The Definitive Leica Technician List For CLAs and Fixes

[dcsang]

Lately I've seen comments about Don's (aka DAG) excellent work and I know that people also believe Sherry Krauter is equally as good while still others feel Youxin Ye does a good job.

In the meantime, folks up here in Canuckland have a number of people to choose from (at least in the Toronto area).

So, with that, I thought it would be a good idea to compile a complete list for those around the globe.

Feel free to add your tech's name, contact information (if publicly available), and location (City, State/Province, Country) and if we're lucky this post can become a "sticky"..

Dave

[dcsang]

David Yau
Yau's Camera Service
12 Fawndale Crescent
Toronto Ontario
Canada M1W 3K1.

By appointment only please.

Telephone 416 494-8988
Monday through Friday
10AM-3 PM EST

d.yau@rogers.com

Serving the Photographic Community since 1969.
Trained at the Leica Factory Wetzlar and Solms,
Rollei Factory Braunschweig and Yashica Hong Kong.
Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Repairs warranted for 6 months.

[Stu W]

LHSA keeps a list. I think a sticky over here is a good idea. http://www.lhsa.org/repair.html

[thirteen]

Good idea Dave.

Gerry Smith
Kindermann Canada
3-361 Steelcase Rd West
Markham, On

Phone: 905 940 9262
email: service@kindermann.ca
web: www.kindermann.ca

Canadian Authorized Leica Photo Products Service Centre - full warranty and non-warranty repairs.

[Rafael]

Gerry Smith at Kindermann does all of the work on my cameras and lenses. His work is excellent and his turn-around time is usually very fast.



Kindermann Canada Inc.
Attn: Service Department c/o Gerry Smith
3-361 Steelcase Road West
Markham, ON L3R 3V8
Tel:905-940-9262 Fax:905-479-9755
e-mail: service@ kindermann.ca


EDIT: Ah, beat me to it!

[dcsang]

Originally Posted by Stu W

LHSA keeps a list. I think a sticky over here is a good idea. http://www.lhsa.org/repair.html

The LHSA list is "good" but does not include everyone - I know that many of us on this forum use a whole whack of people who can be "just as good" as the others - and it's always helpful to know more folks.

Cheers,
Dave

[kully]

This does seem like a good idea. Here are some recommendations from me. Also Youxin Ye, but I don't have his details in my notebook.

- CRR Luton

5 DOWNVIEW
751 DUNSTABLE ROAD
LUTON LU4 0HP
(UK)
+44 (0)1582 570395

It is best to ring, emails have difficulty getting through. Very recommended.

- Malcolm Taylor

Upper Lye Farm
Aymestrey, Hereford
HR6 9SZ
(UK)
+44 (0)1568 770 542

- Will van Manen

Dorpsstraat 81
2712 AD Zoetermeer
(Holland)
+31 (0)79 316 33 39

[hlockwood]

Might be a good idea to include the typical turnaround time.

Harry

[charjohncarter]

This should be a sticky, I know that CameraQuest has Leica service, too. And as I'm going to have my Leica serviced soon, I hope this list materializes.

[kully]

Originally Posted by hlockwood

Might be a good idea to include the typical turnaround time.

Harry

That's going to be difficult - as every repair / service I've had done has varied depending on workload. Might be better to say how accurate the turnaround time stated was.

[dcsang]

I hope one of the mods can create the sticky - If I have the time, I'd eventually like to get an online DB available that would be able to be searched by location and/or name.

Dave

[hlockwood]

Typical turnaround time?

Originally Posted by kully

That's going to be difficult - as every repair / service I've had done has varied depending on workload. Might be better to say how accurate the turnaround time stated was.

Better still.

Harry

[Erik van Straten]

Ton Scherpenborg
Gerardsweg 50
6525 RT Nijmegen
The Netherlands

telephone 024-3551857

50 years experience in Leica repair. Highly recommended.

Erik.

[Pherdinand]

Turnaround time for Wil van Manen for me was 10 days for a summicron 90/2 focus realignment and m2 rf check. He said 2 weeks... it took 10 days, pretty good eh?

[payasam]

There was a man named David Eve somewhere near Toronto.

[Ronald_H]

Wil van Maanen CLA'd my M2 within a week. Nikon EM + 35mm f2 AF fix about the same. Surprisingly quick.

[Dave Wilkinson]

Some of you guys seem to need a heck of a lot of repair/service work!....or perhaps I've just been very lucky over the last forty years.....never yet had to send one out!....despite a lot of semi-pro and amateur use! , anyone else in this happy situation?
Dave.

Makes you wonder just how reliable Leicas really are!!

[Tuolumne]

Essex Camera Services, Inc.
100 Amor Avenue Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072
Phone: (201)-933-7272 Fax: (201)-933-7647
email: info@essexcamera.com
I've used them alot and recommend them highly. They are within driving distance of my home, so I never have a problem with turn-around time usually 7-10 days and done when they promise. The shop if filled with scores of Leicas waiting for repair as well as other manual and electronic cameras. A real candy store.



/T

[breathstealer]

Lee Cho Tat
Panda Camera
17/F Double Building, 22 Stanley Street
Hong Kong

Repairs pretty much anything and CLA's Leicas in 10 days. A great guy to chat with too - really knows his stuff.

[DeeCee3]

Add to this growing list L & J Leica Repair, Greenville, SC. The phone number is 864-297-6931. Chap's name is John Maddox. Call first and it may save you some heartache. I've never used him so can't comment but I talked with him once (by phone) and learned he accepts ONLY Barnack-type cameras for repair. Forget using him for an M, he won't touch them.

Youxin Ye's info is wye7@yahoo.com. He's done excellent work for me on M's 2 and 3.

dc3

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by Tuolumne

Essex Camera Services, Inc.
100 Amor Avenue Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072
Phone: (201)-933-7272 Fax: (201)-933-7647
email: info@essexcamera.com
I've used them alot and recommend them highly. They are within driving distance of my home, so I never have a problem with turn-around time usually 7-10 days and done when they promise. The shop if filled with scores of Leicas waiting for repair as well as other manual and electronic cameras. A real candy store.



/T

Essex is a very respected place that's been around a long time. Good rates, too.

[Graybeard]

If you can tolerate a long turnaround time (months), John Maddox will provide service of superb quality on Barnack Leicas. His only rival is DAG. John has access to a surprising variety of new replacement parts, both optical and mechanical. I've never asked John to rush a job - expedited service might be available on request.

I also use the services of Youxin who is a fine technician. John will tackle some work that Youxin doesn't attempt. (Youxin, being an honest man, will tell you just what he doesn't do).

Essex also provides competent service at somewhat higher prices and with a slightly longer turnaround time than Youxin. Essex will sometimes attempt to make parts if new replacements aren't available.

I have had work done at Kinderman and the experience was a bad one. I have'nt dealt with them since and won't in the future.

[canon]

In Praise of Leica Repairman Youxin Ye:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...php?forumid=10

[Stu W]

Gary Camera Repair
228 Hett Avenue
Staten Island
NY 10306
718-987-0278
Gary is from the FSU. I know he works on all Soviet cameras, early Contax, and I believe screw mount Leica. I've heard he is very inexpensive with fast turnaround.

Also there is Eddie Smolov, another FSU immigrant. He works from home, and I believe a number of people on the Forum have used him. He's in Brooklyn, N.Y. 718-541-0952

[Sofa King]

Sherry Krauter
Golden Touch
118 Purgatory Road
Campbell Hall, NY 10916-2616
http://sherrykrauter.com/
(845) 496-8834