In praise of Kindermann Canada

[Jamie Roberts]

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Just a quick note to all the North Americans here--not just Canadians--that Gerry Smith at Kindermann Canada is another place you can to go if you need specialized and authorized Leica service.

 

But more than that, I want to say thanks to Gerry Smith there, who has been keeping my equipment in exceptionally fine form.

 

My M8 developed a stuck pixel, and needed to go to NJ. The NJ service center took care of the stuck pixel very professionally, and did a very good job in my case.

 

But as a result of opening the camera up, the RF mechanism needed to be re-adjusted, and since they didn't have my whole stable of lenses to check, it was easy for them to have the RF in spec but not quite exactly adjusted. As a result, some of the more finicky glass was ever so slightly off.

 

So Gerry in Toronto (Markham, actually), who does authorised service for Leica, had all my M lenses and personally recalibrated and checked my M8, and it's always surprising what a couple of days on the test bench will uncover with older lenses.

 

I was so impressed with the results, I brought in all the R glass too, and he uncovered a couple of focussing issues on some of the older R glass too.

 

Needless to say, both the M8 and the DMR are performing even better than before, and it's Gerry's keen eye and dedication that made that happen. My 50 Lux is in the shop for further work, and the Nocti needs to be adjusted a tiny bit too.

 

So if you're having problems, it pays to let Gerry have a look at the lenses.

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[troyfreund]

I too have had good luck with Kindermann. I had them add ROM contacts to three of my 3-cam lenses last summer. Prompt service, good communication, nice people.

Troy

[robsteve]

I use Kindermann too and you can not find a better shop to fix your Leica, M or R.

 

Gerry adjusted my Noctilux a few months ago and I have been using it ever since with great results.

 

I was in Toronto last year to shoot a football game and with a call in advance, Kindermann was able to confirm they had the parts and time to convert my big 400mm and 180mm APO Summicron to ROM while I was in Toronto. In that case, Gerry was off on vacation, but Tommy, on of the other fine technicians there was able to do the work in an afternoon. Just another example of their great service.

 

Robert

[thrid]

Gerry is great.

 

He does superb work and his turnaround times are excellent.

Polite, friendly, professional.

[sdai]

I always told Gerry there's no need to rush so he could take care of your stuff first.

 

My thanks to Gerry as well.

[Michael Hiles]

I just noticed this thread, and would like to second or third support for Gerry Smith and Kindermann in Toronto. He found a long standing and seemingly random light leak in my M2 - and fixed it perfectly. The leak was a duff baffle around the rewind lever on the camera front. At the same time he did a CLA, and the camera is now the - what can I say - Rolls Royce, Patek Phillipe etc., that it was meant to be.

 

Gerry persevered and called on two occasions to discuss and advise. Great service. Reasonable price and good turnaround (3 weeks door-to-door). Unreserved recommendation.

[mgcd]

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Gerry is indeed a superb craftsman, I just got my 19mm f/2.8 R back from Kindermann for general CLA, the lens looks and feels like brand new. Great service.

[garyp]

All Leica repair stations should take lessons from Gerry and the staff at Kindermann.

These folks are a model on how to treat customers, and do great work.

They are the best I've ever dealt with, period.