Who is doing Rolleiflex CLAs these days?

[Terence]

After a roughly 10 year hiatus, I'm getting back in the medium format film game. I dug out my old cameras, but they need some loving care. The cameras are generally in good repair, but need some help after being dormant so long.

I used to use Krikor Maralian, but he retired years ago. I'm seeing mixed messages about whether Ebel is still working, and can't find current contact info for him. Harry Fleenor seemed to be getting mixed reviews, at least as of 2019/2020

 

[Rayt]

Bill Moretz of Pro Camera in Virginia. Bill is a Rolleiflex TLR specialist and overall has a good reputation. Disclaimer….I have used Bill before for other stuff but not for Rolleiflex. Harry Fleenor CLA’d three of my Rollei’s but more than 10 years ago.

* seems from the Pro Camera website they are full and not taking anymore work for the time being.

 

[jp498]

Last year I sent mine in:
Magnifier works fine as I understand it. I had the work done and have a nice working sleeper that should be good for another 70 years. I follow RJ camera repair / Procamera on Insta, but they are fully booked and not taking customers. Fleenor's had the camera for not quite three months. All the more reason to have multiple cameras these days.

harry@rolleirepairs.com
Tue, Mar 1, 2022, 7:03 PM

to me

Hello xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,

Received on February 28, 2022; Rolleiflex 2.8A Type 1 1949-1950 #1101570 & no accessories.

Defects at receipt; front panel out of alignment & dented on ASA side, front feet bent, back cover bent-pushed in, back hood corner chipped, paint removed from transport edges & corroding nameplate, magnifier pop up is damaged & cannot be repaired. Viewing lens has haze in between elements & front surface has coating deterioration. Taking lens has nicks & scratches on front surface. Hot & Cold Weather & Impact does affect Rolleiflex cameras.

Services required; estimate $39.00, overhaul shutter & self timer $199.00, overhaul transport $179.00, re-lube & re-align focusing mechanism $209.00, straighten bent feet $34.00, replace film door latch $79.00 & hood mirror $89.00, & body mirror $89.00, misc. parts $12.00, packaging $6.00, UPS shipping with $700.00 insurance & signature required at delivery $31.00. Total is $966.00 payable by check to Oceanside Camera Repair invoice #xxxxxx

If during repair (when disassembled) there are more needed repairs, parts, or leather replacement we sill send you email for the amount needed to complete repairs.

Turnaround time for "paid repairs" is 4 months. Send payment now by check or Paypal.

Paypal Fee $29.00+$966.00=$995.00;

 

[wjlapier]

I've sent a Rolleiflex, an Ikoflex, and Minolta Autocords to Dan Daniels. Great work most folks agree. Mark Hansen has done two cameras for me---Rolleicord III and Ikoflex Ia. Top notch stuff.

Fleenor's prices are outrageous.

 

[JPD]

$178.00 just to replace the mirrors??

 

[Two23]

I've also used Mark Hansen in Wisconsin. He did a good job.


Kent in SD

 

[blee1996]

Paul Ebel did a good job on my Rolleiflex 2.8C 8 years ago, and I hope he is still in the business.

And I can always recommend Dan Daniel.

 

[Terence]

I've sent a Rolleiflex, an Ikoflex, and Minolta Autocords to Dan Daniels. Great work most folks agree. Mark Hansen has done two cameras for me---Rolleicord III and Ikoflex Ia. Top notch stuff.

Fleenor's prices are outrageous.

Thanks. Do you have contact info for them?

 

[Terence]

Bill Moretz of Pro Camera in Virginia. Bill is a Rolleiflex TLR specialist and overall has a good reputation. Disclaimer….I have used Bill before for other stuff but not for Rolleiflex. Harry Fleenor CLA’d three of my Rollei’s but more than 10 years ago.

* seems from the Pro Camera website they are full and not taking anymore work for the time being.

Thanks

 

[Terence]

Paul Ebel did a good job on my Rolleiflex 2.8C 8 years ago, and I hope he is still in the business.

And I can always recommend Dan Daniel.

Thanks. I saw several messages saying Ebel retired, but also one saying he did a CLA two months ago.

 

[wjlapier]

Thanks. Do you have contact info for them?

Just google Dan Daniels Camera repair. You’ll find his contact info there. Same for Mark Hansen.

Film Camera Repair | Dan Daniel Cameras | Vermont

Film camera repair, Dan Daniel Cameras, Autocord overhaul, Autocord focus lever replacement, Rolleiflex repair, Kodak Medalist 120 conversion and overhaul, analog camera sales, canon rangefinder service, custom fabrication

www.dandanielcameras.com

ZeissIkonRolleiRepair.com

Mark Hansen Camera Repair, Classic Camera Repair, Repairs of old cameras

www.zeissikonrolleirepair.com

 

[JPD]

The Rollei authorized Rollei-Service in Stockholm took about $300 for a full CLA of a Rolleiflex, including mirror replacement and the normal spare parts. German, factory trained technician. He knew what to do, and had the correct tools. That was 20 years ago, but inflation hasn't been that bad.

 

[ediz7531]

Bill Moretz is no longer at Pro Camera. The new owner and main repair person Ryan trained under Bill however.

I’ve sent my Rolleis for repairs to Bill Moretz, Paul Ebel, Magicflex, Dave Feeley, and Harry Fleenor. In a way we are lucky to still have options given how long ago they stopped making these jewels. Harry Fleenor has done the best work, by far I might add, amongst the folks I listed above. Expensive but worth it imo.

 

[KinoGrafx]

I had a Rollei mx-evs that I really thought was junked/unsalvageable and took it to Advance Camera in Beaverton, OR. They did an amazing job with it and for a very fair price. They also did great work with a hassy elx too- highly highly recommend!

 

[Pieter12]

Dave Feely at Key Camera in Colorado,

 

[Mogens]

Last Spring, I sent mine to Mark Hansen and was pleased with the results and cost (after being scared off by Harry Fleenor's prices and wait time).

 

[albireo]

After a roughly 10 year hiatus, I'm getting back in the medium format film game. I dug out my old cameras, but they need some loving care. The cameras are generally in good repair, but need some help after being dormant so long.

I used to use Krikor Maralian, but he retired years ago. I'm seeing mixed messages about whether Ebel is still working, and can't find current contact info for him. Harry Fleenor seemed to be getting mixed reviews, at least as of 2019/2020

I sent my Rolleiflex 3.5F III with a 6 element Planar to Magicflexcamera in Germany (thank you for the recommendation, @Dan Daniel !)

Dan was spot on: the guy is a genius and a perfectionist. He rebuilt it from the ground up. He has access to original Rolleiflex spares and calibration tools. What I got back was an essentially new camera, that looks and operates like factory fresh. The difference in sharpness at f/3.5 is astounding.

Next up I will send him my Rolleicord Vb.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I sent my Rolleiflex 3.5F III with a 6 element Planar to Magicflexcamera in Germany (thank you for the recommendation, @Dan Daniel !)

Dan was spot on: the guy is a genius and a perfectionist. He rebuilt it from the ground up. He has access to original Rolleiflex spares and calibration tools. What I got back was an essentially new camera, that looks and operates like factory fresh. The difference in sharpness at f/3.5 is astounding.

Next up I will send him my Rolleicord Vb.

How was the turn around time and was it a reasonable cost for the service? I have a 3.5F that could use a light CLA. I was thinking of going with Mark Hansen?

 

[albireo]

How was the turn around time and was it a reasonable cost for the service? I have a 3.5F that could use a light CLA. I was thinking of going with Mark Hansen?

Turn around time: 5 months. Cost: higher than average IME. Never used Mark Hansen, but heard only good things about him.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Well, it looks like Mark Hansen won't work on my model Roleiflex. He lists the Rolleiflex 3.5F mod. 1 as one of the cameras he refuses to work on. Might try Mark Hama and see if he will work on it. If he's still in business that is.

 

[Eric Hiss]

Hi All,
Dave Feely at Key Camera has been my main TLR service technician for years. He's still doing my Rolleiflex SLR lenses and cameras, but says he doesn't want to do the TLRs anymore so I'm making a list of different service shops and asking for recommendations for TLR's. I have at least a half dozen here that need servicing before listing on my site right now. I spoke to Harry Fleenor earlier in the week and he just shocked me by saying his CLA starts at $700 now, AND that he reuses main springs. Dave tells me that it's really hard to get both fast and slow speeds within 15% accuracy with a used main spring. Combine the highest cost and slowest turnaround with the fact that Harry won't touch the GX, FX, FW, etc. and it's a non-starter for me. I guess that just verifies why even though he gets great reviews, I've never used him for service work.

Here's what I have for inside the United States: Mark Hansen, Mark Hama, Paul Ebel, ProPhoto, Steve's Camera, Jim at ICT, Dan Daniels
In Europe I have: Paepke, Wiese Fototechnik, Camera Rescue, Amsterdam Camera, Magicflex, Sandro Presta (Italy) and there are a number of others listed at Rolleigraphy.eu

Please let me know if I have missed any service technicians/shops, particularly in the US but anywhere. I'll be contacting all of them but I'd love to hear both good and bad feedback (by pm or e-mail).

Eric

 

[John Wiegerink]

Eric,
I really appreciate your effort in providing this list. Of all the repair persons on the list I wanted to use Mark Hansen, but unfortunately he will not work on the 3.5F Mod.1, which is my model. I'm guessing the reason is the 3.5F Mod.1's differential, but I could be wrong. I'm going to fix it myself or at least try. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Plus, the experience will do me good. If I can't I think I'll try Mark Hama.

 

[MCB18]

If you are in the Colorado area, the camera store near me does camera repairs, they have a couple guys who know how to do repairs on a lot of old cameras. Had great results with then, repairing both my AT-1 and RB67. While I don’t believe they can fix extremely neglected cameras, if it is a camera in decent shape they can CLA it. Flat rate of $200 which is reasonable in my opinion, considering how quickly they work, and the good quality. Store is Cameraworks in Colorado Springs if interested.

My poor Rollie worked great when I got it, but then I made the mistake of trying to use the self timer. Camera bricked, I am sad. The self timer probably just needs to be reset, and a CLA is definitely in order (it has been in storage since the 1990s). Sadly, can’t afford the CLA at the moment. Definitely want to get it working again though.

 

[Pieter12]

Hi All,
Dave Feely at Key Camera has been my main TLR service technician for years. He's still doing my Rolleiflex SLR lenses and cameras, but says he doesn't want to do the TLRs anymore so I'm making a list of different service shops and asking for recommendations for TLR's. I have at least a half dozen here that need servicing before listing on my site right now. I spoke to Harry Fleenor earlier in the week and he just shocked me by saying his CLA starts at $700 now, AND that he reuses main springs. Dave tells me that it's really hard to get both fast and slow speeds within 15% accuracy with a used main spring. Combine the highest cost and slowest turnaround with the fact that Harry won't touch the GX, FX, FW, etc. and it's a non-starter for me. I guess that just verifies why even though he gets great reviews, I've never used him for service work.

Here's what I have for inside the United States: Mark Hansen, Mark Hama, Paul Ebel, ProPhoto, Steve's Camera, Jim at ICT, Dan Daniels
In Europe I have: Paepke, Wiese Fototechnik, Camera Rescue, Amsterdam Camera, Magicflex, Sandro Presta (Italy) and there are a number of others listed at Rolleigraphy.eu

Please let me know if I have missed any service technicians/shops, particularly in the US but anywhere. I'll be contacting all of them but I'd love to hear both good and bad feedback (by pm or e-mail).

Eric

Last time I was at Steve’s he was referring Rollei TLR work to Harry Fleenor.

 

[avid1]

Eric,
I really appreciate your effort in providing this list. Of all the repair persons on the list I wanted to use Mark Hansen, but unfortunately he will not work on the 3.5F Mod.1, which is my model. I'm guessing the reason is the 3.5F Mod.1's differential, but I could be wrong. I'm going to fix it myself or at least try. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Plus, the experience will do me good. If I can't I think I'll try Mark Hama.

Not sure if you got your 3.5F fixed or not by now, but I just got my 3.5F back from Jimmy Koh and he did a fantastic job. I had sent it to someone else for a CLA and it had come back after 3 months as a total mess. I was refunded the money right away even without asking, the camera was in that bad of a shape. I heard of Jimmy Koh on some forums and called him. He said my model is a bit different and most technicians are not experienced with it and won't work on it. It's the gearing, I understood. Anyway, the camera was done in a very short time, and it is perfect. All the problems fixed and it's working great again! He even mended some of the leather cover that the other tech had super glued after the work was done. It was looking horrible! Jimmy Koh was thorough in his attention to detail and I couldn't be happier with my camera.