[Leica] Infrared conversions - a cautionary tale

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

As I noted with the picture I posted today, I recently got my 350D 
back with an 87 filter, and am very happy with the results:

http://www.archiphoto.com/Various/WPacTrail.jpg

It provides excellent quality, and focusses well with the lenses I 
use most often for these type of shots.


However, now that it's done, I'd like to relate how this came about. 
I'm posting this to various lists.

About 2 years ago I had a Canon D60 that was not being used much 
anymore, and wanted to get it converted. I asked and looked around, 
and found this web site:

http://ww.irdigital.net/

and contacted the owner, David Sparer, at irguy@irdigital.net.

After some questions, and reasonable replies, I sent off the camera 
and $410.00US to him.

Thereafter I sent e-mails enquiring whether he had received 
everything OK and re: the progress every month. Three months later he 
e-mailed saying he was having difficulties with the camera and that 
it appeared to have been damaged.

The camera had been working fine at all times when I had it. He had 
not said that the packaging had been damaged and no specifics to put 
in a claim against the shipper.

He then didn't respond for a while, and 5 months after I sent him the 
camera and money said that the camera has 'severe impact damage'. He 
then said that he had another D60 that he would convert for me and 
would thus replace the camera. That is the last I heard from him.

So he wound up with my camera and my money.

I had a lawyer friend in the US write him a note, but there was no response.

A very bad experience, and hopefully a warning to others.


The 350D that I now have was sent to David Burren in Australia, and 
while the process was somewhat slow, the results were excellent. He 
appeared to be quite busy, and now has transferred his conversion 
business to another company. I can only assume that the quality of 
the conversion by the new company will also be excellent, as he and 
the company seem to have a close relationship.

-- 
    *            Henning J. Wulff
   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
  /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
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