Who's reputable for fixing Bronica's ?

[stormbytes]

Hi,

My favorite camera, my Bronica SQ-A needs to be CLA'd. I'm pretty sure the dampner's shot as mirror slap seems really bad, and overall I'd like to know that my camera is in good health. I'm in New York City. Best I've been able to do so far was a local Asian place. I don't know much about them, but communicating with them has been difficult, and I'd be more comfortable using someone who is both able & willing to answer my questions. Could someone suggest a reputable technician for the Bronica line of cameras?

Cheers,
Daniel

 

[Dave Parker]

I would get a hold of Tamron as they were the distributors here in the states, even though they are not selling cameras anylonger, they still have the parts and such, so would probably be a good bet for repair.

Dave

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Nippon Camera Service in New York is probably the place you're thinking of, and they're excellent for the cameras they service, but I haven't tried them for my classic Bronicas. They may do the more recent models, like the SQ series.

I usually use Frank Marshman (do a search to turn up his 800 number) in Harrisonburg, VA.

www.kohscamera.com on Long Island also specializes in Bronica.

 

[stormbytes]

Nippon Camera Service in New York is probably the place you're thinking of, and they're excellent for the cameras they service, but I haven't tried them for my classic Bronicas. They may do the more recent models, like the SQ series.

I usually use Frank Marshman (do a search to turn up his 800 number) in Harrisonburg, VA.

David,

You're absolutely correct. Nippon was the place I was referred to. Now I'm glad I have a reference. I'll look them up again and work with them. They're local so, it's far more convenient.

Who's Frank Marshman and what's his story?

Cheers
Daniel

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Frank Marshman runs a shop called "CameraWiz" that's advertised in Shutterbug for ages, and he's a real craftsman and a real gentleman.

He's worked on all my classic Bronica stuff and refurbished a folder or two, some rollfilm backs for LF cameras, and a few other custom things for me like an adapter for using Canon FD macro lenses on my Bronica (bayonet-to-bayonet!). He is particularly recommended for old Bronicas and Ilex shutters, but he can also do things like machine new parts for all sorts of cameras. If you give him a project he'll often come up with ingenious solutions, and when he hasn't been able to repair something for me, he hasn't charged for it, even if he put in an hour or two of labor.

He maintains shutters for Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee, Sally Mann, and others.