Leica Camera Repair Handbook (Paperback)

by Thomas Tomosy (Author) "The I(A) was the first commercially produced Leica model..." (more)
Key Phrases: focus sensor arm, collectable cameras, second curtain latch, Leica Standard, Brass Black (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With great detail this book outlines all of the techniques needed to repair and restore Leica cameras, lenses and accessories including light meters, winders/motors, viewfinders, and flash units. Each model of equipment is discussed individually with step-by-step illustrated instructions. Readers will not only learn how to disassemble and repair equipment, but also how to troubleshoot and make cosmetic restorations. A glossary of technical terms and an abstract containing the fundamentals of camera repair are included.

About the Author

Thomas Tomosy is a European-trained master camera technician, teacher, and writer. He is the author of Restoring the Great Classic and Collectible Cameras, Restoring the Great Collectible Cameras (1945–70), and Camera Maintenance and Repair: Book 2. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936262877
• ISBN-13: 978-0936262871
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #480,349 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Leica Camera Repair Handbook Review, January 5, 2000

By	Z. Basha (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Superficial, not enough to really get you started on actually repairing Leica Cameras. Covers way too many models from all the screw mounts, M and even R models with 1-2 pages at the most for each one. The book essentially gives you an idea of what it takes to repair cameras but is not a step by step illustrated guide for actually repairing them. This is what I expected and was disappointed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Book Not In Need Of Editorial Superlatives, October 1, 2001

By A Customer

This book is a fabulous compendium of Leica nuts and bolts and mechanical esoterica, rolled into a little more than 100 pages plus appendices. No, it is not encyclopedic in its coverage, nor would it be practical to aspire to such an objective given the number of pages available. Yet it is difficult to imagine a more concise and engaging source. Personally, I am troubled by promoters and spin doctors, and regret that the editorial billing shown above oversells the capability of any one-volume source. Phrases like "with GREAT DETAIL this book outlines ALL of the techniques needed to repair and restore Leica cameras, lenses..." are plainly implausible in the eyes of any Leica afficionado, given the variety and complexity of the cameras and lenses offered by this superb maker. Yet I was instantly drawn to this book and deeply impressed by the amount of ground that the author covers in a short space. The book is well worth the asking price. On sale, it is a steal.

H. Thomas Mitchell

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Acceptable introduction, not advance in the literature, November 23, 2004

By	Keith Carlsen "widgeonkeeper" (Asheville, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

Leicaphiles with a desire to work on SM and M mount Leicas have several books to choose from. Because the U.S. military purchased them in quantity and because military manuals are, when not classified, in the public domain there is the military manual: there are National Camera and Valera books which still circulate and have been reprinted by Ed Romney and others: and factory Leica repair documentation exists in some quantity even if not officially available "outside the trade". Romney and Lippincott have also written on Leica extensively as did Izaak Maizenberg in his Russian camera book, inasmuch as several Russian cameras were copies of Leicas.

This covers the same stuff, and does a reasonable job, although some things such as curtain replacement aren't as covered as would be appropriate.

Although Leicas are among the better cameras to work on, they are valuable enough that they are best left alone by beginners. That sort of limits the legitimate market for a book such as this, so that although I think Tomosy has done a reasonable job, this is an area that really requires an exceptional effort to build on the available literature. I do encourage him to write more camera repair books but I hope he will concentrate more on areas where beginners and casual hobbyists can concentrate their efforts without incurring big bills for each 'oops'. Perhaps a book on mechanical 35mm Pentaxes or the electronic Bronicas that digital has made hobbyist-attractive (for electronic fans) on eBay might be in the future.