Update On ICT Camera Repair Turnaround

[chuckroast]

In early April, I sent ICT a Nikkormat Ft and Hasselblad 501CM for overhaul/CLA.

At the time Jim Holman quoted 6-8 weeks turnaround time for the work.

I got notified today that the cameras were done and payment was due. That means the entire process including round-trip shipping will end up at about 4 weeks - assuming USPS does not route the packages here via Azerbaijan.

Of course, I've not gotten them back and cannot comment on the work, but if it's at all like what he did on my Nikon F Apollo, it should be just fine.

I love vendors that under-promise and over-deliver. It also speaks to the value of having a formal ingestion process so that new work is not accepted until the vendor can actually get to it in reasonable time.

He usually provides pictures of his overhauls. I'll post some here when I get them.

 

[logan2z]

Great to hear. Unfortunately, I never did have an opportunity for ICT to work on my camera because I was waitlisted due to their high backlog at the time and, despite repeated emails to them, never heard back about an opening. But I'm glad to hear that others have had a good experience with them. Maybe I'll try them again in the future.

 

[chuckroast]

Great to hear. Unfortunately, I never did have an opportunity for ICT to work on my camera because I was waitlisted due to their high backlog at the time and, despite repeated emails to them, never heard back about an opening. But I'm glad to hear that others have had a good experience with them. Maybe I'll try them again in the future.

When did you try? I've used their scheduling service twice now - once last year, and again this year. Both times, they got back to me within a month saying I was scheduled and put the process in motion.

Backlogs do vary a fair bit over time, of course. Judging from my experience and a brief conversion with Jim, I believe their current backlog is indeed about 6-8 weeks. I just got lucky, I guess.

 

[logan2z]

When did you try?

It was quite a while back, May of 2023.

 

[chuckroast]

Here is a look at some work Jim Holman just did for me:

https://ozzie.tundraware.com/2026FTCM/

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Here is a look at some work Jim Holman just did for me:

https://ozzie.tundraware.com/2026FTCM/

It makes you want to sit down right there and learn from the master himself

Thank you!

 

[chuckroast]

It makes you want to sit down right there and learn from the master himself

Thank you!

Yeah, no kidding. This guy does superb work. I'll pay his prices all day long.

The Ft is silky smooth and the meter is fully functional. Not bad for a circa 1960s camera.

The 501 was sticking now and then when I sent it in and now no longer does that as far as I can tell. Focus is dead on.

 

[chuckroast]

Great to hear. Unfortunately, I never did have an opportunity for ICT to work on my camera because I was waitlisted due to their high backlog at the time and, despite repeated emails to them, never heard back about an opening. But I'm glad to hear that others have had a good experience with them. Maybe I'll try them again in the future.

In talking to Holman, I think your best bet is not to buy the CLA on eBay. You're better of scheduling through the ICT website. If you have already purchased through eBay, it's best to call them directly and explain your concern.

 

[qqphot]

The turnaround time was great for me - a month or two is nothing in this world, IMO. I'm hoping he will be able to get the shutter working right on my F3 on the second try, but he didn't sound happy about having it returned.

 

[logan2z]

You're better off scheduling through the ICT website.

That's what I did, but they failed to follow through.

 

[chuckroast]

That's what I did, but they failed to follow through.

Weird. He's done 3 cameras for me so far and I haven't hit a snag yet.

What camera are you trying to get repaired/CLAed? I know he's been slammed with a lot of Hasselblad work because of the death of the Barn Owl Camera owner.

 

[chuckroast]

Something I learned from all this, courtesy of ICT ...

Hasselblads have bumpers behind the mirror that set the effective mirror to lens distance to match the lens to film plane distance. With age, these bumpers degrade (compress, fall apart?) and the mirror position moves ever so slightly. The fix is new bumpers BUT the camera has to be calibrated to the new, mirror position.

That's why the last two pictures show a collimator being used on the body.

The common symptom appears to be that it's hard to get focus "just right" when you look down- or into a finder. That was certainly the case with my body. It now focuses perfectly and easily.

 

[logan2z]

What camera are you trying to get repaired/CLAed? I know he's been slammed with a lot of Hasselblad work because of the death of the Barn Owl Camera owner.

It was a Nikkormat FT3. I've since had it repaired by Dean's Camera Repair in Torrance, CA. He did a great job at a fair price. FWIW, I contacted ICT in 2023, long before the owner of Barn Owl Camera's passing.

It's possible that my experience wasn't typical, they may have simply dropped the ball. I may consider them for a future repair/CLA of my Hasselblad if/when the time comes.

 

[qqphot]

I'm planning on sending my F2AS to Dean's. I've already chatted with him on the phone and he sounds like a good guy. Glad to hear he did good work for you!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Great to hear. Unfortunately, I never did have an opportunity for ICT to work on my camera because I was waitlisted due to their high backlog at the time and, despite repeated emails to them, never heard back about an opening. But I'm glad to hear that others have had a good experience with them. Maybe I'll try them again in the future.

for the rest of us ,fill us in. Who is ITC?

 

[Steve Goldstein]

ICT Camera and Lens Repair, San Diego

ICT Camera and Lens repair, now in San Diego, CA. We specialize in vintage film cameras and lens.

ictcamera.com

 

[logan2z]

I'm planning on sending my F2AS to Dean's. I've already chatted with him on the phone and he sounds like a good guy. Glad to hear he did good work for you!

Dean is a well respected repairer and knows Nikons well. I'm sure he'll do a good job for you.

 

[logan2z]

for the rest of us ,fill us in. Who is ITC?

Looks like @Steve Goldstein answered your question in post #16 above.