Bit of a dilemma...

[richgj700]

Hi there

I've been using an Electro 35 GT for a short while now and love it 😀! Bought from the auction site for 25 quid mid last year and it's been working great... until now. Problem is the shutter seems to be only firing at one speed now regardless lighting/aperture setting. When I set it to B, the shutter stays open as long as I keep the shutter held, so the shutter seems ok. Light readings seem accurate and seem to work fine, so I'm guessing the electronics are fine (using 4 stacked LR44's). Everything else seems to be in top shape. So I'm guessing that leaves it down to the dreaded POD.

Basing my decision on the fact my budget is really tight the choices are:
-Send it away for repair. According to Mark Hamma it'll cost me over 100GBP including shipping (I'm in the UK) to get it back into top shape. Is it worth investing a hundred plus quid into the Electro?
-Attempt to open it up and attempt the POD fix with no experience (apart from tinkering around with a Vivitar 35 ES once) and risk completely screwing it up. Just how easy/difficult is the POD fix?
-Take another risk with the auction site with the possibility of having to go through this again.

Or just go back to my SLR and leave the rangefinder world for the time being 🙁 and come back when I can afford something more reliable. Loathed to do this as I'm really beginning to get the rangefinder thing, SLR just feels slow now.

Any help or advice to help me make my decision?

Rich

 

[gb hill]

Send it to this RFF member. It's alot cheaper than M.Hamma
http://www.camerarefurb.com/Services.htm

 

[richgj700]

Great! Thanks for the suggestion, emailing them now.

 

[KoNickon]

I was going to suggest him as well. I will be sending him a note myself shortly, since I have a GT and GSN each with POD problems. The fact he's not far away is an added attraction.

 

[gromit]

Russ did a great job on my GSN as well. If the shipping stateside doesn't wreck the budget, his work is EXCELLENT.

 

[richgj700]

Hopefully the return postage to the UK shouldn't wreck the budget too much. $49.99 dollars for an advanced service certainly seems like good value.

I guess my only other option would be to find somewhere in the UK that could deal with the POD, anyone hear of anyone reputable in the UK?

 

[Clark.EE]

Repair

Repair

There is a good repair guy in Leicester, cant find his name /number at the mo. but i will keep looking.
Polish sir name Ed Tzirkis or Czerkus or something.
If you are even remotely technically minded, i would have a go if i were you.
It keeps me out of the pub.
Give you a deeper understanding of whats going on in there aswell.
Screwdrivers and some basic soldering kit!
You sure its POD. Not as common here as in hotter wetter climes i think.