F2 CLA

abruzzi · Nov 27, 2019

I know everyone's first answer is Sover Wong in the UK, but his price and wait time are not commensurate with a "bargain" grade backup camera. The only other source I can find (and US sources are far preferable) is CameraQuest who still charges more than I'd like to spend to get the shutter correctly timed (not concerned about the meter head which is fine). Is there anyone else in the US that works on these? Am I spoiled because Eric Hendrikson charges $100 for a full CLA on a Pentax?

Ariston · Nov 27, 2019

You can call these guys: http://www.cameraservicepro.com/

I don't kmow their CLA prices, but I had a repair done on an RB and it wasn't unreasonable. They also fixed an old free WLF I found for a 500c for about $35.

If you call them, will you report back here and let me know what they charge? I have similar cameras.

BradS · Nov 27, 2019

abruzzi said:
I know everyone's first answer is Sover Wong in the UK, but his price and wait time are not commensurate with a "bargain" grade backup camera. The only other source I can find (and US sources are far preferable) is CameraQuest who still charges more than I'd like to spend to get the shutter correctly timed (not concerned about the meter head which is fine). Is there anyone else in the US that works on these? Am I spoiled because Eric Hendrikson charges $100 for a full CLA on a Pentax?

I feel the same way about Sover Wong..I'm sure he does a fantastic job but the 14 month (last time I looked) wait is not practical....and yes, expect to pay $175~$200 for a complete overhaul of the Nikon F2 (body only). Erik's prices are very low for what he does...but, I think he's able to keep low prices because he works out of his home and really, has no overhead (doesn't have to pay employees and lease a shop, etc....).

On the bright side, the F2 is a professional camera - it was designed to be relatively easily serviced by trained technicians. Any competent repair technician that's been around for a while (a few decades) will be able to service the Nikon F2. However, unless they are a Nikon Authorized repair place, they almost certainly will not have parts.

abruzzi · Nov 27, 2019

Thanks. I have immense respect for these guys, and if you are the best, like Mr. Wong supposedly is, and you can charge those prices, more power to him. CameraQuest's prices aren't unreasonable, but they are at the absolute upper end of what I'd pay for a camera with brassing and minor dents. It seems more reasonable for a mint camera though. The last camera I had CLA'd was a Minolta X700 which went to Garry's Camera for $50, which is a little insanely underpriced in my mind. Eric's $100 is a good price and I wouldn't hesitate.

BradS · Nov 27, 2019

Try Dean's in LA...

Dean's Camera Repair
1055 W Carson St.
Torrance, CA 90502
(310) 782-8619

Ko.Fe. · Nov 27, 2019

I wonder how OP lives? Five bucks per hour? This is that his demand for service person of F2 is.

abruzzi · Nov 28, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
I wonder how OP lives? Five bucks per hour? This is that his demand for service person of F2 is.

are you saying a CLA takes 30 hours to complete?

Ko.Fe. · Nov 28, 2019

abruzzi said:
are you saying a CLA takes 30 hours to complete?

All I’m saying service people should be not expected living in poverty.

CMoore · Nov 29, 2019

Wow..... 1-1/2 years to wait for Sover.?
He did 2x F2 for me... about 3 years ago. I THINK the wait was about 6 months, but some people dropped out of the queue, so it went much faster. I am in the usa and i am not sure if i would go that expense again. However, Sover does do an excellent job. His passion for the F2 is admirable.

You would have to ask Michael if he works on the F2, but....... i have had a few different Olympus and Minolta and now (one) Canon F-1 worked on by Zacks.
He seems to be an Honest/Competent tech..... and they support APUG.
I was very happy with him as well.

http://zackscamerarepair.com/

cooltouch · Nov 29, 2019

Professional Camera Repair in Houston, Texas. I've used them before. They're fast, they do good work, and they're reasonably priced. Recently I had them do a CLA on my Pentax LX -- $80. Compare that to Eric's prices.

http://professionalcamerarepair.com/

abruzzi · Nov 30, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
All I’m saying service people should be not expected living in poverty.

But you claimed that I was trying to pay them some obscenely low wage, which I’m not, unless it takes 30 hours to do a CLA. What I need done probably takes 3-4 hours, and I’m not offering to pay $20. Plenty of repair persons, even some with stellar reputations, do this sort of work for $100-$150. Again, I don’t begrudge those that can get away with charging more, I’m just not going to pay it, because there is a maximum value that the service is worth to me.

LeftCoastKid · Nov 30, 2019

CMoore said:
Wow..... 1-1/2 years to wait for Sover.?
He did 2x F2 for me... about 3 years ago. I THINK the wait was about 6 months, but some people dropped out of the queue, so it went much faster. I am in the usa and i am not sure if i would go that expense again. However, Sover does do an excellent job. His passion for the F2 is admirable. [snip]

Likewise, Sover did three of my F2s near, I'm guessing, at about the same time as yours (the wait was several months, as I recall). Given that I have four non-F2 bodies to use, I wasn't particularly concerned about the turnaround. Cost-wise? No regrets: Sover's work is thorough; and he does email details of the CLA. The bodies he serviced operate as new. I have a few more CLA's pending: a pair of F2ASs (body and meters) as well as a couple of MD-2s for upgrading to brass gears; the nod, of course, will go to Sover.

CMoore · Nov 30, 2019

Hear Hear

For me he did -
1x F2A
2x F2S

MattKing · Nov 30, 2019

abruzzi said:
are you saying a CLA takes 30 hours to complete?

The technician's wage is probably a small fraction (10%?) of the business' overhead.

EarlJam · Nov 30, 2019

Cameraquest (Los Angeles area) does F2 body and meter prism CLAs as well.

Nikon F or F2 CLA A CLA is and adjustment and cleaning -- and does not include repairs of broken or worn out parts. Due to wear accurate adjustments of shutter speeds or rangefinders is not always possible. Likewise viewfinders / rangefinders do not always clean up as well due to damage/decay. Exactly how well will YOUR camera adjust in a CLA? Most of classic cameras are 40 years or older and generally without factory support at this point in time (the notable exception being Leica M's). Nevertheless the large majority of classic mechanical cameras will adjust out fine with a CLA, but inevitably some can not be adjusted well due to wear and deterioration. $195 labor (plus parts) CLA, F2 battery compartment $150, F2 lever advance meter switch $125

Nikon F and F2 Photomic Meter Repairs : Repair, overhaul, re-calibration for all F or F2 Photomic DP-1, F2A Meters $150; F2S, F2SB, F2AS overhauls $175, plus repairs as necessary. ABOUT HALF the inoperative F Photomics (all models) and F2 DP1 Photomics need replacement resistor rings which are no longer available. If that is the case, you will receive a refund minus a $50 labor and shipping fee.

https://cameraquest.com/repairs.htm

F2 CLA

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