Where Can I Send Graphic Lens n US For Overhaul?

F4U

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This is my lens from my Super Graphic. Both the lens and the camera are in absolute mint condition. The lens has obviously never been serviced, and it is completely unusable. Terribly slugglsh. I am located i nthe southeastern US. I've watched Chris Sherlock's videos and his work is impeccable. But he's in Australia, and I'm not even sure he would want or need the job anyway. Is there anybody in the US who can do work like that, and won't take forever to get it done and back to me? Like I say, the lens is virgin new condition. I don't want chewed up screws and scratches. Edit: I wonder how much it costs these days for good repair work like that? Thank you.
 

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loccdor

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Chris Sherlock has retired, @retina_restoration Paul Barden is doing the Kodak Retina repairs now, I'm not sure if he would also work on your lens, you can ask. He is in the USA. Can vouch for a good service.
 

GregY

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F4, give Precision Camera in Austin a call. I'm sure there are many companies that would work on a leaf shutter.
Here in western Canada Gary at Lensmedic YYC works on every thing from Rolleis to Leicas to old folders with leaf shutters.
I know in the US Carol Flutot gets mentioned often but I'm sure there are others. Compared to lots of cameras, LF shutters aren't that complicated.
 

MarkS

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Zack's camera is a sponsor of this site- try them. Synchro-Compur shutters are very common, and well-known; it doesn't seem like yours is worn out and needing parts. Any camera repair shop should be able to service it, they will have seen and repaired many of them.
 

mmerig

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Zacks' is great. I have sent a few lenses to him and he did a great job. So does Carol Flutot.

One option to consider is to unscrew the lens elements and soak the shutter in 95% alcohol for a few hours, working the shutter now and then. Usually, the shutter will fire more normally as the alcohol loosens up old lubricant and also acts as one. After the alcohol soak, put it in naptha (white gas, Coleman fluid) for few minutes. This gets rid of the alcohol and it dries fast. I have tried just the alcohol and after it evaporates, the shutter will sometime be slow again. Years ago I sent a shutter to Carol Flutot and she mentioned that she soaks the shutters for days before working on it.

After this treatment I use a home-made shutter speed tester and mark the actual speeds somewhere on the camera. Usually, the slow and medium speeds are close, but the faster ones (like 1/400th) could be a stop slow. But that's a spring strength problem. I hardly use speeds faster than 1/100th anyway.

I have done this with several lenses, for 4 by 5 and 2 by 3, and use them a lot with no problems. I have sent three of them out though that were actually broken, not just sluggish.

Good luck!
 

randyB

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As others have said, you should contact Carol Flutot. You can also check with KEH repair dept to see if they have anyone experienced with leaf shutters. RB
 
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F4U

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Thank you for these answers. I contacted SPTS and Flutot yesterday via email. Haven't hear back from either one as of yet.
 

David Lindquist

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Chuck1 said:
Zack's (auto compose got me)
Click to expand...

Just checked Michael Zacks's website (https://zackscamerarepair.com) No indication he's closed up shop.

He's done rim-set and dial-set Compurs as well as Supermatics for me. I've been very happy with his work.

Just remembered, also cla'd a No. 1 Copal. He's very responsive to his email too.

David
 
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BrianShaw

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... and to follow up, I just corresponded with Michael and he is in business and sounds busy. The rumor of his business being closed is likely an erroneous notation on Yelp. That is in process of being updated.
 
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F4U

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BrianShaw said:
... and to follow up, I just corresponded with Michael and he is in business and sounds busy. The rumor of his business being closed is likely an erroneous notation on Yelp. That is in process of being updated.
Click to expand...

Thank you Brian. Not having heard anything from the previous 2 hops I put in an email to Zack's today. We'll see. This is one that I didn't want to tackle myself, due to its mint virgin condition. But is somebody competent doesn't get back to me, I'm liable to do it myself. I don't want to because I am not experienced like them. At the same time I certainly don't want to send it off and wait 2 months for it. No sense in that at all. At my age, I don't even buy green bananas.
 

BrianShaw

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Doing it yourself certainly isn’t out of the question. There certainly is enough repair literature and YouTube videos to help. Finding a shop to overhaul it shouldn’t be difficult either. It’s a very common shutter.

Zach’s is a good option. He sounds busy as he specifically asked me to hold off on sending anything until the end of the month. Carol Flutot-Miller-Etc hasn’t responded to my request for availability status. She seems to have gone through some life changes, closed her shop in mid/late 2024 and is “status unknown” at this time. It takes a lot of web searching to discover that as her website doesn’t seem to have been updated.

Have you contacted James Holman at ICT in San Diego? Another possibility great option.

I understand completely about not buying green bananas, yet some times there simply is no other option.
 

BrianShaw

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In a totally tangental aside, Im not familiar with that lens/shutter being originally native to the SuperGraphic. Is it on a SuperGraphic lensboard and compatible with the SuperGraphic electric solenoid release and internal electrical synch/release ports?
 
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F4U

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Yes it is the original lens, lens board, solenoid, and rangefinder cam. The whole sh-bang. I don't know it the Compur/Ektar configuration was the only thing as standard equipment on the Super Graphic, but it was on mine. Yesterday I snagged a $49 deal on a 90mm/6.8 wide-angle Optar in a Compur shutter. The shutter was said to have problems. So I guess that's where I'll get in some needed practice on these Compurs. Something tells me I'll be servicing this 127 Ektar myself.
 

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BrianShaw

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Very interesting. I learned something new today. Thank you.
 

OAPOli

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I've worked on this no.1 Synchro-Compur and it is not the easiest. The B/T levers and springs were a bit tricky to assemble and the sync timing gave me a bit of grief. The no. 0/00 versions are a bit simpler and completely different.
 

juan

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Find someone. The Super Graphic shutter is unlike any other. I'd avoid soaking it in anything as some of these used nylon parts, and I don't know how nylon reacts to cleaners. Take off the lens board and you will see a hole to the left on the camera body. Spray some electronics parts cleaner in there and activate to solenoid a few times to help clean that out. I'd bet that a lot of the supposed broken wiring in the bellows problem is actually a dirty solenoid. Both of mine were inoperative and this trick fixed them.

Carol gets busy and sometimes takes a few days to reply.
 

ivan35mm

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I'm curious what the going rate for CLA on these shutters is in the USA? Here in Europe, the price is €100 + VAT (€121 total)

Looking forward to an update from the OP, where you get it serviced at and how much it is. Thanks!
 

mgb74

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ivan35mm said:
I'm curious what the going rate for CLA on these shutters is in the USA? Here in Europe, the price is €100 + VAT (€121 total)

Looking forward to an update from the OP, where you get it serviced at and how much it is. Thanks!
Click to expand...

That's about what I remember paying years ago. Not sure that reflects current pricing in the US.

Another possibility, if still in business, is Paul Ebel in Wisconsin.
 

mgb74

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Two other possibilities (that I don't think have been mentioned) are Dan Daniels Cameras (NY) and Vermont Camera Works.
 

Steve Goldstein

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As others have noted, Michael Zacks is still in business. He closed hos shop a few years ago and now works from his home. There are things he won’t or can’t work on any longer but shutters are pretty basic and as far as I know he’ll do them.

Keep in mind that all repair people are pretty busy these days and may not be able to accept or perform work right away.
 
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