Just got a mint Leica M3 with the L seal intact, question.

[Vsanzbajo]

What should I do? Should I CLA it? Or is it possible it is still good to go?
My camera has this serial # 1094***. The camera looks new. It was made in 1964.
Thanks in advance

[Keith]

Run a roll of film through it and see what happens. Use a combination of apertures and shutter speeds across the board. No need to waste a couple of hundred dollars if you don't have to if it gives you a good result.

The low speeds in particular are the ones to check.

[bugmenot]

And people like Gus Lazzari and other repairmen can actually "replicate" the Leica L seal like it was the original after a good CLA/Overhaul and repair.

[denizg7]

if it was never cla'd by the owner then you only need lubrication.

Oil and Grease in mechanics and gears need to be reapplied if it sat down unused

[menos]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

And people like Gus Lazzari and other repairmen can actually "replicate" the Leica L seal like it was the original after a good CLA/Overhaul and repair.

Everybody could "replicate" the "L" seal, but specifically renown pep air people doubtfully would do it, as in actuality, this is forging (pretending the camera has had never been opened since leaving the factory).

Known repair(wo)men do have their own specific stamp, to identify their work on the camera.

[bugmenot]

Originally Posted by menos

Everybody could "replicate" the "L" seal, but specifically renown pep air people doubtfully would do it, as in actuality, this is forging (pretending the camera has had never been opened since leaving the factory).

Known repair(wo)men do have their own specific stamp, to identify their work on the camera.

Even though I fully agree with you with regards to forging, I know from experience there are known and reputable repair specialists who will, upon request, "restore" the L seal.

[B.J.Scharp]

I also believe a lot of work on M-cameras can be done without breaking the seal in the first place.

[philipus]

What Keith said above is what you should do. Here's a checklist

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicamchecklist.htm

Here's a bit of humour:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/cla.html

[menos]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

Even though I fully agree with you with regards to forging, I know from experience there are known and reputable repair specialists who will, upon request, "restore" the L seal.

Ugh - not nice, to be honest.

[bugmenot]

Originally Posted by philipus

Here's a bit of humour:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/cla.html

Thank you! That gave me a very good laugh. More so the introduction, as I recently acquired a mint condition Nikon F3. Haha

[Flat Twin]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

And people like Gus Lazzari and other repairmen can actually "replicate" the Leica L seal like it was the original after a good CLA/Overhaul and repair.

I once asked Malcolm Taylor about the significance of the "L" seal and his (humorous) reply was "would you drive a 50 year old Aston Martin that had never had an oil change or mechanical service...?"

If "certain" repairers are able to replicate the "L" seal then what is the point of having it in place, doesn't it render it meaningless...?

Just a thought!

Your M3 sounds lovely, I would take it out and use it, if it needs service then get it done and then take it out again and use it!

Simon

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by menos

Ugh - not nice, to be honest.

Why? Everybody knows the "L" is meaningless. Even Leica service stopped using it in 1982. Nowadays it's just a way to make the camera look more like it looked when it left the factory. There is an open trade in the stamps used to make the "L", for that matter (original or copied), and some cameras can be serviced without disturbing the L seal and they may have the seal nevertheless.

It's like the people selling M8s and M9s with the "original" transparent sticker on the bottom plate - you can take any transparent adhesive foil and cut it to size, it has no meaning, what has meaning is the actual state of the camera.

[kshapero]

Originally Posted by philipus

What Keith said above is what you should do. Here's a checklist

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicamchecklist.htm

Here's a bit of humour:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/cla.html

Great read.