Fixing a Leica M2 camera and lenses

I inherited my father's Leica M2, 35mm rangefinder camera with a 35mm f/1.4 lens and a 90mm f/2.0 lens.  Awesome stuff!

I won't go into a lot of details about what is wrong with these items; here are the highlights:

• The 90mm lens does not focus accurately
• The 35mm lens has lost its focus knob
• The camera body is old (probably bought in 1959).

I have received an estimate from Leica USA in New Jersey on cleaning and repairing these items:

• 90mm lens: $350
• 35mm lens: $335
• Camera body: $800.

I am shocked.  But I shouldn't be, I suppose.  When a new Leica with a Leica lens costs at LEAST $10K, this should have been expected.  Nonetheless, I am shocked!

I haven't fully admitted to myself that I won't pay for this, but I am pretty sure that will be my decision.

So sad....

UPDATE: Aug 10 2013

I decided to get the 90 millimeter lens fixed and I got it back.  since we're talking about film here, it'll be awhile before I can tell if it's any good.  I'll be real disappointed if its not perfect.

Which 70-200mm lens should I buy?

My camera body is the Canon 7D.  I own these lenses right now:

• Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
• Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS
• Tokina 35mm DX Macro
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
• Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS

I am going to sell the 55-250 EF-S on eBay to help fund this purchase. 

Options

Here are the options for the 70-200's on the market (not including old lenses that aren't produced any more, or crazy adapters):

Canon	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM	$      1,299
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II	$      2,199
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM	$      2,000
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM	$      1,149
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/4L USM	$         674
Tamron	AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD [IF] VC MACRO	$         1499
Sigma	70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM	$         1399

IMHO, there is no particular reason to consider the 3^rd party lenses for this purchase.  So it comes down to three choices (eliminating the f/2.8 IS ones because they are too expensive for me right now):

Canon	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM	$      1,299	Old but excellent
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM	$      1,149	New model
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/4L USM	$         674	Old, but excellent

IS or Extra Aperture?

First,  I never use my two IS lenses anymore.  (The actual reason I don’t use them is because they are not nearly as good as my prime lenses (I consider my 11-16mm as a prime).)  I don’t miss the IS on any of my lenses.  I generally beat the non-IS-ness of my primes by taking 3 or 4 pix in rapid fire, and then eliminate the shaky ones.  Sometimes I get 3 or 4 good ones; sometimes I get none; usually I get one.

I image using the 70-200 for low-light, action photography, like on the sidelines of a high school football game this fall.  So, for this situation, IS will be helpful (but so would an extra stop of aperture).

Pros and Cons

From what I know, the new f/2.8L II gets absolutely rave reviews, including a “four-stop” image stabilizer.  The new f/4L IS also touts four-stop stabilization, but I have not seen a specific review of this one yet.  All of the lenses Canon has introduced in the last year or so have been through-the-roof sharp, so I believe the new f/4L IS will be, too.   

Pros and cons, assuming same price and same IQ:

Canon	EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM	Wider aperture
Canon	EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM	Lighter, IS, newer design

My son owns the first one, and I have used it to create some GREAT pix!  For example:

Preliminary Conclusion

At this moment I am leaning towards the f/4L IS.  I need to find an opportunity to rent it.