Need help understanding Leica service for my Summilux 35 FLE

[vikag]

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Hi so I recently sent in my Summilux 35 FLE,  M10 body along with the Noctilux-M for calibration. For the Summilux 35 FLE specifically the Leica NJ service Center is quoting $600 in repair work. They list the following:

adjust lens hood

fix aperture ring

repair focusing

repair all function
 

To my the lens hood and other stuff wasn’t an issue to begin with. I just wanted them to ensure calibration of my lenses and camera. So when I emailed back asking more clarification they emailed back this:

“The notes from the technician, after inspecting your lens, shows they need to repair your loose leaf guide and do the following:

adjust lens hood

fix aperture ring

repair focusing

repair all function

I see that it is listed as an NEC-EST and not as a “recommended” repair so the technician has found this to be wrong with the lens.”

What is loose leave guide? And what is NEC-EST? Am I overpaying NJ for this? Can anyone please help me with this. 

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[pedaes]

I think with Leica, as with Rolex and other 'elite' brands, they will not do a part service. If they find a issue they will only take on a repair if they can return it in a fully refurbished condition.

It's 'leaf', not 'leave', and I would guess the aperture blades.

Edited November 30, 2021 by pedaes

[jaeger]

2 hours ago, vikag said:

Leica NJ service Center

Read those google reviews, they're real.  P.S. those 3,4,5 stars are not M models, those 1 or 2 star reviews are for M.

[labyrinth]

I dismantled my fle to relube, there are just few screws that can get loose with time and may need tightening. It takes about 15 minutes to take it apart and tighten all screws (no special tools required except the rubber o-ring to unscrew the nameplate and a screwdriver to take the rest of the lens apart removing optical group from mechanical helicoid). 

ps. leaf guide is just another screw)

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by labyrinth
additional information

[AndreasG]

Could you show this step by step with some photos, or is there any link available?

[labyrinth]

This is what you get when you remove the nameplate. Those three screws tighten the press ring which allows (when loose) the front part rotate together with the hood. People sometimes experience their' fle hood rotate when they try to remove the filter. You need to tighten those to fix the problem.

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Here is the leaf guide sitting underneath the aperture ring

Edited December 1, 2021 by labyrinth
photo update

[LeicaR10]

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Vikag,   If your M lenses are not in warranty and this sounds like the case, I would not let Leica NJ work on your lenses.  For warranty work, fine.  I most highly recommend you ask Leica to return your lenses.  Then send them to Don Goldberg at DAG Camera.  www.dagcamera.com   Don does outstanding work on M equipment.  He has repaired many forum members M and R gear over the decades.  You can call Don and tell him what you have and what you want done.  It sounds like you need a Clean, Lubricate and Adjust (CLA).  Don will inspect the lens and if he sees anything above a CLA, he will let you know.  All I can say, Don will get your M lenses back in tip top shape or better.  I gave up on Leica NJ years ago.  Any warranty work, I tell the Leica Store(s) to simply send it to Wetzlar.  Out of warranty all my M gear goes to Don.  He won't charge you an arm or leg for the CLA either.  r/ Mark

[vikag]

5 hours ago, LeicaR10 said:

Vikag,   If your M lenses are not in warranty and this sounds like the case, I would not let Leica NJ work on your lenses.  For warranty work, fine.  I most highly recommend you ask Leica to return your lenses.  Then send them to Don Goldberg at DAG Camera.  www.dagcamera.com   Don does outstanding work on M equipment.  He has repaired many forum members M and R gear over the decades.  You can call Don and tell him what you have and what you want done.  It sounds like you need a Clean, Lubricate and Adjust (CLA).  Don will inspect the lens and if he sees anything above a CLA, he will let you know.  All I can say, Don will get your M lenses back in tip top shape or better.  I gave up on Leica NJ years ago.  Any warranty work, I tell the Leica Store(s) to simply send it to Wetzlar.  Out of warranty all my M gear goes to Don.  He won't charge you an arm or leg for the CLA either.  r/ Mark

Yes I had a bit of back and forth with NJ for the lens and they couldn’t explain the problem to me. I am going to ask them to not fix the lens. 
by the way even my M10 is with them to make sure the lens calibrate well with it. I hope they don’t mess that one also.

[nicci78]

It reminds me when Mercedes services your car.  
crazy quote without any sense at all 😅

[LeicaR10]

Vikag,  If you decide to send your lenses to Don Goldberg at DAG, I would also send in your M10 as well.  He does a great job calibrating the lenses to the M camera bodies.  Leica also redesigned the M10 rangefinder and it is less prone to being out of calibration.  In the case of your Noctilux, it doesn't hurt to have Don check your camera body to the lens.  It will be spot on when you get it back and fixed right the first time.  r/ Mark

[gotium]

Have similar experience now with Leica NJ - sent in two lenses asking basically for inspection and/or CLA because of sticky focusing, and got the exact same list of necessary repairs for both lenses, namely:

repair focusing

repair focusing mount

clean aperture mechanism

adjust aperture setting

Repair all function

Total cost with shipping for each lens is $615. 

 

What are the chances that both these lenses have exactly the same errors and need exactly the same work for exactly the same (high) cost?

[Jeff S]

I once sent my 50 Summilux ASPH to Leica NJ Service because of sticky focus action. They said that they could not improve it without fear of damage. I spoke directly with the technician and asked him to send it back to me.  
 

I called DAG shortly after and sent it to him.  He had it back to me in 2 weeks, focusing smoothly, for a total cost of $90, including shipping.  Still fine, now 9 years later.

Jeff

[vikag]

2 hours ago, gotium said:

Have similar experience now with Leica NJ - sent in two lenses asking basically for inspection and/or CLA because of sticky focusing, and got the exact same list of necessary repairs for both lenses, namely:

repair focusing

repair focusing mount

clean aperture mechanism

adjust aperture setting

Repair all function

Total cost with shipping for each lens is $615. 

 

What are the chances that both these lenses have exactly the same errors and need exactly the same work for exactly the same (high) cost?

I would listen to the folks here on the forum. DAG, YYE, Wetzlar are better options. I won’t recommend Leica NJ. Get your lens back from them. 

[jaeger]

After wasting a great deal of time wrestling these folks, I've learned that whoever ask you to send both camera and lens to calibrate together, it's a lie! 

[Jeff S]

29 minutes ago, jaeger said:

After wasting a great deal of time wrestling these folks, I've learned that whoever ask you to send both camera and lens to calibrate together, it's a lie! 

In fairness, Leica NJ won’t calibrate together unless specifically requested. Instead they calibrate the lens to a specific standard and calibrate the camera to a specific standard.  When asked about sending in camera and lens together, they will privately admit that it’s to avoid a lot of customer guessing and a lot of back and forth shipping. Check it all and be done with it… hopefully.

Jeff