Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I had a bicycle crash last week while carrying my Summilux 80 and it left it with a slight slop in the barrel.

Its not very severe and test shots show the lens to still be sharp and i cant see any difference from before imaging wise.

But its annoying when focusing as the lens moves just a couple of degrees in its mount when changing focus direction.

Anyone know if its still possible to get this sorted by Leica? No glass was damaged, i suspect its just a matter of the lens needing partial reassembly.

I bought the lens years ago for a bargain price (about 1000 euros) and seeing the sales prices of good copies it might still make financially sense to get it repaired, so anyone know what kind of price to expect from Leica if they still will service it?

 

Thanks!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I wouldn’t see why not. If you’d ask for replacement of glass parts, it would be a question, but if it’s just the mechanic it shouldn’t be a problem. 

Edited by otto.f
Link to post
Share on other sites

My last experience is that if Leica doesn’t have the spare parts that could (hypothetically) be damaged during the dismantling of the lens, they will not touch it.

Even tighten a single screw. It happened to me. 

The 80/1,4 was made till the end of the R life, they may have the spare parts. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Call Leica and ask them if they can service the lens. If they cannot, contact DAG and ask him... He'll often service a lot of things that Leica can't handle any more for policy reasons.

Oftentimes I contact DAG first. :)

DAG Camera Repair - dagcam@chorus.net

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had 4x R-lenses serviced by DAG last year.  He does excellent work, but you better not be in a hurry. We're talking turn-around times of @ 2 months.

On 6/1/2019 at 7:42 PM, Gobert said:

Wil van Manen in The Netherlands

What are his turn-around times like?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I always ask DAG what his turnaround will be, and if I have a need that's more pressing, ask if he can get closer to that. He's usually accommodating, but I wouldn't make make a persistent habit of doing that. For the quality of the work I get from him, I'm willing to wait ... and I only very rarely have pressing needs. :D

Link to post
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, AZN said:

I had 4x R-lenses serviced by DAG last year.  He does excellent work, but you better not be in a hurry. We're talking turn-around times of @ 2 months.

What are his turn-around times like?

Mostly maximum 3 weeks, but if you ask he can finish it sooner sometimes, just depends on other clients in need of speed and the complexity of the job. 

Edited by otto.f
Link to post
Share on other sites

His website is https://www.kamera-service.info/index.php/en/ for more info

I’ve used Wil a number of times and he is always very fast (and reasonably priced). In fact one time I dropped the lens off in the morning on the way to work, and he called me the same day to say it was repaired so I could collect it on the way home :)

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I have been told by someone at the LHSA that Leica NJ is still servicing R cameras and lenses and carry spare parts. I have my reservations over this info, given that Wetzlar have sold off all their reflex spare parts and have stopped all R service but I have put in an order via the Leica dealer in Baltimore, for an R9 battery compartment door and we will see. The OP does not say where he is based to make some other possible suggestions as to service. 

Wilson

Link to post
Share on other sites

A month ago, I bought an R9 from Leica Store SoHo and within a week, the mode selector dial failed. They sent it into Leica NJ and were told that they’re no longer repairing them because they have no parts in stock. Doesn’t bode well for the lenses. Recently had DAG do a CLA on an 35 R Summicron I bought and he did the work. I believe he has a stock of all sorts of things that are no longer available through Leica. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, james.liam said:

A month ago, I bought an R9 from Leica Store SoHo and within a week, the mode selector dial failed. They sent it into Leica NJ and were told that they’re no longer repairing them because they have no parts in stock. Doesn’t bode well for the lenses. Recently had DAG do a CLA on an 35 R Summicron I bought and he did the work. I believe he has a stock of all sorts of things that are no longer available through Leica. 

James, 

I suspected that information from the LHSA about Leica NJ was wrong. I acquired a free R4 a few months ago, which was not working. On taking the top off I found the mode selector switch and the EV compensation switch had dirty and corroded contacts. I cleaned those and all sprang back to life. I wonder if your R 9 might have the same fault. If it has been used by a right eye shooter, this switch on the R9 will have been breathed over for the last 10 to 20 years. 

Wilson

  • Thanks 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

On 6/7/2019 at 2:45 PM, wlaidlaw said:

The OP does not say where he is based to make some other possible suggestions as to service.  

Wilson 

 

I'm in Finland, so Leica service or Wil are both as 'local' as it gets.

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Locutus said:

 

I'm in Finland, so Leica service or Wil are both as 'local' as it gets.

 

Your other alternative would be Alan Starkie at Cameraworks-UK.com. Alan has done some excellent work for me over the years and his charges are very reasonable. He restored the 5cm/f2.5 Hektor that has been in our family from new in 1934. It was looking very second hand, with a very scratched and cloudy front element and yellowed chrome but after Alan's ministrations, it looks almost like new. The downside is that I know Alan and his son are a bit back-logged with work at the moment. He has two of my M's (M3 and M4-P) and an M4-2 Motor drive with him at the moment and I don't expect to see them back before September/October. 

Wilson

PS It might have been better if I had blown the dust and bits of fluff (the two white marks) off the lens before taking its photograph ☺️

 

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!

Edited by wlaidlaw
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...