Steve's Camera - would you recommend?

[remjet5219]

Hey all!

I’m in the west coast and am trying to decide weather to send my Leica M6 for a CLA to Steve or send it to YYE in the mail.

Nothing is wrong with the camera, maybe a slight fog on the viewfinder if you flash a light into it. But I recently got it and would like to get it in as perfect of a condition as I can before traveling with it.

Would you recommend I go to Steve and stay local or is mailing to YYE worth it?

Thanks so much in advance for any insight!!

 

[BrianShaw]

Yes.

 

[remjet5219]

Yes.

Yes to staying with Steve?

Thanks!

 

[Pieter12]

Yes for Steve. Zack does great work, too, but not local.

 

[Nitroplait]

When will you travel? On another forum someone mentioned that YYE is around 4 months wait currently - you may want to check.
If you can wait that long, you may as well just use the camera and see how it checks out.
If no issues, there is no need to send it in for service.

I don't personally believe in the "cult of CLA". If nothing is wrong, don't fix it, and if the finder is a little cloudy (which is not unusual on an M6 and just an accumulation of dust on the inner surfaces on the viewfinder windows) then just have the top removed and the surfaces wiped by the local guy if he is familiar with opening up a Leica.

 

[BrianShaw]

Yes to staying with Steve?

Thanks!

Yes. That is what I meant. Sorry for not being more specific.

 

[Hasslebad]

Steve has serviced all my Hasselblad equipment (bodies, backs, lenses). All excellent work. I highly recommend.

 

[BradS]

If there's nothing wrong with it, I would not send it to anyone. Just use it. Don't ask a tech to fix what isn't broken.

Having said that, I too recommend Steve's - especially since you are local. They are a little bit more expensive but they do excellent work and after a few bad experiences mailing cameras out for repair, I strongly prefer to deal with repair shop in person - especially for pick up.

 

[mshchem]

I've used Ye, but I agree with @BradS , if the camera is operating properly I would use it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Steve's Camera has been recommend to me by @BrianShaw and Samy's camera, when Samy's in Culver City could not perform the needed services. They have serviced a Pacemaker Speed Graphic and a Hasselblad 903 SWC for me.