I have a lens that needs the aperture blades re-set, and a complete CLA... Any recommendations for quality repair services here in the states? Thanks in advance for the "Good As Gold" advice I'm sure I'm about to receive -- This is a great forum! Isn't the internet wonderful?

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 07, 2001

Answers

I should have noted it is a Leica M lens!

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 07, 2001.

I would have suggested Bill Maxwell who did all my work a year or so ago, but I'm not sure he is still repairing stuff these days. His business in super bright focusing screens and top of the line lubes were starting to take up his time. Anyway, his work on my M stuff was totally top notch and I could recommend him without hesitation, so you can give him a call to see if he is still servicing equipment at 404-244-0095. Let me know if you end up contacting him. Sherry Krauter is also very good, but is so in demand that her prices and turn around times are up there. I have had poor results in general from any of the "we fix everything" kinds of repair places, so make sure it is someone who specializes in Leica and has a great deal of experience.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 07, 2001.

Jack:

I would not recommend Essex Camera Service Inc. Their repairs were okay, but they left a lot to be desired in the customer service arena. They forgot about my repair until I called, TWICE. Leica in NJ has done well on my bodies, but I have not sent any lenses to them.

Mark J.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), June 07, 2001.

Don Goldberg (DAG), Sherry Krauter (Golden Touch), Jon VanStelten (Focal Point). If the lens needs recoating, Jon is your only option.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 07, 2001.

Though not in the U.S. (it's in Canada), Kindermann Canada has a very high reputation for Leica repair, and in fact is one of only a handful of authorized screwmount repair facilities in the world with a full parts selection. Turnaround time is very reasonable, price is good, and thier service techs are trained at Leica in Germany. e-mail is: kindrman@istar.ca

Bob

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), June 07, 2001.

Jack:

I can strongly recommend this gentleman. He is a wizard at turning old lenses into new ones!

The Focal Point- John Van Stelten; 1017 South Boulder Road Suite E-1; Louisville, CO 80027-0027; Tel.- 303-665-6640; Fax - 303-665-3803; focalpt@ecentral.com. Repairs Leicas as well as Cleaning, repolishing and recoating lenses.

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), June 07, 2001.

" repolishing and recoating lenses" ?

After such treatment, a lens has only "Leica" and look, and may still fetch a Lika like price on resale market, but it is not LEICA lens anymore.

Repolishing a lens, do remove scratch marks on lens surface and make a otherwise unsaleble lens saleable. However, polishing a lens changes it curvature and reduce lens element thickness, which in the case of Leica, is controlled to extreme high tolerance of 1 micron, and checked with interferometere.

A 'repolished" lens has altered curvature, altered lens thickness altered element spacing, altered lens centering-- not a Leica lens anymore.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 08, 2001.

Thanks to all for the great response! Sounds like DAG, Focal Point and Golden Touch are the ones to contact - I'll try them next week.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 09, 2001.