Repair/Service Availability

[Moopheus]

Not exactly a product availability post, but I couldn't see a better place to put this.

I just got my Nikon F2 back from being serviced by Sover Wong. Needed a good cleaning and shutter adjustment, and he fixed the meter too.

So I'm thinking, I'm sending this camera to the UK from Massachusetts, because there's one guy who happens to specialize in these particular cameras.

Last year I sent my synchro-compur shutter to California to be revived by Carol Flutot, and I was just lucky to that it didn't need some unavailable part.

What I'm getting at here is that a lot of us here use older cameras, especially older mechanical cameras, and the number of repair techs who can be counted on to do reliable work on them seems to be small. Which means also that finding the right guy to work on your particular piece of gear might be tricky. I know that over time people have posted recommendations here and in other places, and sometimes searching will find them, but I had the thought that it might be worthwhile to have one thread where this information could be posted to and maybe updated once and a while (like if someone knows someone has gone out of business). So like if someone had a good experience with a repair service (or not, even), you could post something about it here.

 

[Dug]

I wish I could contribute a resource but I have to report on who is no longer available. Manfred of ASA-DIN Repair in Seattle was able to repair my F2 (and c330), but he has retired and closed up shop. The folks at Rainier Photo Supply have closed as well. They knew the "independents" who could do repairs. The chain store folks have never seen a mechanical camera. Any leads on who can CLA a Bausch & Lomb shutter from 1909?

 

[nsurit]

Olympus OM repair person

John Hermanson at Camtech is the guy for Olympus OM and other Olympus cameras. A skilled professional who breaths new life into Olympus gear. zuiko.com gets you to him. No disappointments with his factory trained service. Bill Barber

 

[spoolman]

Hello:Just to add my two cents worth, I've been using Photography on Bald Mountain for repair and servicing of my mechanical cameras.He specializes inolder cameras and does not do repairs on anything electronic.He repaired my Argus C-3 and my Kodak 620 Vollenda Folder and his prices are very reasonable.His e-mail address is"bald mtn@pacbell.net" and his name is Ken Ruth.

Doug

 

[Ian Grant]

There are quite a number of repairers in the UK & US, and obviously other countries to, who are very capable of repairing most items of photographic equipment.

Things like Compur/Copal shutters are not specialist items and so very easy to get CLA's or serviced. Some repairers tend to specialise in certain makes/brands of cameras usually because they have stocks of spares, old camera bodies for parts etc. There should be no need to send items across the Atlantic except perhaps for very specialist services.

Ian

 

[Moopheus]

There are quite a number of repairers in the UK & US, and obviously other countries to, who are very capable of repairing most items of photographic equipment.
Ian

That may be so, but one of the remaining local shops, reputed to be very good otherwise, refused to work on my Graflexes (4x5 and 35mm). It's no longer the case that you can drop in anywhere with any old piece of kit and expect them to know what to do with it.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes I appreciate that there are the odd cameras and shutters that not every repairer wants to attempt, but there are still quite a number of good repair shops left, although when the repair guy retires no-one will take his place.

I know of a few repairers who now work from home, just picking and choosing what they want, simply because there's not enough trade business around.

There is a current thread on Resources on the LFPI Forum, which includes repair shops.

Ian

 

[IloveTLRs]

There are plenty of places here in Japan that do classic camera repair.

Kanto Camera service (Dead Link Removed) in/near Tokyo repair many different kinds of cameras. They're expensive, but they will touch cameras that others won't. For example, I'm having them replace the meter in my CL.

 

[Peter Schrager]

pittsburgh

just found a repair shop in Pittsburgh while I was at the f/295 symposium...the info is back home and I will post it when I return
Best, Peter

 

[yellowcat]

I have used Black on White in Bristol, England and found them to be very good.

http://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/

I also saw this on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=190236801345

But don't know how good they are.

 

[Ian Grant]

One problem is as a photographer you rarely use a repair service and it can be difficult finding the right one when you do.

I came across one last year on another (UK) forum, and they have since proved fast & reliable with the 3 repairs I've sent them. It's important to share this sort of information. The APUG UK Regional Forum has started a thread to do this but obviously it's an International problem & forum.

It's Black on White, Bristol, I used as well and highly recommend.

I've contacted a similar Ebay repairer in Chesterfield about my Pentax's and he was very helpful in supplying parts.

Ian

 

[je55ica]

The guy at Nashua Camera Repair (Nashua, NH) did a great job fixing up my grandfather's Nikon F for me. I'm pretty sure it hadn't been used since the 70s. The shutter was frozen up and the whole camera needed to be completely cleaned out. I then took the camera with me to study abroad for a year, and still use it frequently. Haven't had any problems with it. The "tune up" was about 4 years ago now, but he seems to still be in business: 174 Main St # 9, Nashua, NH 03060, (603) 883-3472.

 

[Photoe]

I just had my Bronica RF645 film advance replaced by KEH repair. Check them out at KEH.com