... blog post:
As is inevitable with passage of time with all rangefinder optics, one of my lovely M lenses reached the point where it needed to be cleaned and re-lubricated but where to send it?
The lens in question was my Zeiss Biogon 21mm f2.8 ZM which is a favourite optic I have used over the last 15 years or so. It had recently developed a small squeak when focusing, a sure sign it was time for it to be CLA'D after all these years of excellent service. CLA'd? - Cleaned, lubricated and adjusted.
In the old days the choice for this would have been obvious, send it to Zeiss themselves who provide a professional service centre in Germany.This you can do either directly or through one of their local dealers if you prefer.
These days, post Brexit, there is a fly in the ointment however and that is the current bloody minded attitude of the EU towards the UK. According to my local Zeiss dealer, my lens would get out to Zeiss in Germany OK and be serviced to Zeiss's usual high standards. But it might not get back out of the EU without negotiating some convoluted impediments designed on their part to cause maximum aggravation and delay or indeed, from his own bitter experience, not get out at all. His words, not mine.
So where to send it. Well a friend recommended Skyllaney here in the UK. They specialise in full servicing of Zeiss, Leica and Voigtlander lenses ancient and modern in the M and LTM mounts. So I did my research and found that they were well respected. So off went my 21mm to them for servicing.
Long story short, after a couple of weeks or so, back it came fully restored to rude health and I must say beautifully CLA'd, the focusing is smooth and perfectly dampened, the optics perfectly cleaned and calibration to the rangefinder spot on. Quality work and all done here in the UK without aggravation and at a very competitive price.
So Skyllaney it is for all my M lens servicing work from now on.