Should I Repair or Replace?

Hello everyone,

I bought a pretty heavily used RB67 around 6 months ago and, this is quite embarrassing, dropped it in the sand last week during a night shoot. A very stupid mistake that will probably haunt me for the rest of my days…

Anyway, after opening up the body, lens and film back, I decided I’d rather send it in (Forest Camera Repair) to get an estimate rather than try to clean it myself.

I just received an estimate of $350 to repair everything. This is obviously a combination of both the sand damage and the previous wear the camera had before I bought it (which I’m assuming was a fair amount).

My question is - Do I have it repaired or should I purchase a used one off of eBay that is in good condition? I know that if I repair it, all the internals will be good for quite some time, and I don’t really care about the cosmetic condition as long as it performs well. However I’d assume if I were to buy one in excellent cosmetic condition the internals should be at least okay? It’s hard to say though. Also I have the Pro, so I would be able to get the Pro S and get those couple extra advantages if I did buy. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Best,
Justin

If you buy another used camera you may need to send it for a CLA. You have used this camera and are happy with it, so get fixed and keep it.

I would get another one. Remember that even the repair you speaking about wont guarantee you to have a problem free camera. Things wear out and something that is not broken right now may broke after the repair, needed further repair and money/time investment.

Regards

Marcelo

Unless your really want the pro S, if the $350 is a rebuild I would think about the repair as you know what you have. You could spend more than for a newer camera and still have issues that cost.

I would decide based on the condition of the one you dunked in the sand. All controls nice and tight, no play in the lens mount or back have it serviced. Loose controls / slight play suggest moderate to heavy wear so replace.
Pretty exterior does not ensure good interior. Many pro's may have kept their cameras looking good but made tens of thousands of exposures with them.

that estimate cleans a back, body and lens? cla n seals?

are you able to do it yourself?

pm me?

Personally, I'd rather own a lightly used RB67 than a heavily used repaired one. Nice RB67's are so cheap nowadays.

Alan Gales said:

Personally, I'd rather own a lightly used RB67 than a heavily used repaired one. Nice RB67's are so cheap nowadays.

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these cameras are old. Some may look better than others but I can tell you they weren't bought by weekend shooters. they are all heavily used, pro cameramen owned them. maybe it sat on a tripod doing school photos for its entire life, but it got a million shots under its belt in one year.

no matter what you get, it will need service if it hasn't been serviced before buying it.... and even then, I doubt the internal seals, springs n bushings n bearings have ever been changed or the rotating back ever split n greased.

considering what he is having CLAed, the price quoted is fair. although it seems expensive to someone not earning a living from his equipment.

Here's the deal. You will get many opinions, and ultimately, have to make the decision all by yourself anyway. So just make the decision. It's your camera and your money. Time to adult.

paul ron said:

these cameras are old. Some may look better than others but I can tell you they weren't bought by weekend shooters. they are all heavily used, pro cameramen owned them. maybe it sat on a tripod doing school photos for its entire life, but it got a million shots under its belt in one year.

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There is a lot of truth to what you are saying.

I did own an RZ that came with a waist level finder and prism finder. It looked in great shape with little wear around the lens mount, finder mount, tripod socket and where the film back mated up. A heavy use camera would have shown more wear. Maybe I got lucky.

The RZ I'll admit is the one camera that I owned that I regret selling.

I'm curious, what's the going rate at KEH with a warrantee? And,since you're looking for opinions.
Get the camera back & see what can be salvaged without taking it down to the chassis.
The WL finder seems to be pricey, focusing screen? The bodies themselves aren't expensive at all. Most likely I wouldn't bother.
Have ALL the RB's really been beaten to death by pros? Just like Hasselblads and every TLR on the market?

I was once told by someone with more experience that when you take a camera to the beach, it is impossible to keep blowing sand from entering the camera and once it enters it is impossible to get it all out.

If I were unfortunate enough to drop my good camera into the sand, I would force myself to replace it with a new one. I would not replace it with a used one because the used one may have also been exposed to sand.

If new ones were not available, I would spend the $350 to have it cleaned and repaired.

After that, I only take my backup camera and backup lens to the beach.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I hate that this is my first post since I sound like a complete dumbass, but I guess I kinda was... good way to learn a lesson I suppose.

narsuitus said:

I was once told by someone with more experience that when you take a camera to the beach, it is impossible to keep blowing sand from entering the camera and once it enters it is impossible to get it all out.

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If a repair tech cannot get all the sand out then they have no business servicing cameras. Their repairs likely only brush the highlights.

The answer to this OP is, like so many things in life - "it depends".

How long have you had the camera and how do you regard it? In terms of value or worth? How much do you use it? How reliable is it in its original, fully working condition? And, not least important, how much do you want to spend to keep it going?

My own example. I own four Rolleiflex TLRs. One I bought new in 1966. I still use it. In terms of condition, I rate it as 5.5/10. The lens (75mm Planar, a legend in photography optics) has slight separation issues which do not (yet) affect the images.The body is - okay. Mechanics are working fine, thanks to a full CLA I had done about 15 years ago,when such costs were still affordable, by a now retired ex-Rollei technician who was also a perfectionist.

I grew up with this camera and cut my teeth, photographically speaking, on it. Over the last five decades it has repaid its worth many times, in stock photo and other sales. So to me, it is worth repairing, as it is a personal heirloom.

I also have two Rolleiflex Ts, bought secondhand in the 1980s. They are my work horses. I look after my equipment, so I rate them as 7.5/10-8.5/10. Both have 16 exposure kits and shoot beautiful 645 images, but nowadays they see very little use. If a good offer came my way, I would probably sell them. I would miss them, but as they say here in Oz, "such is life".

A few months ago I picked up an as new Rolleiflex 2.8 E2 with a full kit from a deceased estate. At a very good price. This camera LOOKS "as new"and I rate it as visually 9/10, mechanically 6.5/10. It needs a full CLA. Melbourne prices for this are ridiculously high. I called in at THE leading repair center in the city and had to deal a young trade school recent grad whose attitude to film cameras I can best (politely) describe as "deplorable". He also has a serious attitude problem and peppered his casual throwaway one-liners to me with the f-word the unworldly narcissistic young use nowadays to seem "cool". The shop owner came in at the end of the discussion and before I left I told him all all my future repair work will go to a Singapore shop known for its fair prices, excellent work and above all, polite service. Indeed, after an exchange of emails with the Singapore repair man I quoted a basic CLA price 45% of the Australian cost. To Singapore it will go, next month.

Yes, I know, the so-called "good old days" (which weren't always that good, even if we were all younger and life and the world seemed unlimited) are past, Down Under price for almost everything are sky-high, and that the Western service ethic is now mostly ""it needs an overhaul" or "read the instruction manual (or "look it up on YouTube"), it's there". My responses nowadays are I don't throw away money and I won't guarantee anyone a 500% profit for every little thing I buy. My choices, my decisions, my intentions.

There are cameras and there are cameras. Whether or not to repair depends on many factors, not just a casually tossed off, "you can buy one cheaper on Ebay". We all know this.

Still, a used RB67 dropped in the sand would most likely not need much work beyond a checkover, a light clean and wash, a dry wipe to the electronics (are there any?), and that would be it. I mean, did the OP bury the thing in the sand (with an RB67 I would be tempted), or what?

If the OP cannot/won't do these simple tasks, and is prepared to pay whatever price is asked for a CLA, well and good. If the camera is worth it to him.

For a Rollei I would do it. For an RB67? Hmm. Again, "it depends"...

Its back...

Looks good Justin. Where did you send it for cleaning/service?

I like the name.

Justin Roxbrough said:

Hello everyone,

I bought a pretty heavily used RB67 around 6 months ago and, this is quite embarrassing, dropped it in the sand last week during a night shoot. A very stupid mistake that will probably haunt me for the rest of my days…

Anyway, after opening up the body, lens and film back, I decided I’d rather send it in (Forest Camera Repair) to get an estimate rather than try to clean it myself.

I just received an estimate of $350 to repair everything. This is obviously a combination of both the sand damage and the previous wear the camera had before I bought it (which I’m assuming was a fair amount).

My question is - Do I have it repaired or should I purchase a used one off of eBay that is in good condition? I know that if I repair it, all the internals will be good for quite some time, and I don’t really care about the cosmetic condition as long as it performs well. However I’d assume if I were to buy one in excellent cosmetic condition the internals should be at least okay? It’s hard to say though. Also I have the Pro, so I would be able to get the Pro S and get those couple extra advantages if I did buy. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Best,
Justin

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if it worked fine until the incident,I'dget it CLAed and repaired.otherwise, get a new one but, I'd prefer heavily used one over a shelf-queen. cameras want to get used or, they develop all kinds of issues.

narsuitus said:

I was once told by someone with more experience that when you take a camera to the beach, it is impossible to keep blowing sand from entering the camera and once it enters it is impossible to get it all out.

If I were unfortunate enough to drop my good camera into the sand, I would force myself to replace it with a new one. I would not replace it with a used one because the used one may have also been exposed to sand.

If new ones were not available, I would spend the $350 to have it cleaned and repaired.

After that, I only take my backup camera and backup lens to the beach.

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Was the person that told you this a new camera salesman? If not, I bet they got their information from one. Sand is not that hard to clean out. Tedious perhaps. But not hard.

Justin Roxbrough said:

Its back...View attachment 186845

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Enjoy it.

Love the name, too. My Bronica's are Monica and Veronica. Old dead cameras become Bram Stoker (aka Dracula)

WilmarcoImaging said:

Looks good Justin. Where did you send it for cleaning/service?

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I sent it off to Forest Camera Repair, here's their website: http://www.forestcamerarepair.com/

Theo Sulphate said:

I like the name.

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Thanks, it definitely has some character to it now.

JWMster said:

Love the name, too. My Bronica's are Monica and Veronica. Old dead cameras become Bram Stoker (aka Dracula)

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Haha Bram Stoker... I like that one.

You can get a Pro SD (much newer body, with interlocks to prevent accidental multiple exposures, takes the newest KL/L lenses) for under $200. Other than sentiment, at the price point for the repair on your existing camera, there's no good financial reason to service it.