Leica Ginza/Japan Repair Experiences - $1400 Estimate for Leica M7 ISO dial issue.

[Albo]

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Hi all, just thought I'd gauge some impressions before I take the next course of action over what I considered a minor M7 problem.

I have lightly used, basically babied M7 from the original release era that over the last year has developed an ISO dial issue.

Basically, without turning the dial, if I so much as nudge the physical round dial (not spinning, mere contact), the exposure meter would fluctuate by about 2/3 of a stop, overexposing. The problem goes away by spinning the ISO dial round and round briefly, although the issue always returns.  I assume the conductive track in the dial is dirty / got sweat on it too often due to it being against my chest when hanging from a strap.

 

I'm thinking of moving on from the M7 and getting an M-A, but before selling I wanted to get this problem looked at. 

I assumed a new M7 back door would do the trick.

I'm in Japan, so it went to the repair centre here. I'm not sure of the company structure here in Japan, but it would be repaired within Japan itself, not Germany.

 

I got the estimate back, they confirmed the original issue... and quoted me $1400 and a laundry list of work to be done, which in my view is unnecessary. I can't help but feel they are pushing it for the sake of finding work/ profiting from their services. It performed like a brand new camera, with very smooth operation aside from the ISO dial (which is just a badly designed area in metered Ms IMO). 

Back cover replacement (back door I assume?)

Shutter overhaul / shutter speed adjustment

Winding + rewinding operation adjustment 

Exposure meter adjustment

Exposure meter light receiving section adjustment (the white dot? it only has 1 tiny black mark on it)

Finder cleaning

DX reader update

Light seal / shield replacement

Rangefinder adjustment

Leather cover replacement to M-A type

Other

I'll try to push them to just focus on the issue I sent it for, but it is typical for Japanese companies / services to tell you 'no' at any opportunity, so I'm not going to hold my breath (any experience with this would be good to hear!).

Would it be better to send it to Leica in Germany? Has anyone arranged it via e-mail?

Years ago, I had another M7 that I abused the hell out of, and it still worked perfectly when I sold it. It ended up looking twice its age, yet this barely used one apparently needs overhauled!

 

Thanks.

 

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[jaapv]

Leica in Germany will give you the same estimate and take far longer. Leica likes to return cameras in as-new state. If I were you I would get a second opinion from one of the reputed third-party workshops. 

[wizard]

This is typical for cameras with electrical sliding contacts that are rarely used. Some contact cleaning will likely do the job. However, I personally have no idea of how to access those contacts within the ISO dial, but a competent repairman should should.

Edited July 10, 2024 by wizard

[TomB_tx]

The cost is reasonable for the full service quoted, Many camera techs will similarly only do a full service on an older camera, fearing if they don't another issue for something they didn't service will crop up and the customer will complain. My M7 is in with DAG now to fix sticky frame line masks, but he also prefers to check over other areas.

[frame-it]

2 hours ago, Albo said:

which in my view is unnecessary. I can't help but feel they are pushing it for the sake of finding work/ profiting from their services.

Leica Japan? Highly unlikely.

 

+1

what @jaapv said.

Edited July 10, 2024 by frame-it

[jaapv]

The point is that a camera that has barely been used over the years will likely need a full CLA. However, 1400$ is a Leica price. 

[250swb]

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While it seems a high price it's common knowledge that it's Leica policy to return the camera in 'as new' mechanical condition which avoids the problem of customers thinking they know best about what is or isn't wrong with their camera. So if the contacts on the back door have corroded and need replacing it makes sense that the meter may also need re-calibrating for the new door or dial. And if the top plate is off it makes sense to check and adjust the rangefinder, and so on, etc.

Edited July 10, 2024 by 250swb

[RMF]

Is it $1400 to repair the ISO dial issue or is that a quote for the whole laundry list?  If for the full laundry list then I think that sounds like an amazing deal, if its for the ISO dial issue only….well it seems about right.. I wouldn’t think it would be any less. 
 

[trisberg]

Sounds a bit high to me, I paid US$673 for Leica New Jersey to do the following about 2 years ago -

replace light sealing
adjust range finder
adjust exposure meter
clean viewfinder optic as far as possibl
adjust shutter brake
adjust shutter times
replacement photo cell
clean, lubrication and adjustment

this included replacing the DX reader and the "leather" covering as part of the service.

-Thomas

 

Edited July 12, 2024 by trisberg

[Albo]

Just an update: 

After the sticker shock I just went ahead and did it, and glad I did. They did a whole load of checks and adjustments.

It came a little earlier and was a little cheaper than they first said! Just less than 3 months. Although, by about week 10 I did nearly buy an M4 😂.

Got a nice new back door and they used the MA leatherette to recover it with. Feels much nicer. Although, being an early 0.58 M7, it originally had unique leatherette anyway. Shame they couldn’t have reused that.  
 

They included the DX reader upgrade and the baseplate now has an extra shim/washer right under where the film goes.
 

So far, so good. Time to give it a test run.

Just guessing here, but about the initial problem I had - If you have a metered Leica, M6/M7/MP, with the ISO dial at the back, maybe be careful about chest sweat when using with a camera strap. Even just all day with sweat vapours against it could have degraded or corroded the circuit inside over time, which I think was the cause of my initial issue. Japanese summers! (Also, I often kept it in my trouser pocket with a tiny lens while riding a bike… so.. don’t do that 😂).

[250swb]

I wouldn't read too much into the original problem, it was most probably 'just one of those things' and it's not something to worry a lot about with other cameras. Just consider all the places Leica's are used and a hot sweaty city street won't even come near the top of a worst place list.

[blackdot]

16 hours ago, Albo said:

Just an update: 

After the sticker shock I just went ahead and did it, and glad I did. They did a whole load of checks and adjustments.

It came a little earlier and was a little cheaper than they first said! Just less than 3 months. Although, by about week 10 I did nearly buy an M4 😂.

Got a nice new back door and they used the MA leatherette to recover it with. Feels much nicer. Although, being an early 0.58 M7, it originally had unique leatherette anyway. Shame they couldn’t have reused that.  
 

They included the DX reader upgrade and the baseplate now has an extra shim/washer right under where the film goes.
 

So far, so good. Time to give it a test run.

Just guessing here, but about the initial problem I had - If you have a metered Leica, M6/M7/MP, with the ISO dial at the back, maybe be careful about chest sweat when using with a camera strap. Even just all day with sweat vapours against it could have degraded or corroded the circuit inside over time, which I think was the cause of my initial issue. Japanese summers! (Also, I often kept it in my trouser pocket with a tiny lens while riding a bike… so.. don’t do that 😂).

I got the same kind of crazy quote from them indirectly through Map on a used warranty repair, except that they wanted to send it to Germany and make me wait over a year. Luckily I pushed them into fixing just the film advance issue locally. 

Keep in mind as a reference, Kanto quotes 4-5 months for an overhaul, and the base fee is under 70k... for an M6TTL, anyway.

Edited October 18, 2024 by blackdot