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MP repair in Wetzlar vs. LNJ


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My MP has started acting up. If I collapse the film advance lever and then pull it out to advance, in the travel between collapsed and it engaging the gear train, it feels gritty. As if there's a series of low-grade roundish detents it's traveling through. Also, in a recent trip, on advancing there was a few times it felt like it jumped a gear tooth. It still has the last roll in it so I won't have any visual evidence of frame spacing until later today. When purchased it had a total of five years on warranty and I had thought I would have it 'looked at' before that ran out. Now it appears I have a real reason and I'd like to send it home to the mother ship.

 

Has anyone any experience or any special hints for doing this? I'm not really concerned (well, maybe a little) with Leica New Jersey's work except that it will take just as long as Wetzlar so, why not? Or am I being foolish here? I have a Repair_Form_USA.pdf for Allendale ready to go.

 

Best,

s-a

 

Edit: I am in the US

Edited by semi-ambivalent
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Semi-ambivalent,   I have many years of experience with Leica NJ, especially these last 3 years, my repairs experiences were disaster(s).  There are several threads about Leica NJ repair "service" or the lack thereof.  Some people are what I consider lucky and had success with their repair, others like me, by-pass NJ and ship all my warranty repairs to Wetzlar direct.  Your camera sounds like it is still under warranty.  I would contact Leica Customer Care at Wetzlar and tell them you want them to service your camera.  They should email you the shipping label and instructions.  This is free as well for warranty work.  Be sure to enclose a copy of your receipt and letter explaining the issue.  There is also a Leica repair form on their website.  As for Leica NJ, the repair organization has struggled for the last 3 years with their management and getting their technicians qualified.  I personally know Leica Germany has sent their repair teams 8 times to NJ to help clear the backlogs and train the technicians.   I no longer send anything to NJ for repair when I am back in the US.  In Australia, its a totally different story.  Leica Australia has an excellent staff in Melbourne.  I just pick up the phone and call and talk direct with a lady who handles all their repair traffic. The Leica certified repair facility is Camera Clinic in Melbourne.   It goes to the facility first, if Camera Clinic can't repair the item, it goes to Wetzlar via Leica Australia.  In both cases, I can't say enough good things about them or Wetzlar Customer Care.  When your camera goes out of USA warranty, I most highly recommend using DAG.  Don Goldberg does excellent, fast service at a very fair price.  Last, the long pole in the tent, is German Customs.  Items going to Germany will sit for 10 business days in Customs at Wetzlar waiting clearance...no joke.  Just the way it works there.  You have options, but IMO, Leica NJ is not the best one.   r/ Mark

Edited by LeicaR10
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Semi-ambivalent,   I have many years of experience with Leica NJ, especially these last 3 years, my repairs experiences were disaster(s).  There are several threads about Leica NJ repair "service" or the lack thereof.  Some people are what I consider lucky and had success with their repair, others like me, by-pass NJ and ship all my warranty repairs to Wetzlar direct.  Your camera sounds like it is still under warranty.  I would contact Leica Customer Care at Wetzlar and tell them you want them to service your camera.  They should email you the shipping label and instructions.  This is free as well for warranty work.  Be sure to enclose a copy of your receipt and letter explaining the issue.  There is also a Leica repair form on their website.  As for Leica NJ, the repair organization has struggled for the last 3 years with their management and getting their technicians qualified.  I personally know Leica Germany has sent their repair teams 8 times to NJ to help clear the backlogs and train the technicians.   I no longer send anything to NJ for repair when I am back in the US.  In Australia, its a totally different story.  Leica Australia has an excellent staff in Melbourne.  I just pick up the phone and call and talk direct with a lady who handles all their repair traffic. The Leica certified repair facility is Camera Clinic in Melbourne.   It goes to the facility first, if Camera Clinic can't repair the item, it goes to Wetzlar via Leica Australia.  In both cases, I can't say enough good things about them or Wetzlar Customer Care.  When your camera goes out of USA warranty, I most highly recommend using DAG.  Don Goldberg does excellent, fast service at a very fair price.  Last, the long pole in the tent, is German Customs.  Items going to Germany will sit for 10 business days in Customs at Wetzlar waiting clearance...no joke.  Just the way it works there.  You have options, but IMO, Leica NJ is not the best one.   r/ Mark

Thank you Mark for the reply.

 

To have my camera just sitting in Wetzlar customs for ten days is not much different than ten days in a repair queue. In the meantime I have an M3 that's a joy to use. The camera's warranty is three years for the MP "from Leica" and two additional years from the Passport program. I've never been clear if Passport was from Leica or Leica USA and if that affected to whom I had to go for warranty work in the last two years . If I recall my Capital One credit card also threw on a blanket one year extension to "the item's warranty" just because they wanted me to like them.

 

This has been a great camera until this blip. When advancing, when the advance lever does its little slip the curtain stops advancing too and I have to do some more throw on the lever of varying length to get the curtain ends across the gate, like it's trying to become a double stroke. Frame spacing looks nice and regular. I was considering sending it in anyway and had contacted Leica NJ because it still feels a little too rough after several hundred rolls although comparing it to my M3 is cruel.

 

I'll contact Wetzlar since, if they can not get it right the first time (for free?), who can? There's also a bit of the romantic in that Wetzlar is my MP's "home", despite the Portugal business. :) Yes, Don is a superb tech and I have an email to him now because I keep breaking my 50 V4 Summicron's focus tab.

 

Thanks to the detailed reply.

 

Reed

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I’ve had mixed results from Leica US since the 1970s, but did send my M9 to them for sensor replacement, and while it took some months without any response to status requests, the end result was fine. I would still try them with warranty work, but depending on the issue have also just sent things to DAG for faster and reliable results.

I’m not sure Leica NJ even services film bodies anymore, or if they contract them out.

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I’ve had mixed results from Leica US since the 1970s, but did send my M9 to them for sensor replacement, and while it took some months without any response to status requests, the end result was fine. I would still try them with warranty work, but depending on the issue have also just sent things to DAG for faster and reliable results.

I’m not sure Leica NJ even services film bodies anymore, or if they contract them out.

I have email to Wetzlar. Hoping it goes to this guy

My grandfather had the same kind of moustache.

 

thx

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It might if he's still there. Last I heard, there's only the one technician left servicing film cameras at Wetzlar.

 

It will be interesting to get the facts at a factory visit, as this may be a part truth. I think it was made by a German talking in english, and I took it as only one technician is assigned to repairing film cameras, not only one technician trained to build and repair the film  cameras. I suspect the majority of film cameras go to independants for CLA work, so maybe the volume of work only warrants one technician.

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It might if he's still there. Last I heard, there's only the one technician left servicing film cameras at Wetzlar.

Good! I can trust my camera to a guy like that. In the meantime I have been emailing a contact at Leica, Wetzlar about having my camera worked on there. A reply asked for various and sundry information to prove I was entitled to Passport Service. This was submitted to Wetzlar who then forwarded it to Leica USA, who then replied to Wetzlar who then replied to me that I was not entitled because Passport was for three years and my MP, having been sold on 19 November, 2013, was well beyond three years. So, fine. Where did my other two years go? Who is responsible for those?

 

If one goes to Adorama's site and pulls up the MP one will see it's being sold with a five year warranty (3+2), the same as when I bought my camera. I brought this to the contact's attention because their reply did not specifically state work they did on my camera would be covered under a two year warranty from Leica, Wetzlar, only that if I wanted to ship it to them in Germany for repair I was welcome to do so. I have as yet not received a reply.

 

It looks like I had it backwards; assuming Leica the manufacturer's warranty would be first in line (two years) and then Passport via Leica USA, the importer (three years) would take over; 2+3 when it's actually 3+2. Passport goes and expires first. Definitely for the best. I recall it being pretty broad in coverage, like drops and maybe even theft and water damage (but don't quote me on those). If the sale didn't have Passport then Leica's two year warranty would have been in effect and I would be out of luck right now, two years having long passed as well.

 

I'll know when my contact replies. I'm more than happy to send the camera to Germany, even with the shipping costs, insurance, and layover in Customs, just to get the skill and blessings of one such as Herr Merz.

Edited by semi-ambivalent
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As I recall, a Leica Passport warranty covers more than just manufacturing defects as covered by the factory warranty, and so is not like a warranty extension, but both begin when the original sale takes place. So a 3-year Passport covers additional issues, but only lasts a year longer than the 2-year factory. Most countries no longer offer a Leica Passport, but the factory warranty applies wherever the camera was sold.

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As I recall, a Leica Passport warranty covers more than just manufacturing defects as covered by the factory warranty, and so is not like a warranty extension, but both begin when the original sale takes place. So a 3-year Passport covers additional issues, but only lasts a year longer than the 2-year factory. Most countries no longer offer a Leica Passport, but the factory warranty applies wherever the camera was sold.

 

You are correct - Passport cover for accidental damage ended in the UK a few years back. You are also correct, it was not a Warranty extension, and ran in parallel with the Warranty. Stating the obvious, they covered different things.

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You are correct - Passport cover for accidental damage ended in the UK a few years back. You are also correct, it was not a Warranty extension, and ran in parallel with the Warranty. Stating the obvious, they covered different things.

All I can add is this, from a couple minutes ago:

 

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

 

That's why I want an answer from the horse's mouth in Wetzlar.

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Semi-ambivalent,   I have many years of experience with Leica NJ, especially these last 3 years, my repairs experiences were disaster(s).  There are several threads about Leica NJ repair "service" or the lack thereof.  Some people are what I consider lucky and had success with their repair, others like me, by-pass NJ and ship all my warranty repairs to Wetzlar direct.  Your camera sounds like it is still under warranty.  I would contact Leica Customer Care at Wetzlar and tell them you want them to service your camera.  They should email you the shipping label and instructions.  This is free as well for warranty work.  Be sure to enclose a copy of your receipt and letter explaining the issue.  There is also a Leica repair form on their website.  As for Leica NJ, the repair organization has struggled for the last 3 years with their management and getting their technicians qualified.  I personally know Leica Germany has sent their repair teams 8 times to NJ to help clear the backlogs and train the technicians.   I no longer send anything to NJ for repair when I am back in the US.  In Australia, its a totally different story.  Leica Australia has an excellent staff in Melbourne.  I just pick up the phone and call and talk direct with a lady who handles all their repair traffic. The Leica certified repair facility is Camera Clinic in Melbourne.   It goes to the facility first, if Camera Clinic can't repair the item, it goes to Wetzlar via Leica Australia.  In both cases, I can't say enough good things about them or Wetzlar Customer Care.  When your camera goes out of USA warranty, I most highly recommend using DAG.  Don Goldberg does excellent, fast service at a very fair price.  Last, the long pole in the tent, is German Customs.  Items going to Germany will sit for 10 business days in Customs at Wetzlar waiting clearance...no joke.  Just the way it works there.  You have options, but IMO, Leica NJ is not the best one.   r/ Mark

 

@semi-ambivalent,

Given the above commentary by Mark, I would not send anything to Leica NJ.  He is not the only one who has had terrible and infuriating incidents due to Leica NJ's obvious total lack of competence and professionalism. 

 

If your film MP is still under warranty, send it to Wetzlar.  If not, send it to either Sherry Krauter, Don Goldberg (DAG) or Youxin Ye.  While all three each have their adherents and disciples, each is said to do outstanding work. 

 

I have had Sherry Krauter work on my film M cameras (she doesn't work on digital M cameras last I heard) and have been quite happy with her work; she has a lifetime of experience at repairing M cameras. She is a very old school kind of gal and can be a little on the gruff side at times.  She is not everyone's cup of tea (she doesn't cater to people's egos or suffer fools gracefully) but she has clients send her their M cameras and lenses from all over the world; that says something about the quality of her work IMHO.

 

You have several excellent options available to you - best of luck with your MP.

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I will also report that Leica NJ repair "service" has indeed become awful, gone are the days of any timely work. I had an MP that needed a repair to the frame counter last year. NJ quoted me 12 weeks. I sent the camera to DAG and he turned it around the same day, and also did some other minor adjustments while the camera was on the bench. I hadn't asked for a rush service, only that the camera be ready within a months time for a trip. 

 

Another camera came back from a "redesign" after 5 months with the yellow infill paint on the shutter speed dial changed to red. When I requested the yellow I was told to send the camera back. The paint had to be ordered from Germany, but was not delivered. Instead, they waited till their single film body tech was going to Germany and he brought the paint back in his bag. This took four more months. The entire process for this camera took ten days short of a year from my initial emails (which went ignored) to the camera being returned to me.

 

If you do ship to Germany, be sure to get the proper paperwork for customs. The process is extremely confusing regarding repairs going into Germany, if you do not have all the paperwork in order you may be charged fees when the camera returns. Leica in Germany can point you to the correct forms and the correct codes for filling them out.

 

Also, beware of DHL for return shipment - they have stopped delivering in the US and become simply a duty collecting service, which they charge for. A recent piece from Japan I had coming in was held by DHL until I paid duty (which was absolutely not owed) plus a fee to DHL for collecting said duty, which was nearly 50% of the duty. No other option other than to refuse the item which would not be returned to the sender. They now hold items for several days in their facility, then hand them off to the USPS.

Edited by sepiareverb
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