Re: [Leica] Re: Walt, you are dead wrong

[Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>]

This reminds me of the time a took my 75mm Summilux in to a local repair
guy to repair what turned out to be a  loose front element.  When he showed
me the problem, I thought that it would take him no more than a few minites
to do the repair, and asked him if he could do it while I waited.  He
replied by holding out his hands and in an exagereated manner, shook them.
He said that he only undertakes this sort of repair before 10 am while he
was still fresh.   So even though the work looks simple, it is still a
precise piece of equipment that is worth thousands of dollars, and repairs
are not to be taken lightly.

He did a fine job by the way, and the lens was ready the following day.

Dan C.

At 01:47 PM 04-11-00 -0600, Walter S Delesandri wrote:
>Well, Dan, I'll say what I've said before:
>
>I have worked on probably a coupla hundred M cameras...
>most of them between 1978 and 81 (I worked in a shop in 
>Houston, Tx.)...since then, my own, wife's, and a few "friends 
>in need"....I've done as invasive repairs as they get (shutter 
>curtains, sync, etc).....
>
>I've said before, camera repair is something that one needs 
>to do EVERY DAY.....as I haven't done so in 20 years, I 
>even get nervous as hell working on my own...it's a skill, 
>not that much "knowledge"....this is NOT due to a lack of 
>familiarity (contrary to some beliefs, I'm pretty goddamn 
>confident I still understand how an M works)---it's a matter 
>of steadiness of hand, eyesight (I need new glasses, they're 
>fine at normal distances, but since passing 40 my arms are 
>a little short), and >CONFIDENCE<.....
>
>I would encourage anyone with a "sense of rightness" (Norman 
>Goldberg's term) and a delicate touch to LEARN camera repair...
>we need them....but I don't reccomend that ANY non-repair 
>LUGGERS work on their own Leicas....I spent years working 
>on electronic gear and several years working on "lesser" 
>cameras (it was a hobby until I went to work) before working 
>on Nikon, Leica, Hassy, etc....and I wouldn't take on a 
>500C shutter job today, even thought I used to think nothing 
>of two or three a day....used to slip diaphragm blades in 
>a summarit (a real bitch) and think nothing of it....today, 
>it makes my head hurt to consider it....
>
>I don't know what kind of burr got under Jim's saddle, but 
>I have NEVER encouraged shooters to work on their Leicas...
>However, I will comment on their operation and what I consider 
>to be their cost cutting measures...I feel damn qualified to 
>do so....and I won't get pissed and sign off if folks disagree
>with me...I may be an ass, but I can take at least as well 
>as I can dish out...
>
>I don't know how else to say it....don't work on your Leica 
>without lots of experience and apprenticeship....either read 
>my posts or filter the damn things, I don't give a shit...but 
>don't let it bother all of you, I sure don't...I have friends 
>on here and I believe they want to read my posts....It's a
>free list and my damn homebuilt computer...and my Leicas work 
>just fine, and always will...RF alignment and all...so it clearly 
>ain't my problem.
>
>Thanks for the post, DAn, and sorry for the minor outburst... :) :)
>Walt
>
>On Sat,
>4
>Nov 2000, Dan Cardish
>wrote:
>
>> Walt, now that we have definitively and forever determined that it is not
>> necessary to remove the top plate ever, ever, ever, is removing the top
>> plate and adjusting the vertical alignment a job that can be done by the
>> non-technically minded among us, as an alternative to getting this special
>> tool that Jim has?   
>> 
>> Dan C.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>   At 08:04 AM 04-11-00 -0600, Walter S Delesandri wrote:
>> >Mark, Jim, etc....
>> >I'll concede on this one....I don't see that removing the top 
>> >of an M6 is a big deal, and I will never understand why they 
>> >would change the design after 25 years, but hey, I don't have 
>> >any info to refute it....
>> >
>> >[snip]
>> 
>> 
>
>
>