Leica IIIa service in Canada?

Dan Daniel · Feb 7, 2024

Any recommendations for service of a Leica IIIa in Canada? This is to avoid the postage and customs duties, so US shops don't help!

Thanks!

zerminator · Feb 7, 2024

Good question, I need to figure this out too as I have a IIIf that needs service.
I think Service Camera Pro did Leicas too but they are kind of part time now and won't be taking any orders until April (http://servicecamerapro.com/)

Don_ih · Feb 8, 2024

Duty should be avoidable by marking the customs form "Sent for repairs". Of course, there's no guarantee.

I couldn't find any place in Canada to send my IIIb to when I wanted it repaired about 8 years ago - I sent it to YYE. I'm now learning to fix my own. A IIIa is a fair bit less complex than a IIIf.

BainDarret · Feb 8, 2024

I'm in the same situation with a IIIf and 3.5 cm Summaron needing servicing. I would prefer to have them serviced in Canada.

GregY · Feb 8, 2024

BainDarret said:
I'm in the same situation with a IIIf and 3.5 cm Summaron needing servicing. I would prefer to have them serviced in Canada. Service Camera Pro are not receiving new work until sometime in April according to their website.

Check out Lens Medic in Calgary. Gary has done some great work for me.

Service, repair, and sales of film cameras and lenses

Service, repair, and sales of film cameras and lenses.

lensmedicyyc.com

MarkS · Feb 8, 2024

I used to send my M3 to Kindermann in Toronto. Perhaps they were the Leica importers? Their repairman, Gerry Smith (now retired) was the best. He found and fixed a light leak that had eluded two other Leica repair services. That was 15-20 years ago, but I don't recall any big issues shipping from/to the USA.

Don_ih · Feb 8, 2024

MarkS said:
I don't recall any big issues shipping from/to the USA.

The issues currently are (1) the stupidly high price to ship anything anywhere in this country, let alone out of it and (2) it's getting less and less likely you'll get anything from across the border without duty, sales tax, and brokerage fee dumped on it - even if it's your own camera being returned to you. You could challenge the charges, in that instance, but most people wouldn't feel it worth the waste of time.

MarkS · Feb 8, 2024

Sorry to hear that; I think the last time I had my M3 serviced there might have been in 2007 or so.
Certainly a Barnack Leica is a simple and well-understood design, though; any competent repair service should be able to make one work right.

BainDarret · Feb 9, 2024

GregY said:
Check out Lens Medic in Calgary. Gary has done some great work for me.

Service, repair, and sales of film cameras and lenses

Service, repair, and sales of film cameras and lenses.

lensmedicyyc.com

Thanks for the tip GregY. I have messaged Lens Medic.

beemermark · Feb 10, 2024

Don_ih said:
The issues currently are (1) the stupidly high price to ship anything anywhere in this country, let alone out of it and (2) it's getting less and less likely you'll get anything from across the border without duty, sales tax, and brokerage fee dumped on it - even if it's your own camera being returned to you. You could challenge the charges, in that instance, but most people wouldn't feel it worth the waste of time.

Tried to send a non-working 35mm camera to a forum member 2 or 3 years ago from the states. UPS, FedEx, USPS were all around $45. No insurance.

Don_ih · Feb 11, 2024

MarkS said:
I used to send my M3 to Kindermann in Toronto. Perhaps they were the Leica importers? Their repairman, Gerry Smith (now retired) was the best. He found and fixed a light leak that had eluded two other Leica repair services. That was 15-20 years ago, but I don't recall any big issues shipping from/to the USA.

Looking up Gerry Smith, whose seal (a J) is on my M3, I discovered he died in 2022. He had retired from Kindermann in 2018 or 19 and that company no longer services Leica cameras (or Rolleis).

Bwbuff · Feb 11, 2024

Don_ih said:
Looking up Gerry Smith, whose seal (a J) is on my M3, I discovered he died in 2022. He had retired from Kindermann in 2018 or 19 and that company no longer services Leica cameras (or Rolleis).

Sorry to hear Gerry had passed away, I didn't know his pass until I saw Don_ih's comment. I have met Gerry in person at Kindermann Markham and he cla'd 2 of my M3's many years ago and still running strong. Gerry will be missed.

Leica IIIa service in Canada?

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