email: tucsonanalog@gmail.com

CLEAN, LUBE, ADJUST

Leica M cameras ....$300

M2, M3, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M1

Curtain reattachment: Add $150

Curtain replacement: Add $200

Aki-Asahi covering: Add $75

Prices include parts and labor

Canon rangefinders ....$300

P, VI-L, L1, L2, 7

Lenses (Summicron 50mm and similar)...$150

other rangefinder lenses, please inquire

Leica M5, M6, MP, M-A: Please inquire

6 week turnaround.

6 month warranty.

Contact me directly at: tucsonanalog@gmail.com

I have limited access to parts, especially viewfinder parts. For viewfinder upgrades or prism repair, I recommend Don Goldberg / DAG Camera Repair.

Please email me and I'll be happy to discuss your particular camera.

I've been repairing cameras for 25 years and have been servicing used cameras for Tucson's Monument Camera since 2021.

Pay them a visit when you are in Tucson! They are simply the best resource for film photographers in the Southwest.

(*Note that Monument Camera does not take in customer's cameras for repair. I only repair select items in their sale inventory.)

About my repairs:

I am a filmmaker and photographer. I started repairing my own still and movie cameras out of dissatisfaction with the high cost, poor attention to detail, and long wait times of many repair shops.

It's a true testament to great engineering that many older Leicas continue to work despite needing service. So what is the best way to tell if your Leica is due for service?

Besides the obvious reasons, the most reliable sign that your camera needs a CLA is to determine if your shutter curtain is properly completing it's travel:

Looking at the camera from the back, without film, fire your shutter and pay attention to the metal strip on the leading edge of the 2nd shutter curtain. At the slower speeds (1/30 and below) you should be able to see, at most, a small amount of the metal strip on the left side after the curtain stops. At higher speeds, 1/125 and up, the metal strip should disappear entirely, so you should see only the plain curtain material in the film frame. If there is a significant amount of the metal part showing, that is a good general indicator that your lubricants that have become dry and sticky.

My approach to repairing Leicas:

I have a little mental trick in that every time I start a repair, I pretend like it is my own camera. What do I like, or dislike, about the way it works? Will I be able to rely on it for that once-in-a-lifetime shot that may come my way tomorrow? I ask questions like: what do I need to do to make that advance mechanism smoother? Will I have to address any mistakes by a previous repairer? How about the internal light seals--are they loose or deteriorating? Does the shutter sound right? Are there any other quirks that need to be addressed? And what about that last stubborn dust speck in the viewfinder?

I don't just flush a Leica with cleaning fluid and hope for the best, I disassemble and clean every part that can be practically removed.

I pay special attention to the shutter braking mechanism, curtain drum pivot points, and speed control mechanism.

The entire viewfinder assembly is also removed and cleaned separately, to avoid contamination with shutter lubricants.

I go beyond just testing shutter speeds; I want to make sure the shutter is producing a perfectly even exposure across the entire frame, especially at the highest speeds of 1/1000 and 1/500. This takes an eye that is attuned to subtle variations in light intensity and the ability to recognize anomalies that might not be noticed until the film is developed.

THE PROCESS:

Every repair happens over at least 4-5 days. Day 1 is the initial examination and cleaning. Day 2 is a drying-out period and further detailed examination; on day 3, new lubricants are applied. Over the next day or two, the mechanism is exercised frequently, giving the new lubricants time to settle. Only after this point can I be sure the camera will operate consistently and maintain any adjustments I will make.

Repairers who flush clean, lubricate and reassemble the same day are risking a camera that may fall out of adjustment within days, and unfortunately, they're relying on the fact that many customers won't notice. For me, slow and steady is the only way to go.

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I have great respect for Leica's influence in the art of photography and I know how important these cameras are to the future of film.

CASSETTE DECKS

Specializing in AIWA, SONY, NAKAMICHI, JVC and more.

Starting at $350 + parts.

Other audio equipment (such as amplifiers or turntables) please inquire.

TUCSON ANALOG WORKSHOP

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