Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/01/10
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The person who told you that the silver is flaking off is correct. It
is a common occurrence on rangefinders over time. It is fairly easy
to repair if you send it to a good Leica repair person. I would
recommend Dan Goldberg (DAG) in the Midwest, he specializes in Leica.
On the West Coast, there used to be Rudy Lang, Leica trained
technician, but I think that he has retired.The cost for resilvering
was about $150.00 in 1987, when I had that done to my M3. It could be
more now (the work was done by E.Leitz).
The Dual Range Summicron is not worth that much in Southern
California, unless it is sealed in its box, with cards, never touched.
The going rate for the lens is $350.00 in excellent condition, $800 in
pristine, essentially untouched condition, with rangefinder included.
As someone who is turning 33 in two months, I wouldn't be too
concerned about your age on this list. I started working with Leicas
in 1984 while an undergrad. I then had the good fortune of working in
a camera store between 1985-87 and getting involved with Leica then.
I've had an M3, two CLs and an M6 and a number of lenses. I scrounged
every penny to get these bodies and the lenses. One item a year is
usually all I can afford now that I work at a university and must pay
bills, like every one else here. Everyone here has different
experiences with Leicas and we all learn from each other.
Hope this helps. If you want Dan Goldberg's phone and address, let me
know, I'll find it in my files somewhere.
Pablo
pmendoza@ucsd.edu
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: M3 DS problems, questions
Author: MBell@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU at @UCSD
Date: 09/01/1996 3:58 PM
Well, things are slow, so I've screwed up the courage to post to the list.
I am neither a professional photographer nor a collector, so I tend to feel
a little intimidated on this list.
Anyway, I have an M3 double stroke, one of the real early ones with the
non-standard shutter speeds. The lens is a 50/2 Summicron rigid.
First the problem. The split image that I see in the rangefinder is very
faint. It is very difficult to focus unless I have something very bright
against a dark background to focus on. A repairman told me it was probably
the silver flaking off the mirror in the rangefinder and that it would be
expensive to fix. Does this sound right, and does anyone know how much it
would cost to fix?
Regarding the lens, someone told me that it was very valuable because it
has a feature that, with the proper viewfinder attachment, would allow it
to be used as a macro lens. He said it was worth something like $1000 or
more. Does this sound right? I only paid about $350 for both the body and
the lens. I'm pretty sure I got a good deal even though the camera needs
work. It takes incredible pictures, and I really love it even though it is
a pain to focus sometimes. I know I need to send it to Leica, I am just
afraid about how much it will cost. I guess to most of you, who spend
thousands of dollars on a single lens, this cost would seem fairly
insignificant, but I am kinda poor. They don't pay us state employees very
well.
At 30 am I the youngest person on this list? My M3 is certainly older than
I am.
Thanks for your time.
Michael Bell
MBell@mail.utexas.edu
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>From: MBell@MAIL.UTEXAS.EDU (Michael Bell)
>Subject: M3 DS problems, questions