Nikon S4

[Strembicki]

I got my S4 back from its CLA today, very smooth running now and rangefinder perfect, purchased it from eBay Japan and CLA by Dave Camera Repair in MI and in the end the total cost to me camera and CLA was $625. I highly recommend Dave, but it took 5 weeks but it seems worth it. He reported the camera was basically dried out inside and had some loose screws but overall in good shape.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I got my S4 back from its CLA today, very smooth running now and rangefinder perfect, purchased it from eBay Japan and CLA by Dave Camera Repair in MI and in the end the total cost to me camera and CLA was $625. I highly recommend Dave, but it took 5 weeks but it seems worth it. He reported the camera was basically dried out inside and had some loose screws but overall in good shape.

Great camera. If I were to use a rangefinder camera, that one is at the top of the list with a few well chosen competitors. Enjoy and shoot more film with it.

 

[Trask]

That's a good-looking, and now good performing, camera. Thanks for sharing your positive experience with Dave Camera Repair -- I, for one, will keep him in mind for any work on my cameras.

 

[Strembicki]

I think its worth adding to this small thread that I purchased the camera from a dealer in Japan who described it as EX+++++ and when I got it, the shutter button stuck 3-4 times in the course of a roll and the film advance was very stiff. I realize its a 58 year old camera but I have found the eBay dealers in Japan have their own sense of what is EX+++++ and any buyer needs to take that into account. I did send him a message about fungus and mold ( it did not have any BTW-another common complaint about eBay cameras from Japan) and he did reply that the camera was "perfect". For me the good news was that when I told he post sale the issues with the camera he agreed to refund part of the sale to me to help cover the CLA which I thought was a nice thing. I think we all need to keep in mind, weather its a Contact IIa or a Leica M3 that these are all older machines that will need a proper CLA to make them fully operational again.

 

[Moose22]

That's a whole different discussion, but I'm not surprised.

Some of the less scrupulous dealers will have lenses mint- or ex++++ that have fungus. You pretty much have to stick to mint or top mint to not be gambling with stuff like this. Anything less always look for a discount, and always get the seller pays refund policy. It really seems like there's some level of quality inflation going on, new japanese sellers doing the same rating garbage.

That said, it's good he tried to step up. I've bought some from Japan and by choosing sellers carefully have had good experiences. That camera, with a fresh CLA, is great! Now you know the shutter timings are in spec, and can enjoy it.

 

[250swb]

Yes, Japanese dealers, they do go from fantastic to fantasist. I've only had one poor experience (and it wasn't game changing) so I'm glad you've got your S4 firing on all cylinders and can enjoy using it. I think one thing is certain, your Nikon is likely to be far more reliable than a Contax, or even a Leica M3.

 

[David888]

Yes, Japanese dealers, they do go from fantastic to fantasist. I've only had one poor experience (and it wasn't game changing) so I'm glad you've got your S4 firing on all cylinders and can enjoy using it. I think one thing is certain, your Nikon is likely to be far more reliable than a Contax, or even a Leica M3.

I bought a Canon 7s from one of them listed with working meter. When I got it the meter was as dead as a doorknob. The seller claimed it must have died during shipping?? He did reimburse me $40.00 for the trouble.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I bought a Canon 7s from one of them listed with working meter. When I got it the meter was as dead as a doorknob. The seller claimed it must have died during shipping?? He did reimburse me $40.00 for the trouble.

I would return it. The meter will not die due to shipping.

 

[Arthurwg]

I think its worth adding to this small thread that I purchased the camera from a dealer in Japan who described it as EX+++++ and when I got it, the shutter button stuck 3-4 times in the course of a roll and the film advance was very stiff. I realize its a 58 year old camera but I have found the eBay dealers in Japan have their own sense of what is EX+++++ and any buyer needs to take that into account. I

In Japan, if it looks good it is good, to to mention th occasional bait-and-switch.

 

[250swb]

In Japan, if it looks good it is good, to to mention th occasional bait-and-switch.

Difficult to carry off if you've made the purchase and when it arrives the serial number number is wrong. I mean, you have evidence of the thing you clicked on don't you? And there are countries where 'never give a sucker an even break' rules over any possible and residual code of ethics the Japanese have. I recently bought from Japan on eBay a Voigtlander SP 35mm Skopar for my Nikon SP, described as mint condition, delivery 21 days. It was mint when it arrived, perfect in fact, and it arrived in three days from Japan to the UK. The only time I've had a problem was a Nikon F2 and with a DE-1 head, but when I put a DP-1 head on it didn't work, solution, clean the battery contacts. There is a lot of hand wringing and worry about bogie men out there to get you, especially dealing with foreigners, and it's largely paranoia.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Difficult to carry off if you've made the purchase and when it arrives the serial number number is wrong. I mean, you have evidence of the thing you clicked on don't you? And there are countries where 'never give a sucker an even break' rules over any possible and residual code of ethics the Japanese have. I recently bought from Japan on eBay a Voigtlander SP 35mm Skopar for my Nikon SP, described as mint condition, delivery 21 days. It was mint when it arrived, perfect in fact, and it arrived in three days from Japan to the UK. The only time I've had a problem was a Nikon F2 and with a DE-1 head, but when I put a DP-1 head on it didn't work, solution, clean the battery contacts. There is a lot of hand wringing and worry about bogie men out there to get you, especially dealing with foreigners, and it's largely paranoia.

I avoid that by buying from KEH which has a great return, replace or reimburse the money policy.

 

[MattKing]

I avoid that by buying from KEH which has a great return, replace or reimburse the money policy.

Which is impractical to access if you are outside the USA.

 

[Moose22]

Which is impractical to access if you are outside the USA.

Exactly.

Japanese sellers with a return policy you just send it back. Ebay will back you up on this, not the seller.

KEH is great. But not everyone lives in the US.

 

[Bushcat]

In Japan, if it looks good it is good, to to mention th occasional bait-and-switch.

If you buy from Japan's Yahoo! Auction, it has a consistent grading system that is enforced. Also, photos of an item for sale must include its serial number, where relevant. There's still some risk and gaming the system, but it's better than eBay.

 

[Arthurwg]

Speaking of Ebay, I recently sold something for $1300 and they told me they had to hold payment for a month due to "security concerns." I've bought and sold on Ebay for over 30 years and have a 100% rating, but I guess I'm not trusted. They must make a fortune on all the money that they "temporarily hold."

 

[MattKing]

Speaking of Ebay, I recently sold something for $1300 and they told me they had to hold payment for a month due to "security concerns." I've bought and sold on Ebay for over 30 years and have a 100% rating, but I guess I'm not trusted. They must make a fortune on all the money that they "temporarily hold."

Could that be related to who the purchaser was?

 

[Arthurwg]

No idea what they think other than making more money at my expense. Even though I got positive feedback on this sale they are still holding my funds.

 

[MattKing]

No idea what they think other than making more money at my expense. Even though I got positive feedback on this sale they are still holding my funds.

If the purchaser has an extensive record of demanding refunds, that could affect their decision about releasing funds.

 

[ic-racer]

Lovely camera! Good job to get it back to good working condition