Repair shops getting overwhelmed.

Huss · Apr 15, 2021

I heard that Youxin Ye now has months long wait. DAG is months long. Harry Fleenor etc etcI've sent my Noblex to Precision Camera Works/Bob Watkins and he does fantastic work.
But I just saw this on his website:

"As of 4/5/2021 due to the unprecedented volume of repair requests, we must temporarily stop accepting the following cameras, lenses and accessories for repair:"
https://www.precisioncameraworks.com

Wayne · Apr 15, 2021

Not an RF but my Kalloflex TLR has been in the shop and paid for since mid December with no end in sight. At this point I only hope the repairman doesn't die before I get it back, like the last one who almost did before I snatched it back unfinished months before his demise.

gone · Apr 15, 2021

I've had so much trouble w/ "expert" camera repair people over the last 20 or 30 years it's not even funny. This was my normal experience: Inability or refusal to communicate, charging more than the estimate, and less than stellar repair work.

To address this craziness, long ago I decided that my cameras would be of two varieties.....the ones that could be repaired by me, and the ones that could be economically replaced. This philosophy fixed a continuing problem that never seemed to get any better. After a while you figure out cause and effect.

Wondering when you'll get your camera back for long periods of time and having to send it back to be fixed properly is NOT part of the photographic experience.

logan2z · Apr 15, 2021

Huss said:
I heard that Youxin Ye now has months long wait.

I wonder if he's still offering his 'Rush' service which was a three week turnaround. I last used him for an M4 CLA a couple of years ago but perhaps he's too busy to offer that service now.

Danner · Apr 15, 2021

I sent a Tele Elmarit-M to YYE about three weeks ago, for a regular CLA. Emailed hm yesterday, was told to expect a 2-month turn-around from when he receives the lens. (ProTip: Mark the box "RUSH LENS").

lulz

cptrios · Apr 24, 2021

Wayne said:
Not an RF but my Kalloflex TLR has been in the shop and paid for since mid December with no end in sight. At this point I only hope the repairman doesn't die before I get it back, like the last one who almost did before I snatched it back unfinished months before his demise.

This is a literal representation of the current state of camera repair. My own 'local' camera shop, which has been down the road from my parents' house since I was a kid, recently had their technician pass away too. I can't imagine many new camera repairpeople are being trained, either, so 20-30 years from now I worry that most of this stuff is going to be dead once it breaks.

Dusty Negative · Apr 24, 2021

Makes me not regret buying TWO Pentax 6x7s almost back-to-back literally only because I wanted a backup.

Where’s Capitalism when we need her most? Market niche, anyone?

Mike Lopez · Apr 24, 2021

I literally just returned from the post office, where I shipped 2 Nikon F2 bodies to Sover Wong. I waited 11 months for this time to come, but this is typical for his services and I'm quite confident that it will prove to be worth it in the end. Everything I've read about his work leads me to believe that I'll feel as though I've received two brand new cameras from him when they are returned.

removedacct1 · Apr 24, 2021

I've had a surge in the volume of Kodak Retina repairs coming in over the past few months. I'm keeping up, but just barely! I expect wait times will soon exceed 2 weeks.

Pieter12 · Apr 24, 2021

I wonder if these camera repair technicians work alone, or if they have assistants/apprentices or will trained and competent camera technicians become extinct? Do Hasselblad and Leica and whoever else is left making mostly (even partially) mechanical cameras and lenses have factory-authorized repair centers? I know even digital cameras of a certain age are no longer supported by their makers.

logan2z · Apr 24, 2021

Pieter12 said:
Do Hasselblad and Leica and whoever else is left making mostly (even partially) mechanical cameras and lenses have factory-authorized repair centers?.

I don't know about Hasselblad, but I don't believe there are any factory authorized repair centers for Leica. You can either send your camera to Leica Wetzlar or (in the USA), Leica New Jersey, or an independent like DAG or YYE.

cptrios · Apr 24, 2021

Pieter12 said:
I wonder if these camera repair technicians work alone, or if they have assistants/apprentices or will trained and competent camera technicians become extinct? Do Hasselblad and Leica and whoever else is left making mostly (even partially) mechanical cameras and lenses have factory-authorized repair centers? I know even digital cameras of a certain age are no longer supported by their makers.

I would very seriously consider adopting camera repair as a career if I thought there were a good way to learn it well enough to feel confident handling people's stuff. I wonder what the initial investment in equipment would be like.

Minolta93 · Apr 24, 2021

paulbarden said:
I've had a surge in the volume of Kodak Retina repairs coming in over the past few months. I'm keeping up, but just barely! I expect wait times will soon exceed 2 weeks.

I've got a Retina IIa Type 150 that needs a rangefinder adjustment and the on-body shutter release just won't work. The frame counter is broken too, I hear this is common on these cameras, but I have no idea why the shutter release isn't working. If I press the release on the lens it works just fine.

You wouldn't happen to be familiar with this issue, would you?

Do you know what kind of screwdriver is needed to open up the screws on top? They're much too small for even my smallest flathead bit, and I'd rather not damage anything, but I think adjusting the rangefinder would be a nice way to learn a bit about camera repair.

4season · Apr 24, 2021

cptrios said:
I would very seriously consider adopting camera repair as a career if I thought there were a good way to learn it well enough to feel confident handling people's stuff. I wonder what the initial investment in equipment would be like.

I think your biggest investment is not going to be in equipment, but the time needed to develop your skills.

Arthurwg · Apr 24, 2021

Quoted two months for lens repair from YY. I waited three months for my Hasselblad from another tech.

Kodachromeguy · Apr 24, 2021

Pieter12 said:
Do Hasselblad and Leica and whoever else is left making mostly (even partially) mechanical cameras and lenses have factory-authorized repair centers?

In USA, Hasselblad Bron in New Jersey is the authorized repair service. Hasselblad is not currently making mechanical cameras, but they repair some of them. Google is your 20-sec. friend.

https://587696.extforms.netsuite.com/app/site/crm/externalcasepage.nl/compid.587696/.f?formid=118&h=AACffht_Qj2aKPlsIUBgqJkgoDCC4hRNmys=&redirect_count=1&did_javascript_redirect=T

Pieter12 · Apr 24, 2021

Kodachromeguy said:
In USA, Hasselblad Bron in New Jersey is the authorized repair service. Hasselblad is not currently making mechanical cameras, but they repair some of them. Google is your 20-sec. friend.

https://587696.extforms.netsuite.com/app/site/crm/externalcasepage.nl/compid.587696/.f?formid=118&h=AACffht_Qj2aKPlsIUBgqJkgoDCC4hRNmys=&redirect_count=1&did_javascript_redirect=T

Few mechanical cameras are made any more, but shutters and autofocus mechanisms have mechanical components that might need attention at some point.

removedacct1 · Apr 24, 2021

Minolta93 said:
I've got a Retina IIa Type 150 that needs a rangefinder adjustment and the on-body shutter release just won't work. The frame counter is broken too, I hear this is common on these cameras, but I have no idea why the shutter release isn't working. If I press the release on the lens it works just fine.

You wouldn't happen to be familiar with this issue, would you?

Do you know what kind of screwdriver is needed to open up the screws on top? They're much too small for even my smallest flathead bit, and I'd rather not damage anything, but I think adjusting the rangefinder would be a nice way to learn a bit about camera repair.

Yes, I'm very familiar with these issues. The only issue that is not easily resolved is the broken frame counter spring. That part is replaceable, but I don't currently have any spares, and acquiring one is absurdly expensive. When that part breaks, most people opt to just live without the frame counter. It doesn't affect the function of the camera. I have a jewelers repair screw set, and many of those are quite fine, and that's what I use. But those top cover screws aren't especially small, so as long as the blade isn't too coarse, a normal (but small) screwdriver should do that job.
Feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

Danner · Apr 24, 2021

For long-term film shooters, there is a solid argument to buy only first quality gear that can run for decades with little service (e.g. Leica, and others).

MattKing · Apr 24, 2021

I have concerns about the long term availability of experienced and reliable repair resources.
That being said, it seems to me that one of the effects of the lockdowns and other responses to the current, once in a lifetime (I hope) worldwide pandemic is that there is a great likelihood that many people would want to get their cameras fixed.
As my wife refers to it, an example of a "pandemic project".
The current demand might very well ebb a bit after things normalize.

ic-racer · Apr 25, 2021

Danner said:
For long-term film shooters, there is a solid argument to buy only first quality gear that can run for decades with little service (e.g. Leica, and others).

Or buy inexpensive gear that can be replaced at little cost. Nikon N55+lens $10 vs Leica M6+lens $10,000.

Minolta93 · Apr 26, 2021

paulbarden said:
Yes, I'm very familiar with these issues. The only issue that is not easily resolved is the broken frame counter spring. That part is replaceable, but I don't currently have any spares, and acquiring one is absurdly expensive. When that part breaks, most people opt to just live without the frame counter. It doesn't affect the function of the camera. I have a jewelers repair screw set, and many of those are quite fine, and that's what I use. But those top cover screws aren't especially small, so as long as the blade isn't too coarse, a normal (but small) screwdriver should do that job.

I figured such a small part would be very hard to find or simply not worth finding. I wonder if it could be fabricated, though. What do you think? I've seen people make small springs for various things by cutting it from a strip of spring steel. I'm not sure if it would work for a camera.

Looks like I'll be picking up a few jewelers' screwdrivers then, thanks. When I have the time I'd like to tune up the rangefinder which ought to be simple, and then hopefully see what's preventing the shutter button from releasing the shutter.

paulbarden said:
Feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

Thanks, I may take you up on that. Have a nice day.

Minolta93 · Apr 26, 2021

Old Gregg said:
3D printing can help with making parts that are no longer available. I feel safe regarding repairability of my medium-format systems.

3d printing can certainly go a long way, but what about the more precise and delicate components of a camera? I wonder if it's possible to laser cut gears and shutter leaves, and have them actually function well, using a consumer grade desktop laser cutting machine.

removedacct1 · Apr 26, 2021

Minolta93 said:
I figured such a small part would be very hard to find or simply not worth finding. I wonder if it could be fabricated, though. What do you think? I've seen people make small springs for various things by cutting it from a strip of spring steel. I'm not sure if it would work for a camera.

Although the component is called a "spring" in the manual, its not a typical coil spring (see: https://retinarescue.com/images/rangefinder/07advance.jpg), and it wouldn't be simple to fabricate. You can purchase the part from Micro-Tools.de but the price is 56 Euros plus shipping. It is easier to locate a parts donor camera and steal the spring from it.

Auer · Apr 26, 2021

Invest in a micro lathe

Repair shops getting overwhelmed.

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