Thanks. I'll check it out.
https://www.meister-camera.com/
Look regularly (both Berlin and Hamburg shops) - from time to time they have really good price, but you need to be fast. I got there my M3 for 699, in great condition. And also I got LTM III with Elmar 5cm f3.5 for 250, sold the body only for more than that (as I like If more).
And yes, I'll say it: Nikon's best is better than the majority of Leica equipment. An F2 is a smarter investment than any rangefinder camera. It can use a far larger variety of lenses, does not need special attachments to accurately focus extremely long tele lenses (though a very cheap focusing screen can help), can meter macro photography thru the lens, top speed of 1/2000... and basically never needs maintenance if treated well. This does not mean that precisely-made German cameras with organic oils do not need a CLA every ten or maybe every twenty years if you want to push it. Those oils seize up, solidify, flake off and jam up gears. By the time the shutter speeds are getting wonky it is probably too late to save the full lifespan of the camera, whether or not a CLA can restore functionality in the medium-to-short term.
Guess I'm just a SLR kind of guy by preference, though I do like Rollei TLR's, too.
The cost of CLA (cheapest that I find in EU is: work and material 275+25 euros, + 32 shipping + 21% tax on top = 400 euros (475$). I paid for M6 1100 euros 10 years ago, so this is not small amount.
For example I purchased M4 couple of months ago in working condition for 299 euros ('as is' from Meister Camera, but works fine).
Preventive cla is not smart. It will cost you a lot of money and you are not sure what will be done.
Do you take that approach with your car? Should I wait till the engine starts stuttering and making funny noises before I change the oil and air filter? Or should I wait for the brakes to grind the discs before I go for a brake pad change (oooops that's a rotor change too now).
Thanks for this Folkloric analogy involving a notoriously known shady business (car repair); and mechanics, who are widely accepted as misleading, fraudulent and unscrupulous.
The car repair business has to be the #1 ranked shady business on the planet.
Thanks for this Folkloric analogy involving a notoriously known shady business (car repair); and mechanics, who are widely accepted as misleading, fraudulent and unscrupulous.
The car repair business has to be the #1 ranked shady business on the planet. And if you ask me, the camera repair business (especially involving Leica) is #2. As someone already said, the Leica pedantry and wannabeism is a very expensive hobby, and the involved repairmen are scrubbing their hands.
That doesn't change the fact that your car needs maintenance.
Lovely bit of whataboutery there but you forgot to enlighten us as to whether you service your car or not.
Agreed, unless "The car repair business has to be the #1 ranked shady business on the planet." applies. For example a few months ago I had a 4 new tyres (tires) fitted on my SUV. When I picked it up I was told that I needed new rear brake pads and they could do it while I waited. I declined as I have only driven 60,000km and usually get over 100,000km on a set of pads. I took the vehicle to my regular service place and they said the brakes are good for at least another 12 months.
Back to camera CLA, a few years ago I took my Leica M2 to a Leica factory trained service technician and inquired about a CLA. The first thing he asked was 'what is the problem', I said it was working fine I just thought it should be serviced because I didn't know when it was last done. His comments were 'if it is working fine, leave well alone'. He explained that because of the age of the camera, 60 years +, disturbing parts that have bedded in for 'unnecessary service' in can cause more wear and issues. His advice was use it until you notice a problem. 5 years later I have no problems and the camera is working fine.
I certainly don’t give my keys to the mechanic with a note “do what has to be done” as you seem to be insisting that I should be doing.
Good luck with your car repairs. Do you have more analogies you would like to share?
Ok Mr NB23, since you seem to be pedantic and need it all spelled out, here is what I do: When the time comes for a service I take my car to the garage, give them the keys and say "I want an oil service/inspection 1/major service/whatever-terminology-your-car-manufacturer-uses". Then the garage knows what I asked and they go and do it. The car comes with a little book, the book inside lists the jobs that have to be done, oil service at x miles, brake fluid at 2 years, transmission at x miles, greasing this at this interval and all those wonderful things. I then expect the garage to do the work, I pay them and all good.
Now, you seem to say that I cannot possibly trust them to do the work. Well ok but certain things require an amount of trust or we would never get anything done in this life. It is also why people sometimes take their business elsewhere as they are not happy with the results. I trust my garage, they do seem to do the work I ask of them.
Same with a CLA. I take it to the guy, say a CLA. That means I want it Cleaned, Lubricated and Adjusted. So the guy knows what needs doing. I trust him to do it because I've seen the results. I have also used once somebody who I now do not trust at all. That is not a reason to never service the camera, it was a reason to find the guy I trust.
I hope that is clear enough for you. Have a nice day and we're still waiting to hear if service your car or not? Do tell us and also do tell us what you specifically tell the garage over what I have described above. Or you know, may don't. I'll just block you. Shame, you'll never see this.
Do you take that approach with your car? Should I wait till the engine starts stuttering and making funny noises before I change the oil and air filter? Or should I wait for the brakes to grind the discs before I go for a brake pad change (oooops that's a rotor change too now).
And then there are reports that Nikon Fs, F2, F3 as well as various Leicas have gone through many Wars and assignments throughout decades without a single CLA.
Many Nikons (especially) have gone over 250,000 clicks without the need for repair of any kind.
What are we going to say about this?
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