leica tech) used to have a source to get them re-silvered, but I don't know it that is still possible. Sherry Krauter still services a lot of these models, so you might check with her.

Thanks for the advice. I'm really looking forward to getting both bodies gone through and up to snuff. Your SL is the same year as the one I have (I think) -  SN 1197961. I looked in the listings and that seemed to imply 1969, though it also said it should be a black body and mine is chrome.

 

I've seen mention of DAG and Sherry Krauter in various posts I've read, but couldn't remember where I'd seen the information. I guess I should write things down! The threads weren't all that ancient, so maybe there is hope of a replacement prism if needed. My tech locally is going to have complete go-through of them both and then we will see where they're at. Shutters etc. seem to be working perfectly, though whenever I take a camera in they always seem to need a little touch-up here and there.

 

Very impressed so far and thinking "I wonder where you've been all my life?".

[fiddlefye]

The two of them together:DSC_8813 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Fiddlefye,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You might also contact Kinderman in Markham, Ontario. Not that far from you.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[fiddlefye]

Hello Fiddlefye,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You might also contact Kinderman in Markham, Ontario. Not that far from you.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Ah yes, Kinderman! I had completely forgotten about them. Thanks for reminding me. I recall having had some dealings with them back in the 80s, maybe to do with German-made projectors?

 

I am really looking forward to these lovely creatures having a proper service and putting them to work as they were meant to. Amazing how much the two models are alike at first glance, yet so different in reality.