Plaubel Makina repairers.

ITKI · Dec 12, 2017

adrianlambert said:
Plaubel have suspended their repairs and servicing for the Makina cameras. Can anybody recommend an alternative repair shop for Plaubel Makinas in the U.K. or EU?

I have asked Plaubel, and they told me Arlüwa Czens would be "a good alternative" to get the Makinas repaired.
They're in Cologne, Germany - http://www.arluewa.de/cms/en/

AgX · Dec 13, 2017

Arlüwa do not state to be specialized in Plaubel Makinas, Wiese in Hamburg does.

But I admit such statement does not tell a lot, and in times as these a workshop hardly can be specialized on models any more.

norm123 · Dec 15, 2017

Hi
If you don't care to ship it to New-York, I'm pretty sure that Nippon Photoclinic can do the job.

Normand

rknewcomb · Jan 2, 2018

Hi,

I just today sent my black prewar Makina ll off to Wizcam for a cla restoration. Now that Ken Ruth has retired there are very few places that I know off to get a vintage Makina worked on. I'll let you know how the Wizcam effort goes.
Did I mention that I really like Plaubel cameras
Robert

rknewcomb · Jan 27, 2018

I got back my late prewar Makina II from the WizCam guy on Fbay. He did a very very nice job, it runs and focuses like new! )
Robert

Nokton48 · Feb 10, 2018

rknewcomb said:
I got back my late prewar Makina II from the WizCam guy on Fbay. He did a very very nice job, it runs and focuses like new! )
Robert

Good News Robert! I bought a second repair just now from Wizcam. This one is for my Makina IIIF with F4.2 Anticomar. Works well right now but has never been serviced, And was stored in some humid conditions, has some corrosion issues. Purchased from SF Bay area. Let's see what he can do with this one.

jbmia · Apr 1, 2019

Another thumbs up for Wizcam.

I responded to this thread a couple years back... I’d sent my 670 to Frank M. for a CLA and light leak repair. It came back cleaned but still stiff and with the same light leak. I sent it back and it came back again stiff and with the light leak. No joy. I basically gave up and let it sit till now.

I recently picked it up, developed the film in it, and came across the same light leak. Annoyed, I went ahead and sprung for the Wizcam service figuring there aren’t many other options and at this point I’d either be selling at a loss or giving Wizcam a chance. Bottom line, it was out and back in about a week. Nice and quick. Beyond that it came back nicely lubed. No more stiff shutter/aperture controls. The ASA ring used to be really tough to set. No more. All easy and smooth. Best of all... no light leak.

Wizcam recommended here.

jbmia

Nokton48 · Apr 1, 2019

I recently bought another Plaubel Makina; this time a black model II. Needed CLA, shutter not working. Sent to Mr Binder (Wizcam) and now it is like new.

My New Plaubel Makina II Outfit by Nokton48, on Flickr

Alex Varas · Apr 5, 2019

Well... it's not my business but I think I can do it after the one I did, clean, dismantle, rangefinder adjustment, lube, etc... Even I have a couple of mirrors and beam splitters as spare parts.
Now in queue I have another III model which felt down and got the scissors damaged, I think I will get it working nicely during the weekend.

Pentode · Apr 5, 2019

Fema (Wizcam/Panorama Camera Repair) was my go-to repairman for a number of years. He’s getting up there in years and he works very limited hours now and has moved to a shared shop space.

I have read some of the negative reviews online but I can’t say I ever had a problem with his work. He did a beautiful job overhauling my grandfather’s Rolleiflex for me and worked on quite a few of my rangefinders as well. Most recently he cleaned the prism of a Minolta XD-11 for me about a year ago.

He is certainly cantankerous but he’s actually a pretty nice guy. His wife handles the transactions while he sits at the bench and fixes cameras. I also can’t complain about his prices.

I’m glad I ran into this thread because it reminds me that I want to bring him my Moskva-2 for an overhaul. It’s been sitting when it really should be out getting used.

gijsbert · Apr 11, 2019

jbmia said:
Another thumbs up for Wizcam.

I responded to this thread a couple years back... I’d sent my 670 to Frank M. for a CLA and light leak repair. It came back cleaned but still stiff and with the same light leak. I sent it back and it came back again stiff and with the light leak. No joy. I basically gave up and let it sit till now.

I recently picked it up, developed the film in it, and came across the same light leak. Annoyed, I went ahead and sprung for the Wizcam service figuring there aren’t many other options and at this point I’d either be selling at a loss or giving Wizcam a chance. Bottom line, it was out and back in about a week. Nice and quick. Beyond that it came back nicely lubed. No more stiff shutter/aperture controls. The ASA ring used to be really tough to set. No more. All easy and smooth. Best of all... no light leak.

Wizcam recommended here.

jbmia

@jbmia Sounds great! I have a Plaubel 67 with a light leak, how does one find where the light leak is exactly? Or did Wizcam figure it out and fix it? Thanks.

tyler boley · Feb 24, 2021

gijsbert said:
@jbmia Sounds great! I have a Plaubel 67 with a light leak, how does one find where the light leak is exactly? Or did Wizcam figure it out and fix it? Thanks.

another good report for Wizcam on eBay. I joined the forum just to post this, after having found the thread earlier looking for solutions. I know the thread is old but I since it provided me with a solution I thought I'd pass it on. My Makina 67W is decades old, and I love it. Had lots of wear and tear and hab been dropped twice. Came back from Wizcam today looking like new with problems solved. Nothing chatty in the process, just straightforward and good work, very pleased. Mine had a light leak too and I'm quite sure it was the back seal material which was badly deteriorated, and now new and tight. Considering the rapidly disappearing options I think it's good to pass the word about him. Also, it was timely, excellently repackaged for shipment, and the price is way more than reasonable. I hope to get many more years out of this unique and beautiful camera now.
Tyler

SFfilmCamera · Mar 13, 2021

tyler boley said:
another good report for Wizcam on eBay. I joined the forum just to post this, after having found the thread earlier looking for solutions. I know the thread is old but I since it provided me with a solution I thought I'd pass it on. My Makina 67W is decades old, and I love it. Had lots of wear and tear and hab been dropped twice. Came back from Wizcam today looking like new with problems solved. Nothing chatty in the process, just straightforward and good work, very pleased. Mine had a light leak too and I'm quite sure it was the back seal material which was badly deteriorated, and now new and tight. Considering the rapidly disappearing options I think it's good to pass the word about him. Also, it was timely, excellently repackaged for shipment, and the price is way more than reasonable. I hope to get many more years out of this unique and beautiful camera now.
Tyler

Greetings everyone. I have a Plaubel Makina 67 that I purchased in 2012 that has never had a CLA. The light meter initially worked but now does not seem to be accurate. The red minus sign seems to be permanently lit within the viewfinder when I check it and doesn't change when I adjust the settings. The camera otherwise is in good working order. I would like to have the light meter fixed as well as a CLA. Seems that people on this thread endorse both Camera Wiz (Frank Marshman, Virginia) and also Wizcam (Fema, Ebay, NYC) for this work. For those of you that have corresponded with these camera repair men, could you post (or PM me) their email so that I can be in touch with them? I also can't seem to find Wizcam on Ebay at the moment. Many thanks in advance!

Grim Tuesday · Mar 13, 2021

I emailed Frank a few weeks ago and never got a response from his email (camerawiz at msn dot com), but he responded right away to a Facebook message. Might be worth a try.

Nokton48 · Mar 13, 2021

Frank Marshman did a great job on my Makina III. He even made a rangefinder cam for mine since part of it was missing :/

tyler boley · Mar 13, 2021

wizcam doesn't seem to have the repair listed on ebay right now. Any communication between he and I was through ebay mail, no direct email, so don't have an email address.

SFfilmCamera · Mar 13, 2021

tyler boley said:
wizcam doesn't seem to have the repair listed on ebay right now. Any communication between he and I was through ebay mail, no direct email, so don't have an email address.

Thanks for your responses everyone. I'll keep an eye out on Ebay and try email and Facebook to reach Frank Marshman. I appreciate your help!

rknewcomb · Mar 18, 2021

the wizcam guy has his repair service back up on the auction site. Search for Plaubel. I've used his service several times and he is very good.
Robert

SFfilmCamera · Mar 18, 2021

rknewcomb said:
the wizcam guy has his repair service back up on the auction site. Search for Plaubel. I've used his service several times and he is very good.
Robert

Excellent! Thank you for the heads up. I have sent him a message and will update the thread if I use his service.

SFfilmCamera · Apr 25, 2021

Hi everyone, I wanted to provide feedback. I purchased the Plaubel Makina repair on Ebay from the seller "Wizcam". He was previously in NYC at Panorama but has since moved to Florida.

The light meter was malfunctioning and the camera had not been CLA'd since I have owned it (7 years). He performed a complete CLA - lubrication, replaced light seals, adjustments and calibration and also offered to replace the light meter for $145 which I paid in addition to his Ebay fee. He said my bellows were in good condition and did not need to be replaced.

He had the camera for about two weeks (probably would have been one week if the light meter didn't need to be replaced). It came back in a USPS priority flat rate box and was well packaged. When I took it out of the box I was amazed at how incredible it looked. It looked and felt brand new. I was really impressed. I haven't had a chance to run any film through it yet but from the appearance of the camera, it seemed to have been in good hands. The light meter was functioning appropriately as well.

He was easy to communicate with through Ebay and responded promptly. I would 100% do business with him again.

warden · Apr 25, 2021

Good to hear!

mr_kiwis · Jun 28, 2022

Hi All,

I am in dire need of getting my Plaubel Makina 67 bellows fixed! I keep hearing Wiz Cam, but only see wizcamera on ebay. Can someone please guide me? Thank you!

Alex Varas · Jun 28, 2022

I think they are the same, drop him a message.

mr_kiwis · Jun 28, 2022

Found him! https://www.ebay.com/cnt/FindAnswer...FAQ_VI&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l1499&_caprdt=1

Thank whatever living force is out there because Nippon clinic wants $1,700+ to repair a bellow and seals!

mr_kiwis · Jun 28, 2022

alexvaras said:
I think they are the same, drop him a message.

I found the Marshman on FB!

Plaubel Makina repairers.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency