M6 - Do I need a CLA?

[pippy]

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1 minute ago, DenverSteve said:

Please read my response just above your post.  Post #39.

I did read it but, by some oversight perhaps(?), you omitted to say what Leica's advice regarding a CLA actually is. Could you please state what Leica's official position on this matter consists of for our collective benefit?

Thanks in advance!

P.

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[DenverSteve]

8 minutes ago, pippy said:

I did read it but, by some oversight perhaps(?), you omitted to say what Leica's advice regarding a CLA actually is. Could you please state what Leica's official position on this matter consists of for our collective benefit?

Thanks in advance!

P.

Their advice, will obviously differ from one user and their equipment to anothers' situation.  The OP's question about his/her 20-year old camera will differ from someone with a new M11 or slightly used M10-r.  For some reason some have read something sinister in this advice.  I stand by it. Thanks for asking. 

Edited November 8, 2022 by DenverSteve

[Huss]

Leica's only written maintenance advice is if you let the camera sit, make sure to exercise every shutter speed several times every three months.

It's there in the manual.  They also say if you have damaged your camera, then you should take it to a Leica dealer to be serviced.

So, according to Leica, if your camera is operating correctly, nothing needs to be done.

[pippy]

4 minutes ago, DenverSteve said:

Their advice, will obviously differ from one user and their equipment to another...

Are you saying that Leica's stated advice policy regarding a CLA will differ from one user to another? How will Leica impart this advice?

P.

Edited November 8, 2022 by pippy

[DenverSteve]

3 minutes ago, Huss said:

Leica's only written maintenance advice is if you let the camera sit, make sure to exercise every shutter speed several times every three months.

It's there in the manual.  They also say if you have damaged your camera, then you should take it to a Leica dealer to be serviced.

So, according to Leica, if your camera is operating correctly, nothing needs to be done.

That seems like sound advice. 

[DenverSteve]

6 minutes ago, pippy said:

Are you saying that Leica's stated advice policy regarding a CLA will differ from one user to another? How will Leica impart this advice?

P.

Someone, take the OP, would have to email or speak with a Leica representative/repair person and ask the question the OP asked the internet.  However, the Leica personnel might have more information for the OP's situation. One would hope the question would get a more lucid answer than from 40 internet readers.  Who knows?  Hey doctor, it hurts when I do this................ Doctor, "don't do that". 🙂 Thus my advice to follow Leica's recommendation. 

Edited November 8, 2022 by DenverSteve

[DenverSteve]

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7 minutes ago, pippy said:

Are you saying that Leica's stated advice policy regarding a CLA will differ from one user to another? How will Leica impart this advice?

P.

Of course, as I stated above, someone with a question about a 20-year old M6 will get a different response than someone with a 3-year old M10.

[pippy]

.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by pippy

[Anbaric]

I'm pretty sure the official advice on CLAs is given in the soundtrack to this video at some point:

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by Anbaric

[Huss]

Apparently Winogrand never had his M4 serviced.  Because he was always using it.  Check out that pressure plate!  I still don't understand how you'd get sprocket hole marks on it.

https://www.cameraquest.com/LeicaM4G.htm

[DenverSteve]

1 minute ago, Huss said:

Apparently Winogrand never had his M4 serviced.  Because he was always using it.  Check out that pressure plate!  I still don't understand how you'd get sprocket hole marks on it.

https://www.cameraquest.com/LeicaM4G.htm

Leica magic.

[jaapv]

56 minutes ago, DenverSteve said:

Actually, you should follow Leica's advice.

Where can I find that advice?It is new to me.

[jaapv]

7 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

I'm pretty sure the official advice on CLAs is given in the soundtrack to this video at some point:

 

That is a digital camera, which normally does not need a CLA at all...

[DenverSteve]

3 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Where can I find that advice?It is new to me.

Please read my explanation in posts 47 & 48.  It has been asked and answered there. 

[Anbaric]

2 minutes ago, jaapv said:

That is a digital camera, which normally does not need a CLA at all...

I could have sworn the elusive advice is in there somewhere, if you listen to the whole thing...

[BradS]

2 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

I could have sworn the elusive advice is in there somewhere, if you listen to the whole thing...

You have to play it backwards to hear it.

[Fotoklaus]

Am 15.10.2022 um 19:16 schrieb Nachtmsk:

Hi

I have an M6 TTL that I bought new about 20 years ago. I've used it but not as often as I'd like. It works perfectly.  I'm wondering if I should send it in for a CLA.  I read someplace that said Leica M cameras should go in for a CLA every 10 years. I don't know if this is accurate and it's not something I had ever thought about honestly.

 

Thanks
Mike

 

Mike, the number of good repairmen for (old) mechanical devices will not increase. Leica has the opportunity to have still some good adresses to go for.

A s a collector of cameras I give you the advice to spend some money for a CLA at a good workshop before it might be too late.

I had a Plaubel Makina 67, had it be serviced at Plaubel Frankfurt, Company gone now. I have several Robots, had them be serviced at Robot Kameradienst,

gone now.  No one else will fix a Robot...

Have a few Rollei 35, Rolleiflexes, Rolleicords, Parts getting more and more hard to get, my repairman is retired for over 5 years now. in 5 or 10 years.... over.

Some brands can´t be fixed anymore because of the lack of knowledge and parts.

And also the Leica Repairmen will be less over the time.

 

[Nachtmsk]

3 hours ago, Fotoklaus said:

Mike, the number of good repairmen for (old) mechanical devices will not increase. Leica has the opportunity to have still some good adresses to go for.

A s a collector of cameras I give you the advice to spend some money for a CLA at a good workshop before it might be too late.

I had a Plaubel Makina 67, had it be serviced at Plaubel Frankfurt, Company gone now. I have several Robots, had them be serviced at Robot Kameradienst,

gone now.  No one else will fix a Robot...

Have a few Rollei 35, Rolleiflexes, Rolleicords, Parts getting more and more hard to get, my repairman is retired for over 5 years now. in 5 or 10 years.... over.

Some brands can´t be fixed anymore because of the lack of knowledge and parts.

And also the Leica Repairmen will be less over the time.

 

I haven't visiting this thread I started for the past few weeks and just realized it started quite the discussion. I very much appreciate all of the perspectives.

In response to FotoKlaus - Yeah, I hear you, it makes sense. I have a repair person here in central NC that has told me he will be retiring after a few years. It's a great shop full of odds and ends of (mostly) old camera bits and pieces. Kind of a junk yard of old cameras. He's not a Leica repairman, but I do need to bring in some old Nikon F2 bodies to have them serviced.  I don't expect there to be many people around who service F2 bodies since they are so long out of production, but since Leica is still making film bodies and just released a new M6, I'm guessing Leica repair people will be around a little longer.  Though your are right, Leica repair people will be far and few in between - I might need to send directly to Leica where I assume there will be plenty of people to service the new M6 as well as their  other film cameras.

Mike.

 

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[Huss]

5 hours ago, Fotoklaus said:

Mike, the number of good repairmen for (old) mechanical devices will not increase. Leica has the opportunity to have still some good adresses to go for.

A s a collector of cameras I give you the advice to spend some money for a CLA at a good workshop before it might be too late.

I had a Plaubel Makina 67, had it be serviced at Plaubel Frankfurt, Company gone now. I have several Robots, had them be serviced at Robot Kameradienst,

gone now.  No one else will fix a Robot...

Have a few Rollei 35, Rolleiflexes, Rolleicords, Parts getting more and more hard to get, my repairman is retired for over 5 years now. in 5 or 10 years.... over.

Some brands can´t be fixed anymore because of the lack of knowledge and parts.

And also the Leica Repairmen will be less over the time.

 

The flaw in your argument is all the cameras you mention are not only no longer made, but the companies no longer exist.

Leica is doing very well, making cameras.  As long as they are making cameras, there will be service for them through Leica or independent shops.

[nwphil]

1 hour ago, Nachtmsk said:

I haven't visiting this thread I started for the past few weeks and just realized it started quite the discussion. I very much appreciate all of the perspectives.

In response to FotoKlaus - Yeah, I hear you, it makes sense. I have a repair person here in central NC that has told me he will be retiring after a few years. It's a great shop full of odds and ends of (mostly) old camera bits and pieces. Kind of a junk yard of old cameras. He's not a Leica repairman, but I do need to bring in some old Nikon F2 bodies to have them serviced.  I don't expect there to be many people around who service F2 bodies since they are so long out of production, but since Leica is still making film bodies and just released a new M6, I'm guessing Leica repair people will be around a little longer.  Though your are right, Leica repair people will be far and few in between - I might need to send directly to Leica where I assume there will be plenty of people to service the new M6 as well as their  other film cameras.

Mike.

 

I would send it the to Dan Goldberg - DAG Cameras ( there are a few others).  I once sent a lens that was not been used for quite a while, and got returned as it was because he inspected and said all was good, no need for CLA. Yeah, Leica will likely find something to charge for it

Should you still have it checked, for your OWN peace of mind? sure 

Using Leica services for this? I would not...but I would not use your local guy either