Vintage camera repair shop

[Nikon 2]

Who do you recommend to work on your vintage camera for a CLA…?

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Coincidentally, I just bookmarked this list from Mike Eckman a few minutes ago!

Camera Repair Worldwide Directory

Every single year, every one of our beloved film cameras gets another year older. Cameras that were 50 years old 10 years ago are now 60 years old, and that t

mikeeckman.com

While a lot of outfits say they work on everything, there's no dedicated Nikon specialist listed. Which seems weird, because there are specialists for much rarer brands/models.

The only folks on the list I've personally used are Don Goldberg/DAG, back in my early 2000s Minox days, and much more recently, John Hermanson/Zuiko.com for my Olympus Pen F and OM-2. I once had a Nikon DP-1 meter head repaired through Stephen Gandy/CameraQuest, but that was back in the late 90s.

A couple of years ago I wrote to Vermont Camera Works asking what they'd charge for a Nikon F2 repair (locked-up advance/shutter) and I was quoted $125 or $150... but I didn't use them, I ended up selling that F2 body.

 

[Nikon 2]

Coincidentally, I just bookmarked this list from Mike Eckman a few minutes ago!

Camera Repair Worldwide Directory

Every single year, every one of our beloved film cameras gets another year older. Cameras that were 50 years old 10 years ago are now 60 years old, and that t

mikeeckman.com

While a lot of outfits say they work on everything, there's no dedicated Nikon specialist listed. Which seems weird, because there are specialists for much rarer brands/models.

The only folks on the list I've personally used are Don Goldberg/DAG, back in my early 2000s Minox days, and much more recently, John Hermanson/Zuiko.com for my Olympus Pen F and OM-2. I once had a Nikon DP-1 meter head repaired through Stephen Gandy/CameraQuest, but that was back in the late 90s.

A couple of years ago I wrote to Vermont Camera Works asking what they'd charge for a Nikon F2 repair (locked-up advance/shutter) and I was quoted $125 or $150... but I didn't use them, I ended up selling that F2 body.

Thank you for that valuable information...!

 

[Nikon 2]

Have you heard anything about Dean’s Camera Repair...?

 

[FriedLouisStudio]

Only when mentioned here. He's on the other side of the country from me, if possible, I'd try to use someone closer.

As you can see from above, I've had only limited interactions with repair guys over the years. I'm sure there are folks here who will provide lots more detailed info.

Historical note: When we needed service on our Nikon gear back in the 60s-90s, we took it to the legendary Marty Forscher in NYC. Now that was a serious Nikon repair scene! Alas, long gone now.

 

[BrianShaw]

Steve's Camera Service Center | Camera Repair | Culver City

Leica Canon Nikon Sony Hasselblad Camera Lens Repair Service CLA Collimation Focus Repairs

stevecamera.com

Sent my F3 to Steve many years ago for an overhaul. Excellent results… as with a couple of large format lens shutters too. I’ve not needed camera servicing in a while and keep Dean’s bookmarked also. Both have great reputation.

 

[Nikon 2]

Steve's Camera Service Center | Camera Repair | Culver City

Leica Canon Nikon Sony Hasselblad Camera Lens Repair Service CLA Collimation Focus Repairs

stevecamera.com

Thank you…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Thank you…!

Is Steve qualified to do a CLA on the F2…?

 

[BrianShaw]

Is Steve qualified to do a CLA on the F2…?

What are measures of "qualified" that you want to hear? Steve (as with other camera repair shops) have worked on cameras, including Nikon's professional-level cameras, for a long time and have many satisfied customers. If you really want an assurance, call him (or Dean or anyone else) and ask if they've ever overhauled a F2...

BTW, back in the olden days, Nikon had a string of repair shops (not sure if they were independent and in a relationship with Nikon or if they were Nikon owned, called ACS - Authorized Camera Service. They were good with "vintage" Nikons too but long gone. Nikon then (and maybe now) had a list of recommended service centers but last time I looked there really wasn't much offered for "viintage/obsolete" cameras. Might be worth googling to find out who they recommend, if anyone any more.

Steve's website is abbreviated from what it once was. The older site had a lot more information on his background and history over the years. It was very impressive. Steve and Dean and a few others like them are the last remaining of the highly qualified repairmen from the olden days. They have a reputation and decent Yelp reviews. Don't know what else one can expect to asses "qualifications".

 

[Nikon 2]

Dean told me he worked in the Nikon factory for thirty years. He has all the original equipment to measure shutter speeds…!

 

[BrianShaw]

Dean told me he worked in the Nikon factory for thirty years. He has all the original equipment to measure shutter speeds…!

I did not know that about Dean; good information. I don't know Steve's resume except for what was on his web site, and cannnot recall all of the information that is no longer there. I know Steve has a history of servicing professionals for many years and his experience includes Graflex, Hasselblad, Nikon, and Canon... probably plus more that I cant even recall. Personally... I'd chose either one and feel confident. Many moons ago (1980's) I used another local repair shop for Rollei TLR; he was an old Rollei factory guy. His workmanship, though, was only so-so. Every repair needed to go back soon thereafter for re-repair. So while that is a good metric, it isn't the only metric.

Since I'm actually starting to like you... here's an offer. You can send your F2 to me and I'll do an independent assessment. If it needs repair or you decide that an overhaul is just a good thing, I'll personally deliver it (and your credit card information) to the repaiman of your choice, Steve or Dean. Upon completion, I will inspect theior woprkmanship and field test your camera until there is confidence in the quality of their work... and then return it to you so you can carry on taking pictures with a reliable camera for many years. How's that for an offer?

 

[Nikon 2]

Dean is also half Japanese…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Thank you for your amazing offer…!

 

[BrianShaw]

Dean is also half Japanese…!

Wonderful... but which half repairs the cameras??? My best friend is half Japanese and the only thing he knows about being Japanese is how to order delivery of Ramen, and how to cheer for Japanese baseball players. But to be fair... he also used and still owns a F2 so maybe he's more in touch with half of his heritage than he lets me know.

 

[runswithsizzers]

My personal experience is limited to only these:
- Eric Hendrickson, Knoxville, TN 37938 https://pentaxs.com - specializes in Pentax film cameras and lenses. Eric has completed several CLAs on my Pentax MX cameras and one lens with good results.

- ACR - Abilene Camera Repair, Abilene, Texas, http://www.abilenecamera.com, CLA on a Pentax SuperProgram (long time ago)

- Weber Cameras (Greg Weber), Fremont, NE, http://www.webercamera.com, Konica specialist. Recently, Greg did a CLA on a Konica Autoreflex T4 for me. There is a lingering issue with a light leak on that camera, but otherwise looks like a great job. Unfortunately, Greg is having some health problems, and the future of his repair business is uncertain.

I have kept a list of 15-20 other camera repair facilities, mostly in the US, which have been recommended by various members of this forum, and others. I have not used any of those personally. Not sure if it would be appropriate to post that list here, but if anyone is interested, PM me.

 

[Bill Burk]

There is a website and associated Facebook group that I follow with people who pledge not to leave tool marks or use WD-40.

Learn Camera Repair: Home

Online camera repair course, free tutorials, and the largest online library of free service manuals for photographic equipment. Learn Camera Repair is the place to learn to repair cameras!

learncamerarepair.com

I am not exceedingly skilled at camera repair myself, (my camera repair estimate from John Hermanson is clearly marked TAMPERED and Youxin Ye had to replace my M2 shutter assembly from an M3 donor body) but I have some of the right Leica grease from Kluber thanks to a group purchase I participated in, and I have been repairing ES-II thanks to their service manual collection (used to be free but now $1 ea).

Lurk there and maybe befriend people who talk about repairing Nikon F2

 

[Sirius Glass]

For my camera repairs I have had excellent work done by KEH and the prices are competitive or lower.

 

[mgb74]

Might be worth talking to https://zackscamerarepair.com/

I used them with good results, but that was a number of years ago.

 

[madNbad]

Blue Moon Camera and Machine is one of the site sponsors and they have an in house technician.

 

[BrianShaw]

... have an in house technician.

That's a good point. I will not send my equipment, camera or otherwise, to a shop for repair if the tech is not in-house. I'm sure many shops who use outside techs have faith in htem but for me it's more desireable to not have a middleman. Manufacturer warranty excepted.

 

[MarkS]

Repair a Nikon? Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC.
Realistically, Nikon SLRs are so common that any repair shop should be able to repair them.

 

[Nikon 2]

Wonderful... but which half repairs the cameras??? My best friend is half Japanese and the only thing he knows about being Japanese is how to order delivery of Ramen, and how to cheer for Japanese baseball players. But to be fair... he also used and still owns a F2 so maybe he's more in touch with half of his heritage than he lets me know.

The Japanese half...!

 

[Nikon 2]

Thank you everyone with all your help in finding a repair shop for a vintage camera CLA...!