Keh repair shop?

Greg_E · Mar 15, 2008

How is Keh for repairs? I have a Mamiya 645 500/f5.6 lens that needs a little work and I don't feel like trying it myself. I sent Mamiya USA an email, but never heard back from them so I'm thinking of sending it to Keh.

r-brian · Mar 15, 2008

I had KEH repair a Nikon F3 of mine. Good communication, fast turn around and a great job. Not only do they repair the problem, but they also do a basic CLA as part of the price. My F3 meter wasn't working properly. The replaced a part and also check the shutter, replaced the mirror foam and who knows what else. I definitely recommend their service.

Dug · Mar 16, 2008

Had them fix a Hasselblad lens: the 1/8th and 1/15th on the shutter were not working, so I sent a description of the problem and asked for repair and CLA. After a long delay they sent a letter stating they could not work on it until they had a go-ahead and they did not have my phone number or email address (they actually had both). I called and emailed them so they could get started. The lens was returned and the shutter had the same issue: the 1/8th and 1/15th were still not working. I sent it back and they called to tell me an additional part was needed and I would have to pay an additional $54 tacked onto the original repair and CLA bill. One month, two sets of insured shipping charges, and an additional $54 got the lens working.

Maybe bad luck on my part, but I thought I would get some kind of break on the extra shipping, extra time, and extra parts required for the repair.

The work ended up OK, but I would not put them at the top of my list. YMMV

Greg_E · Mar 16, 2008

Thanks. Anyone else?

mongo141 · Mar 16, 2008

Camera Repair

Greg_E said:
Thanks. Anyone else?

I have not had any service work done by KEH but have purchased a lot of equipment from them with few problems. I can however highly reccomend ESSEX for repair and service work. They did an excellent job on a Leica, it is as smooth as butter. Dave

Vonder · Mar 16, 2008

I think KEH is fine as far as mechanical things, but if it's electronic, they're often clueless. No slight meant - I don't think even highly-respected shops like Gary's can do much with complex electronic bodies. I have not used their repair but the one all-electronic body I bought from them was defective and it took a long time to get a refund.

Greg_E · Mar 19, 2008

Well so far Mamiya USA, Keh, and Essex don't seem to want to take my money. No replies from anyone. I'll try a different email account with Essex to see if something got stuck in a spam folder. Or is there some kind of trade show or some odd Photo repair place holiday that is messing things up???

Anyone else in the USA that will service Mamiya lenses?

Drew B. · Mar 19, 2008

you tried http://www.mamiya.com/customer-service-service-repair.html ?? Hmmm...

MarvinKatt · Mar 19, 2008

Repair experience

Hi, I sent Keh a couple of cameras, a Fuji GSW645 and a Bronica RF645 w/lens. The Fuji had a stuck advance lever, it came back and the lever was working but now the meter didn't work. The Bronica had a vertical misalingment of the focusing patch, it came back and it was vertically alinged but now it won't focus past twenty feet. I won't be using them again.

Greg_E · Mar 19, 2008

Yup tried that and used the contact link to try to get in touch with them by email to see if they still worked on this older line of stuff. With the new owners anything is possible. Basically I'm not going to just drop my lens in the mail and hope that they are still there and still work on that stuff.

Looking at Essex, they really only claim to service Leica stuff, so it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't get back to me because they can't/won't service Mamiya.

So again the question is asked, who else can I try?

Travis Nunn · Mar 19, 2008

Why don't you just try calling KEH?

TimVermont · Mar 19, 2008

MarvinKatt said:
Hi, I sent Keh a couple of cameras, a Fuji GSW645 and a Bronica RF645 w/lens. The Fuji had a stuck advance lever, it came back and the lever was working but now the meter didn't work. The Bronica had a vertical misalingment of the focusing patch, it came back and it was vertically alinged but now it won't focus past twenty feet. I won't be using them again.

Hi Marvin,

Can't help with the Bronica, but Fuji's own east coast service in NJ is excellent, and Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz is very good as well. Can't recommend Fuji's CA office, at least for 6x9's.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 19, 2008

For modern Japanese cameras and also I think Hasselblad (which I suppose is a modern Japanese camera these days), Nippon Camera Service in NYC has an excellent reputation. They won't touch things they can't fix, so call them first. I think this is their website--

http://members.aol.com/nipponpc/

I remember their name as slightly different, but the address looks right.

23mjm · Mar 19, 2008

I have had great luck with Mamiya. They were fast and service was great, a little spendy. As far as emailing me normally with in 24 hours. I ask them a question about a TLR lens, they said that they had the parts, they did and fixed the lens right up.

dc1215 · Mar 20, 2008

I had my Mamiya repaired by KEH and they were absolutely great for me. Not only did they get the repair done in half of the estimated time, but they also sent me a detailed list of what was wrong with the camera and how they fixed it, just because I was curious. Very nice people to communicate with as well.

jd callow · Mar 20, 2008

MAC (Mamiya of Amirica Corp) has repaired and serviced my mamiyas many time and have done a great job. Try calling them. I always call and always get an answer

Greg_E · Mar 21, 2008

After almost two weeks, Keh finally got back to me with a quote of around $100 (pre-inspection). The listed amount for most repairs with Mamiya is $146 so I'll have to decide which one to send it to based on some of the stories above.

John Koehrer · Mar 21, 2008

To be fair to KEH & their estimate. A dollar to a donut says if you send it to them they'll get back to you with a $146 estimate. Assuming no parts are needed.
I once worked for a shop that had a minimum charge($20) for a cla and 90% of the time it turned into the standard repair for that camera($65+). They're betting that once you've spent the $100 you're not going to refuse the extra $46. Seems to work though. It's that first $100 that's the hurdle.

Keh repair shop?

Greg_E

r-brian

Dug

Greg_E

mongo141

Vonder

Greg_E

Drew B.

MarvinKatt

Greg_E

Travis Nunn

TimVermont

David A. Goldfarb

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23mjm

dc1215

jd callow

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Greg_E

John Koehrer

Keh repair shop?

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