Who does good CLA of 35mm cameras?

[studiocarter]

It's finally happened. My Minolta SRT200 finally bit the dust. I got it new in 1974. I use the lenses on my Canon 5D so its no big loss. Except for film in the frig, and my enlagrer.
So, where can I send it to get it working again? The mirror sticks up. Some sproket holes were torn this last roll. The curtan doesn't close all the way every time. Fast exposures are darker on one side.
Thanks.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

I have used this place for Contax IIA, Contax IIIA, Nikon F3, Nikon F3HP, Nikon F2 and Canon F1n overhauls. Fast turn around and reasonable prices in my estimation.

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Wayne

P.S. I meant to say that he should be able to get the Minolta up a running quickly.

 

[jime11]

I have had the mirror replaced on my Minolta 650si , the ME prisim on my SQ-A repaired , & a Vivitar series 1 28-90 cla at Havel & they have done a good job.

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[elekm]

The camera probably has some sentimental value. Otherwise, I would suggest not worrying about it and buying another buy, perhaps the SRT 202.

In this case, you could always check with KEH.com. They offer online repair estimates through their Web site.

If the problem is simply a lubrication issue, then it shouldn't be too difficult to fix. If it's a shutter curtain replacement, then that is more complicated.

By now, you should automatically replace the foam seals as part of the repair. Or you could do that yourself.

 

[studiocarter]

Mike,

Would my lenses fit onto the 202? The cost of buying one will most likely match shipping et cetra.

 

[Bearman]

Minolta SRT

Mike,

Would my lenses fit onto the 202? The cost of buying one will most likely match shipping et cetra.

Yes, same mount as other SRT series.

Definitely look to buy replacement Minoltas. They are cheaper than a CLA.

SRT 101 or 202 are both great solid cameras and go for about $50 to $75 on eBay.

 

[kivis]

May I recomend Pete Smith, "my Man", in Lake Worth, FL. Dead Link Removed

 

[mikebarger]

Even though a CLA may be more than a different body, you know you'll have a good camera for years.

Buying another body, how soon until it needs something?

2 cents worth.

Mike

 

[benjiboy]

Even though a CLA may be more than a different body, you know you'll have a good camera for years.

Buying another body, how soon until it needs something?

2 cents worth.

Mike

I agree with Mike entirely remember all the cameras of that era are between twenty and thirty years old and buying replacements of the same age if you want to have reliable working tools and not store up future problems isn't a good idea because at least you know where the ones you own have been, and that some ham fisted tinkerer hasn't performed surgery on them on his kitchen table, although it will cost more to get them serviced it is well worth it in the long run, I have had five cameras I have owned for more than twenty years given complete services in the last six months ( A Mamiya C 330F and four Canon FD bodies) and whatever it cost it was worth it because I can look forward to many years of continued enjoyment of using them.

 

[Chris Lange]

Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC are probably the best shop in the business. They're the prime shop for the fashion industry, and have been for many, many years. I had my F3 overhauled by them 6 months ago, and now they are working on my Rolleiflex. They've also done great work on my father's Hasselblads, Pentax 67s, and Mamiya RZ67s. They're sort of an insiders shop, but run by these great old japanese guys, they can fix just about anything, and the price is right too.

 

[studiocarter]

well, I bought a replacement camera a 202. Here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220541732583&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
guarantee and worth a chance, if it doesn't fly after a year then I'll have a choice of which to have serviced. Thanks all.

 

[dynachrome]

Essex Camera Service in Carlstadt, NJ.

 

[waynecrider]

Essex Camera Service in Carlstadt, NJ.

I've had bad service thru Essex. I had to send my camera back after them not replacing the seals of all things in a CLA for which I sent it in. Then on top of it their service was very pricey. More then twice the price of a CLA I had done on my A1 by garryscamera in Illinois.

 

[Brad Bireley]

Here's who I use.
http://www.garryscamerarepair.com/
$45.00 for most manual focus cameras for a CLA!

 

[T42]

If one is willing to work on an old body, a visit to Rick Oleson's website may be worthwhile:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-27.html

I have a Practica FX which had stiffening shutter curtains, and it was capping like the Minolta described by the OP ... making one end of the frame more exposed than the other.

On Rick's recommendation, I wet the shutter curtains with Armor All, and let them sit for a few days. This action softened the stiffened curtains. After several days, I cleaned off the remaining film left on the curtains by the Armor All, and adjusted the curtain tension springs. These were controlled by two ratcheted gears on the bottom of the camera, under the cover plate. I put a bit of light oil on the camera's points where shafts met bearings. I used his TV screen trick for synchronizing the two curtains.

The Practica FX has worked on all shutter speeds ever since, without capping. That was a number of years ago, perhaps seven or so if I recall correctly.

As an aside, if one has a Leica needing a CLA, I highly recommend Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch in New York. She is top notch:

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[kivis]

Pete Smith, especially if they are Nikon's and especially if they are F's.