Who to send my folder off to for a CLA?

[Steve M.]

My Bessa RF w/ Heliar arrived today, and although I bought it at a bargain price, it's sadly in bargain condition. The lens is clear and the rangefinder looks accurate, but unfortunately it has many of the typical problems of old folders. Rather than send it back and look for a better one, I decided it might be better to just get this one fixed properly.

There's a pinhole in the bellows, the focus is binding toward the nearest distance, and the back door is tricky to open and shut. Rather than attempt to fix things myself, I'd much rather send it out and have everything checked, as well as a new bellows installed. That part I have no intention of attempting. Any ideas who to send it out to other than Certo6? Maybe Essex? I usually send things to John over at Focal Point, but this isn't up his alley.

 

[rpilottx]

Location?

Location?

Collectible Cameras in Phoenix does a pretty good job on old cameras.

 

[JeffL]

Ken Ruth - Photo on Bald Mountain. Not sure what his turn around time is.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Also, Essex Camera in NJ, did a nice job on my Bessa I folder.

 

[GaryLH]

+1 on Ken Ruth

He does great work.. Nice person to talk to. U can call him and talk about your problem. He can give u a rough estimate of the cost... Last time I sent something for him to work on the turn around was around 3 weeks. He has limited hours that u can call him.. The times are listed on his web site.

Gary

 

[Vics]

Ken Ruth - Photo on Bald Mountain. Not sure what his turn around time is.

Ken was going to be my suggestion, as he is a Graflex freak, but back in the '90s when he was working on my Nikon F bodies, the wait was excrusciating (sp?). He may have his backlog cleared by now...

 

[Steve M.]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I'm in the US by the way and should have said that. Essex just gave me a ballpark estimate of $250 labor for a bellows replacement and CLA, plus shipping/handling. The bellows on ebay is $90, so at that point I'd have $750 in a CLA'd Bessa RF w/ Heliar lens & a new bellows.

A little high, but it would be reliable and have a new bellows. The only other option that would get me a Heliar lensed folder in my price range is a Bessa II, and I'd pay much more than that for the camera alone.
People like Ken Ruth a lot, so I should contact him. From what I've read, Essex sounds very good too.

On the one hand, that's a crazy amount of money to have in an old folder. But only a Rolleiflex Planer would give me comparable IQ, and I don't want to carry a TLR on my bike in New Mexico's 100 degree summers. Did that last year and once was enough. Now I want a slim folder to throw in my side bag.

 

[kuzano]

It is already a Bessa II... Well, very close

It is already a Bessa II... Well, very close

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I'm in the US by the way and should have said that. Essex just gave me a ballpark estimate of $250 labor for a bellows replacement and CLA, plus shipping/handling. The bellows on ebay is $90, so at that point I'd have $750 in a CLA'd Bessa RF w/ Heliar lens & a new bellows.

A little high, but it would be reliable and have a new bellows. The only other option that would get me a Heliar lensed folder in my price range is a Bessa II, and I'd pay much more than that for the camera alone.
People like Ken Ruth a lot, so I should contact him. From what I've read, Essex sounds very good too.

On the one hand, that's a crazy amount of money to have in an old folder. But only a Rolleiflex Planer would give me comparable IQ, and I don't want to carry a TLR on my bike in New Mexico's 100 degree summers. Did that last year and once was enough. Now I want a slim folder to throw in my side bag.

My understanding is that the Bessa RF (I've owned two) uses the same underpinnings.... rangefinder mechanism moving the front standard and many other pieces that ended up in the Bessa II. Therefore, I think it's likely that it will be as durable and accurate as a Bessa II, BUT with the dual format advantage. If you got or find the mask for your Bessa RF, you can shoot 645, and 6X9. You cannot do that with a Bessa II, as it is not dual format.

The obvious differences on the front end may be the coatings on the Heliar (single vs. multi???), and the difference in shutter. However the RF has a 1/400th shutter speed and can be serviced. Mine were quite reliable as found.

On the price front, for you to find a Bessa II with a heliar lens already CLA, or not needing such, will set you back $2000 or more. I've been watching these consistently on eBay for over five years, and I suspect I've seen most of them. Equipped with the Heliar, often sold for $1700 to somewhat over $2000. In that time, I've also seen "beater" or "ugly" examples of Bessa II (usually with a Color Skopar) for $600 to $800. Most needing as much or more than you describe on your RF.

BTW, the way, I am well aware of the Bessa II with APO-Lanther lenses, and I am not confusing the Heliar lens with APO Lanthar. Last APO Lanthar I saw sold on eBay over $6000.

If you can hold your price at the figure you listed, I suspect the Bessa RF is comparable, but much less expensive option.

Considering that IF the mechanisms in the Bessa RF for the range finder and movement of the lens standard are, in fact identical to those mechanisms in the Bessa II, I'd definitely (personally) opt for the Bessa RF over the Bessa II.

Two reasons for this opinion. Both of the RF's I owned were great in terms of reliability, plus I really do favor the option to shoot 645 as well as the "big" negative, only available on the RF. The back door on the Bessa RF is the same door as the Bessa I and the mask is interchangeable because the Bessa I is also dual format. So, it looks like the Bessa I received the dual format treatment, while the Bessa II got the rangefinder mechanism, from the Bessa RF.

 

[Argenticien]

Also Mark Hansen (http://www.ikonrollieflexrepair.com/). You can tell from his URL what he specializes on, but he can do other old folders as well. He worked on my Bessa RF, albeit with less work needed than yours. (Mine did not need new bellows and the focus was not binding.) He is in Oregon.
--Dave

 

[Robert Lai]

Wait for Henry Scherer. I did - for 4 years. Now my Super Ikonta BX came back to me, and it LOOKS new! He has cleaned it up beautifully.

The winding is smooth. He discovered a factory flaw in the winding mechanism which caused frame overlaps, and he repaired it. Mind you, all these Zeiss folders that take 12 6x6 cm exposures have a risk of frame overlap because the Zeiss film spool axle diameter was greater than what is being used now. But, this camera had a very bad problem before of frame overlaps.

Lens, shutter, double exposure prevention, RF - all in great condition.

Henry has replacement selenium cells, and now the meter is responsive and accurate.

I can't tell you enough how nice his work is. The camera is as smooth as my Leica M7 or Nikon F3 (both after a CLA).

 

[Steve M.]

I forgot about Mark Hansen. Good idea. He worked on a Rolleiflex and some Welta folders that I had once and did an outstanding job.

In the meantime, I ck'd the camera's focus w/ a ground glass and loupe, and the rangefinder is reasonably accurate. Infinity focus is on the money. I have been using something called Ultra Black Silicone in a tube to patch the bellows and it looks very promising. Very flexible. Once I test the shutter speeds I'll run a roll through it. Maybe I can shoot it as it is for now. The focus becomes a little rough only between 1.2 and 1 meters, so that isn't a big deal. Total outlay so far is $3.75 for the silicone. It's amazing how creative I can get when I see a $350 repair estimate.

One thing I really want is a slip on collapsible rubber hood so I can close the camera w/ the hood on. Voigtlander made them, but they're rare and expensive. It takes a 37mm slip on, or a 34mm threaded filter/hood.