Am thinking of getting a screw Leica (again!). It may well need a CLA. USA Leicaphiles seem well blessed with independent servicers who are keenly recommended (e.g. Sherry), but it's not so easy in UK, I believe, apart from using Leica UK themselves, which may be the best answer but will also be the most expensive, I imagine. Any experience of UK Leica servicing to share?

And is it a good idea to use my M lenses on a screw Leica (35mm pre-Asph Summicron, and latest 50mm Summicron)?

Many thanks.

-- James Harper (drjh@btinternet.com), November 17, 2001

Answers

Hallo James,

I´am not from the UK, so I can´t help you on the CLA issue.

But unless you have those recent limited production screw- mount lenses - meant for the market in Japan to fight COSINA/ VOIGTLÄNDER back - you won´t be able to use M-lenses on a Barnack- LEICA.

The genesis went vice versa: via adopters you could use (and you still can do this) the older lenses together with the modern M-body.

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), November 17, 2001.

This place comes highly recommended:

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page8.html

They are one of the last places who repair M rangefinders rather than replacing them.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 17, 2001.

Many thanks to all for the helpful advice, as ever!

-- James Harper (drjh@btinternet.com), November 20, 2001.

James, I've used Leica UK a number of times over the last year or two (CLA, modifications and repairs). Yes, they are not cheap. They are, however, thorough and good, as you'd expect for the authorised service agent. They will give you an estimate for any work and won't start until you've accepted it. They have a GBP 15 handling charge if you decide not to proceed with the work. Try them. I'll certainly go back when I have to.

-- Mark Jones (DavidMarkJones@aol.com), November 20, 2001.