How often do you take your cameras / shutters in for a CLA ?

[removed account4]

I guess this title says it all...

How often do you take your shutters ( either ones attached to lenses or cameras or whatever ) in to a repair shop to have it cla's ? I don't mean soak it in lighter fluid and unseize it one night in your garage, i mean take it in / mail it to someone who is actually a repair person who CLA's it to factory tolerances ....

Do you only take your gear in when it acts up?
Do you take it in regularly every 12 months?
Do you do it yourself, maybe not to factory tolerances but good enough, and you know your gear well enough that it all works out?
Do you not have any shuttered lenses because you do slow photography?

 

[Kino]

I work on them as needed; the problems become pretty self-evident in short order and I can usually repair them back to functionality within reasonable tolerances for my own personal use.

If they are beyond repair, it's a bummer, but that's why by in large I purchase complete but broken, gummy, or crusty old cameras and restore them to functionality in the first place. My investment is not so great I will be ruined when something self-destructs and besides, I do enjoy working on the little beasties in my spare time.

When they die, they go on the shelf for a well-deserved retirement and I either find an exact replacement or move on to my next "favorite" camera.

I don't depend on my cameras to make a living; if I did, it would be a different story...

 

[Peltigera]

Never. And I have never had prolems with one.

 

[BrianShaw]

As needed.

 

[guangong]

As needed. For the most part this means on recently purchased used equipment. As for my Leica M and Leicaflex cameras, Rolleis and Hassy, bought new, about every 40 yrs. is about right for an overhaul.
For used equipment, whether from reputable dealer or eBay, I always calculate repair costs into total price.

 

[R.Gould]

as needed

 

[bdial]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[John51]

I have a good camera shop within walking distance. Only had 2 cameras serviced by them so far. A 1934 Super Ikonta C and an Oly 35SP. Fine job on both of them.

Not economic but what will be getting serviced soon is my Kodak Signet 35. For no other reason than I like using it and want to have it in as good a working condition as possible. An OM2n in need of new seals and a clean after that.

I doubt any will be getting serviced twice as I don't use them enough to wear them out. If a serviced camera does break on me, there will be more higher up the to do list.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Per advice of my Hasselblad repairman I fire all my lens shutters every three months on 1 second ten to twenty times, not just the Hasselblad lenses.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

It is only when I detect a camera or lens issue, such as erratic shutter speeds or sticky aperture blades, that I send the camera or lens in for a CLA. I exercise my cameras often enough either through actual photography or routine testing that I can discover issues when they begin to occur.

Most recently was a a Leica M3 I bought in 1986 which was serviced by Youxin last year.

 

[Pentode]

I'll only take a camera in for servicing if it's acting up.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'll only take a camera in for servicing if it's acting up.

+1

 

[Ko.Fe.]

How about RTFM? Show me at least one manual where it is demanding every two years CLA to "bring it to factory tolerances".
Who made crappy cameras like these?

 

[BrianShaw]

How about STFU... until you do some homework?

http://www.nikoncamerarepair.com/faq/

Sure, for many people this is excessive... and,yes, the recommendation may be a tad self-serving. But...

Overhaul frequency is based lot in the usage, not just “good vs crappy”. A long time ago I worked in an environment where we had our Nikons serviced every 2 months. My personal Nikon has been serviced only twice since 1985.

 

[jim10219]

I do my own CLA'ing, and I actually enjoy it. Still, I really only do it when I first get the camera, or if there's an issue. Though, with a couple of exceptions, they don't need any more attention after the first CLA (and sometimes don't even need that, but I like to see how they work). Modern lubricants are a lot more stable than the old ones and modern light seals tend to last a good long while, so as long as I don't have a mishap (like dropping it in the ocean), they generally don't need much help.

If I thought a camera needed a CLA every two years, I'd sell it and get something reliable.

 

[Ces1um]

My father had a pentax k2 which he purchased at auction and had serviced in the late 70's (had a service sticker on the inside). He didn't service it again and shot with it up until about 8 years ago when he gave it to me. The shutter gave out on it very shortly after and the repair centre told me to buy another one as any shutter they put in it would be as old as the one that was in my camera. So that's what, just shy of 40years of faithful service without any service. While it was still working I didn't have any issues with it and the exposure seemed spot on. I don't think I'd service a camera every two years. Maybe you could convince me to do it every decade...