Ricoh GR1s shutter flex tragedy - any ideas?

The Salaryman

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
16
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
Hi all

I’ve got A Ricoh GR1s that’s behaved well and given me great results that’s just gone wrong. I’m really disappointed because I’ve always treated it carefully and it seems to have a real design flaw.

The shutter flex has gone on it, which is a major failure point on them apparently and the build quality can be shifty. I wonder if I have it replaced it will be sorted with a stronger, longer lasting part?

My usual (excellent) repairers don’t deal with it directly so send it off to Ricoh in Germany and they reckon it will be £200+ (£130+VAT for the shutter assembly, + labour + shipping etc) – which is like $350 to replace a cheap and nasty little PCB. Which is sure to fail.

The part alone costs £110ish here. The cheapest estimate I can find for the whole job is £150-£190. I wonder if the part can be got for less elsewhere, are their cheaper places to get Ricohs repaired (preferably in the UK) or if there is another solution?

Any suggestions on how to sort this more affordably would be appreciated!
 
OP
OP

The Salaryman

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
16
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
It failed while I was on holiday in Turkey. Ephesus actually. Everything else works but the failed flex means when I press the shutter it just makes a ticking sound before giving up. Real shame as its a lovely little camera that deserved to be better built!
 
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