CLA Pentax KX and 50mm f/1.7

[ericdan]

I picked up a Pentax KX and a 50mm f/1.7 a while ago for less than a $100.
It has light leaks, the finder is very dusty and I feels a little stiff.
I sent it over to Kanto Camera for a CLA and was a little surprised at the price they quoted me.

$250 for the body
$100 for the lens

I know they do a fantastic job and it would come back almost better than brand new. But, is it worth it for such a cheap camera?

What does a good CLA cost in the US?
The KX is basically the same as a K1000.

 

[pentaxpete]

Far too expensive . I replaced the rotten foam strips on mine and took off base-plate and lubricated the cogs and levers with a very small amount of sewing machine oil.

 

[GRHazelton]

IIRC Eric Hendrickson, the acknowledged star for Pentax repair in the US, charges about $250 for a CLA on a LX, which is a far more complex machine than the K1000 or the KX. BTW, the KX is a far more capable camera than the K1000.

 

[Hatchetman]

Eric would do it for way less than $250 I would imagine. I think he charges about $60 for a lens.

 

[StanMac]

A second recommendation for Eric Hendrickson. He’s CLA’d a couple of M-series Pentaxes and a K2 and a KM for me - excellent work! I’m still looking for a KX to complete my K-series collection.

Stan

 

[jim10219]

Yeah, when you can buy a body and lens in great condition for less than the price of a CLA, you know it's too much. If he's doing a complete tear down and rebuild and fine tuning everything, I could see why he'd charge so much. It's a lot of work. But that's the reason why camera repair shops are dying off. The depressed prices on the used market and availability of quality examples are just too stiff of competition.

The other day I bought a used camera and it turned out to have a broken electronic shutter. I was going to repair it myself (because I'm fairly good with electronics), but I could buy another working example of the same camera for less than the cost of the one part I needed to repair the old one! And it wasn't even a particularly expensive part (though the shipping wasn't cheap and there was a minimum order of 10). So even with free labor, I still couldn't beat the price of just replacing it! Of course, not every camera on the used market is like this. Some are still worth having repaired. But all too often, just buying another working example in excellent condition is cheaper in the long run (especially if the previous owner has kept up the maintenance). Plus, it gives you a backup body for the tech to pull from in case a part breaks that can't be replaced.

 

[ericdan]

Thanks a lot. I’ll give Eric Hendrickson a go.

 

[GRHazelton]

I'd sent an AsahiFlex IIa to Eric for a CLA and whatever...the camera is identical to one my Father had bought new back in the day. I have his camera, showing the effects of decades of outdoor use, but not abuse. Eric was unable to source a missing spring, IIRC. On an off chance I contacted Advance Camera Repair, and they tackled the job. Not cheap, but they were apparently able to fabricate the spring. Camera works perfectly, and looks new save for a few rubs on the base plate. I'm not recommending Advance over Eric, but they seem to be a possibility alternative. I do need to send an LX and an MX off to Eric for his magic hands.

 

[johnha]

The KX is a much more capable camera than a K1000, probably much older than most K1000s too though. I wouldn't spend money on CLA'ing the lens, 50/1.7s are plentiful and you can get a good one much cheaper than a CLA.

 

[ericdan]

Eric Hendrickson did it for $160. The camera now works. Turn around was less than a month.
Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[cooltouch]

Professional Camera Repair here in Houston did a CLA on my Pentax LX for $80. It had the sticky mirror mechanism syndrome that is very common with LXes and it works great now. They do mail order

http://professionalcamerarepair.com