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6 Bit Coding + Adjustment, Wetzlar


Letin

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Hi I have 4 legacy M lenses that I wish to send in for 6 bit coding and 2 of which need adjustments. Since I live in Canada, it doesn't matter if I shipped my lenses to Wetzlar or New Jersey I'm still paying international shipping fees.

 

after some research on the forum, few users suggested filling out the Proforma form and send it over to Wetzlar for faster turn around time.

 

http://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Repair-Maintenance

 

Can you share your experience and what you need to do before sending your M lenses to Germany (or NJ) for repair and 6 bit coding?

 

Many thanks!

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I sent a 1980’s Canadian 90mm f2 Summicron to NJ a couple of years ago for 6 bit coding and whatever other adjustments they needed to make. Relatively (several weeks) turn around and around $350.

 

Later I sent a 21mm f2.8 Elmarit ASPH to Don Goldberg, who did the same thing, same factory parts, for about half the cost.

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I sent a 1980’s Canadian 90mm f2 Summicron to NJ a couple of years ago for 6 bit coding and whatever other adjustments they needed to make. Relatively (several weeks) turn around and around $350.

 

Later I sent a 21mm f2.8 Elmarit ASPH to Don Goldberg, who did the same thing, same factory parts, for about half the cost.

 

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences with NJ Leica, I'm still waiting for them to reply via email inquiries. maybe I should try contacting Don since you had positive experiences with him at lower cost

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I don't know about Wetzlar, but if it helps you gauge turn-around times, I recently had my 75 Lux adjusted and 6-bit coded in New Jersey. Mine was shimmed for digital and coded; it took 6 weeks, almost to the day. 

 

Thanks, 6 weeks is not as bad as I thought. like mentioned above I sent them an email and waiting for reply. It's convenient to a service centre in the states for you folks because shipping it out to the states and return has its risks of duties when crossing the border.

 

How much did it cost you for the service at NJ?

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I'm sending my M262 in for a general service soon and plan to bypass NJ for Wetzlar.

 

Good move. 

 

For U.S. customers, I believe that if you want Wetzlar to handle any service request, you have to contact them directly. If you go through a dealer, my understanding is that they have to send to NJ first. If the folks in NJ can't perform whatever the service happens to be, they will then move it on to Wetzlar. 

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Letin,  My years of experience with Leica NJ and Wetzlar are like night and day.  I most highly recommend you call Don Goldberg at DAG for an estimate and he will do the coding and adjustment for a lot less money and it will be done correctly versus sending it to Leica NJ.  An example, about two years ago, I sent a like-new 90mm Elmarit that needed coding to Leica NJ and it was literally misplaced for 10 months.  It took personal intervention by Stefan Daniel and direct intervention by the President, Leica USA to get the repair staff to first find my lens and then it came back worse than when it for a simple CLA and coding.  The focus barrel came back binding and glass dirty inside.  It went back for a "redo" and that took two more months only to have another intervention by the shipping Leica dealer who found out it was done but Leica NJ forgot to ship it.  My rule of thumb now:  If its a warranty item, it goes directly to Wetzlar.  I call Wetzlar Customer Care or email them and they send me the shipping label and arrangements are made for pickup.  It will sit in German Customs for 10 business days no matter what, but at least the warranty work will be done right.  Out of warranty, I call Don Goldberg at DAG, explain the problem, let him know how soon I need it back and then ship it to him.  Don is great.  https://www.dagcamera.com  Hope this helps.  r/ Mark

 

For Eujin,  You are correct.  r/ Mark

Edited by LeicaR10
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Good move. 

 

For U.S. customers, I believe that if you want Wetzlar to handle any service request, you have to contact them directly. If you go through a dealer, my understanding is that they have to send to NJ first. If the folks in NJ can't perform whatever the service happens to be, they will then move it on to Wetzlar. 

 

How do we contact them directly? via phone? because last time I sent an email it was being forwarded to NJ

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Letin,  My years of experience with Leica NJ and Wetzlar are like night and day.  I most highly recommend you call Don Goldberg at DAG for an estimate and he will do the coding and adjustment for a lot less money and it will be done correctly versus sending it to Leica NJ.  An example, about two years ago, I sent a like-new 90mm Elmarit that needed coding to Leica NJ and it was literally misplaced for 10 months.  It took personal intervention by Stefan Daniel and direct intervention by the President, Leica USA to get the repair staff to first find my lens and then it came back worse than when it for a simple CLA and coding.  The focus barrel came back binding and glass dirty inside.  It went back for a "redo" and that took two more months only to have another intervention by the shipping Leica dealer who found out it was done but Leica NJ forgot to ship it.  My rule of thumb now:  If its a warranty item, it goes directly to Wetzlar.  I call Wetzlar Customer Care or email them and they send me the shipping label and arrangements are made for pickup.  It will sit in German Customs for 10 business days no matter what, but at least the warranty work will be done right.  Out of warranty, I call Don Goldberg at DAG, explain the problem, let him know how soon I need it back and then ship it to him.  Don is great.  https://www.dagcamera.com  Hope this helps.  r/ Mark

 

For Eujin,  You are correct.  r/ Mark

 

LeicaR10, thank you for sharing your experience, it definitely draws a clearer picture for me of what I'm going to expect when I send my lenses out for coding and adjustments. Sorry to hear about your 90mm Elmarit, was it the Elmarit-M or earlier models? I have an Elmarit-M in great condition but my tele-elmarits aperture ring is extremely loose.

 

Thanks for your suggestion, it totally makes sense to send warranty items to Wetzlar and ones out of warranty to 3rd party reputable serviceman like Don Goldberg. I wish there were one in Canada so I can avoid unnecessary duties and hassles all together but my options are more limited. Thanks again for your great advice.

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Letin,  The 90 Elmarit was a late model only it was not coded.  It looked brand new when I got it.  Unfortunately, Leica NJ messed it up as I explained earlier.  I am certain if you call Don, he will tell you how to ship the lens to him and appropriate wording for Customs.  I always write on the Customs label, "For Repair, Vintage, Broken, Metal and Glass Camera Lens" and eBay value or what I think is the value of a broken lens or camera.  Of course, it is the truth too, in case Customs cares to check.  I have never paid duty on broken items shipped internationally for repair to Leica Wetzlar.  Don would know how your vintage repaired lenses would ship back to you in Canada Customs wise.  Just so you know, items manufactured and marked as "Made in Canada" or "Made in Germany" do not pay duty if being returned to country of origin for repair. The easiest thing to do IMO, is simply call Don and ask about shipping to and from Canada when you also ask for the repair estimate.  Hope this helps.  r/ Mark 

Edited by LeicaR10
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A "Pro Forma" invoice will simplify customs processing at the receiving end. That is why they need it. In practice you can enter any value you like, I find.

I have never used Leica in the US, but I have sent quite a few lenses and cameras to Solms and now Wetzlar. In every single case the quality of the work performed has been of the highest order, but they know how to charge you for it.

Actually, in my last order, they didn`t. This was a 2.0/28mm Summicron-M which was a few years old, and despite careful use it developed quite some play in the mount. It was returned to me free of charge, in a better condition than it had ever been.

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I had a an Elmarit 90/2 late model and a Summilux 35/1.4 Asph. 6 bit coded by Will Van Manen at Kamera-Service in two week and a very reasonable cost (at the time was both at 100 €, but it's almost 6 years ago). The work was very accurate.

Edited by epand56
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Letin,  The 90 Elmarit was a late model only it was not coded.  It looked brand new when I got it.  Unfortunately, Leica NJ messed it up as I explained earlier.  I am certain if you call Don, he will tell you how to ship the lens to him and appropriate wording for Customs.  I always write on the Customs label, "For Repair, Vintage, Broken, Metal and Glass Camera Lens" and eBay value or what I think is the value of a broken lens or camera.  Of course, it is the truth too, in case Customs cares to check.  I have never paid duty on broken items shipped internationally for repair to Leica Wetzlar.  Don would know how your vintage repaired lenses would ship back to you in Canada Customs wise.  Just so you know, items manufactured and marked as "Made in Canada" or "Made in Germany" do not pay duty if being returned to country of origin for repair. The easiest thing to do IMO, is simply call Don and ask about shipping to and from Canada when you also ask for the repair estimate.  Hope this helps.  r/ Mark 

 

That's really good practice, writing the purpose of the the shipment on the custom label. Thanks! The truth is, now having learned both Wetzlar and Don are highly spoken of, I'd like to try both and see for myself through the experience.

 

AND, I didn't think of products marked "Canada" or "Germany" as their origins would exempt the duties in my case! Guess I'm lucky because that's where all these gear were made!

 

Didn't mean to sidetrack, how did you like the 90 Elmarit? I just recently acquired mine (planning to send my old tele-elmarit for service) in pristine condition at a reasonable cost, 6 bit coded. it has quickly become one of my favourites. The construction and image quality are incredible!

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