Bad experience with KEH camera repair

[stupid leica]

KEH can't even sell a functional product, so why would one assume they can repair one?

I have had SEVERAL horrible experiences with them in recent years, it is a shame what they've become.

 

[RedLion]

In the next few years when digital 3D printing comes into its own, Rollei spare parts won't be a problem. In fact, (except for the lenses and perhaps tempered parts like springs) I wouldn't be surprised to see small and boutique manufacturers "printing" entire Rollei TLR's again.


Joe

 

[sepiareverb]

DHW Fototechnik did a fantastic job on my FW. Not sure about the older bodies, but they return emails quickly.

 

[roboflick]

Harry Fleenor, http://www.rolleirepairs.com/ has always done very good work on my Rolleis. He's in the Los Angeles area.

+1 takes 3 months but is worth the wait and money. Send to him before he retires

Nik

 

[mikemc_photo]

I personally know people with large quantities of Nikon rangefinder parts from the '60s, so there are probably NOS Rollei out there, and the cameras were being still being manufactured only few years ago. But EXPENSIVE -- and very doubtfully available for repairpeople. All the parts I know about are in collector hands, no one will waste them on users.

While Nikon still has S3 and SP RF parts -- they are not selling them to anyone, but they are reserved for the later production factory repair.

Until I sold my retail shop I had over 50,000 Kodak Retina parts, many never seen for 30 plus years. This allowed me to continue repairs on all the folding retinas thru the mid 90's. The biggest thing that was gone was leather trim, we always put new on, so inventory was low I still have a sweet IIIC in Ex cond, except for the leather on the front clam shell.

I always bought Rolleis, Leicas, and any large leaf shutter for parts if it was beyond repair.....Now look at some of the prices on classics.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I have to confess, I'm struggling a bit with the concept of spare parts for cameras being wasted, on owners who actually want to use them for photography.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Brand new spare parts for Nikon rangefinders are VERY hard to come by.

Take for instance a new front glass for an SP. One can make a serviceably one out of microscope slide glass, so users can be fixed. Putting it on anything but a mint black SP is, IMO, a waste of a rare and expensive part. And frankly would you be willing to pay $500 for a new front glass for a beater SP? $2500 for new motor plate?

e.g. there are lots of used parts from junked cameras out there, almost an endless supply.

Fair enough. However from what you describe, it does sound like there are altogether too many people collecting Nikon rangefinders, and not enough people using them.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[shootar401]

I sent my Nikon F4 into KEH for a repair because a gear was stripped and it wasn't transporting the film. My F4 was bought new in 1995 and has seen much better days, there was hardly any paint let on the body.

After the repair was complete I was sent back an almost new looking camera. They replaced everything except for the top plate with the serial number. Even the LCD that had some bleeding was replaced!

I'm sure it was easier for KEH to just put my top plate on a camera, but I'm convinced that they put it on a new and unsold body, it looks amazing and is dead quiet!