How do you know if a repair tech is good?

[Ariston]

There are many recommendations on this forum, but I am curious how to know if a tech has done a good job or not. If, like me, you are mechanically declined, how do you know they didn't just squirt some motor oil down in the camera? How do you know the shutter speeds are calibrated, if you have no means of checking it yourself?

 

[MattKing]

For one thing, they tend to return the camera looking much better than when you delivered it to them.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Test with film. If they adjusted the shutter speeds, shoot a series at each speed, take notes, and see if the exposures seem to be spaced correctly.

 

[eddie]

I'm camera mechanics illiterate, too. The only way I knew if a good job was done was through use.

 

[Les Sarile]

If, like me, you are mechanically declined, how do you know they didn't just squirt some motor oil down in the camera? How do you know the shutter speeds are calibrated, if you have no means of checking it yourself?

If motor oil drips from your camera then it's a good bet the tech is no good . . .

I understand there are aps + hardware you can use to accurately test shutter speeds.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If they fixed the problem.

 

[Tel]

Before you send them your camera, ask if they provide a warranty on the work, and for how long...and then shoot a test roll as soon as you get it back. A good tech will usually provide documentation of shutter speed and collimation testing that they (should) have done. If it's just a CLA, shoot the test roll but pay attention to smoothness of the action, crispness of the shutter and cleanliness of the camera. Anyone with any standards will return it to you spotless and functioning smoothly.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If they repair or adjust the camera for the better.
If they look over the problem and tell me not to spend money on that camera or lens.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Test with film. If they adjusted the shutter speeds, shoot a series at each speed, take notes, and see if the exposures seem to be spaced correctly.

Also test the flash. My first 35 mm SLR was a Nikkormat FTN. These have two PC terminals, one for X (electronic flash, fires the flash when the shutter is fully open), the other for M (M class flash bulbs, fires the flash before the shutter opens). I broke the X terminal, took the camera to a highly regarded local shop. The tech replaced the X terminal, rewired the terminals so that the X terminal gave M and the M terminal gave X. I didn't check, lost every flash shot I took on a field trip.

 

[Ariston]

Also test the flash. My first 35 mm SLR was a Nikkormat FTN. These have two PC terminals, one for X (electronic flash, fires the flash when the shutter is fully open), the other for M (M class flash bulbs, fires the flash before the shutter opens). I broke the X terminal, took the camera to a highly regarded local shop. The tech replaced the X terminal, rewired the terminals so that the X terminal gave M and the M terminal gave X. I didn't check, lost every flash shot I took on a field trip.

I have a camera that I sent to a tech because the hot shoe didn't fire my flash. He sent it back and said the flash worked fine. I tried two different flashes, that both worked fine on other cameras, but neither fired. So I took it to a local(ish) shop, and the guy grabbed a flash he had, and put it on the camera, and it fired fine.

To this day, I don't know what's going on. I bought another flash and it, too, does not work on that camera, but works on my others. There must be a ghost in my house that hates that camera.

 

[Huss]

Some techs are living on former glory and no longer are capable or willing to do the quality of work that they became famous for. I have had experiences with two.
Perform a google search and see if there have been issues.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Some techs are living on former glory and no longer are capable or willing to do the quality of work that they became famous for. I have had experiences with two.
Perform a google search and see if there have been issues.

You must deal with the wrong people. I have never had an experience like that. When a repair did not correct the problem or caused another, the problems was professionally corrected promptly.

 

[Dan Fromm]

You must deal with the wrong people. I have never had an experience like that. When a repair did not correct the problem or caused another, the problems was professionally corrected promptly.

Y'know, sometimes that's too late. See post #9 above.

 

[Auer]

If I needed a tech, I would ask here or in other reputable communities online. And probably also my local Mom & Pop camera store.
As it is I tend to use cameras that either I can fix myself or a easy/affordable to replace.

 

[Les Sarile]

Y'know, sometimes that's too late. See post #9 above.

Clearly a good tech admits their mistake and do their best to make it right. Unfortunately nobody can recover an outing so it's best to test the camera before a trip or important shoot.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Also test the flash. My first 35 mm SLR was a Nikkormat FTN. These have two PC terminals, one for X (electronic flash, fires the flash when the shutter is fully open), the other for M (M class flash bulbs, fires the flash before the shutter opens). I broke the X terminal, took the camera to a highly regarded local shop. The tech replaced the X terminal, rewired the terminals so that the X terminal gave M and the M terminal gave X. I didn't check, lost every flash shot I took on a field trip.

Y'know, sometimes that's too late. See post #9 above.

All of the equipment should have been lined up before the repairman and the repairman should have shown how to make the flashes work.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Clearly a good tech admits their mistake and do their best to make it right. Unfortunately nobody can recover an outing so it's best to test the camera before a trip or important shoot.

Right, Shame on me. The moral is to trust no one.

 

[Dan Fromm]

All of the equipment should have been lined up before the repairman and the repairman should have shown how to make the flashes work.

He made the terminal work. Incorrectly. The flash(es) flashed in the field, unfortunately while the shutter was closed. It is true that I should have checked -- trust no one -- but the tech should have checked too.

 

[Les Sarile]

Right, Shame on me. The moral is to trust no one.

It's called risk mitigation. If I have an important shoot, I make sure everything I need is there and works ahead of time. Of course there are those things that we send out beyond the edge of the solar system that would be hard to repair . . .

 

[btaylor]

Right, Shame on me. The moral is to trust no one.

Correct. If it is an important shoot, all the equipment including the back up gear should be film tested and verified. Any technician can (and will!) make a mistake, so the equipment must be tested by the user before the shoot.

 

[MattKing]

It is more a question of:
"Trust, but verify".
Flash synch is a tough one to verify without test shots.

 

[Europan]

Technician here. I have made mistakes. One, lately, was a pure neglect thing in one place. Since I give warranty on my work I remedied the problem and reimbursed the client the expenses she had with a roll of film and processing. I think I can only be a good service person, if I know what I do. I keep records on every job, so in case something needs to be sorted out I can read up the story. The rest is present in front of me.

 

[jacaquarie]

Having been the service technical (not camera, ) for 35 years. There is a type of pride and a plaeaure from bringing the dead back to life. It is not always possible to test every accessorie or applications. The vast majority of problems are operators and users. Not machine problems.
And the most important part, have the conversation with the technican. Give good information. Respect there may be years and decades of knowlege and experience. I have to say if you think you are so dammed smart then you fix it! There is the reason you take the item to be repaired. You do not have these skills. respect that he (or she) does have the skills!

The technical guys, servie and repair are what are keeping the modern world together for you.

 

[ic-racer]

Keeping film photography equipment in working order has become part of the art form just as emulsion making has.

Not everyone can repair everything so dedicated service technicians are still in much need just like we still need the commercial film and paper coating industry.

I wish there were some way that repair technicians could keep their field alive by mentoring via the internet. Seems like every month I read about a service center closing because the main repair technician has passed away.

I try to start a thread in the repair forum here with every repair I undertake.

 

[ic-racer]

I know in the music education business, internet based instruction and even one-on-one teaching is possible. I think we could have training via the internet. In the old days one could learn camera repair via surface mail , FAX and phone calls. I'd like to think today's communication technology could improve on that.