Mark Hamma charges $80 to CLA/restore a GSN. I have several fixed lens rangefinders all but one was CLA'd when I purchased it or shortly thereafter. My take is:
1. There wonderful picture takers will never be made again
2. A good CLA will result in a camera that might not be cosmetically "as good as new" but will be, more importantly, functionally good as new.
3. The results from these beauties is right up there with the "name" interchangeable lens rangefinder system cameras, truth be told.
4. The still cost about half of your average plastic wonder digital point and shoot...
5. With care, a well-CLA'd old mechanical rangefinder with its comparatively simple electronics can last indefinitely, decades, a lifetime.
6. It takes hours to disassemble, reassemble, do minor repairs on a vintage camera and requires patience, skill, and expertise (and sometimes spare parts).
- Konica Auto S3, CLA'd upon purchase. $90 (a steal). Shot with this camera today. Fully functional, great finder, speeds/exposure all accurate. In "as new" form.
- Lynx 14e, serviced immediately after purchase. Everything functions ans is accurate.
- GSN, purchased fully serviced. No worries about the POD, nice bright rangefinder, works as new.
Only one camera - Yashica Electro CC, was fully functional upon purchase. The rangefinder is slightly off, the seals could stand replacement, the viewfinder is good but could use a cleaning. That's going to Mark Hamma next year. Every other camera I didn't CLA - jammed, broke, had functions that didn't work, was frustrating.
I'm a big believer in having you vintage camera CLA'd by a professional. It's totally worth it. I don't have as big a collection as many folks here, but all of my cameras are 100% fully functional and reliable and works as if they were right out of the box in 196X or 197X. I would take, literally, one fully functional CLA'd camera like your Canon, than 20 cameras with dirty finders that need adjuctment, sticky shutters whose speeds are way off, crumbling light seals, corroded wires and contacts ready to break any day... These are frustrating cameras to shoot, and you're on borrowed time even if you get an exposure out of them. A lot of folks get "GAS" - fall in love with these great old cameras (or the "idea" of shooting with them), and are disappointed when they get what they consider "crap" in the mail and complain about eBay or the seller. Getting a fully functional camera that's 30, 40, 50 years old is the exception rather than the rule. What you get is a "diamond in the rough". (These cameras are no longer made and never will be again. Be happy you have a vehicle - eBay, to get what you want at all. You're buying a "shell" of a camera that's long been out of production!) Get the best condition camera you think you're finding, and expect to have it CLA'd, and build the CLA cost into your budget. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
One last thing - for a $130, however, I would expect a warranty of at least six months. Short of that, I would get another one, send it out to have it CLA'd to a place that warranties their work.
