CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
They sound like they are snowed. They do a lot of work for dealers too and it wouldn't surprise me if that gets done a bit more promptly, but I might be transferring my experience with another repairer.
cameraworks-uk.com experience / recommendations?
- Thread starter SimonPJ
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trianbampol
brian tampol
I know exactly how you guys feel, have you heard anything back yet?
I sent in my M3 + 2 lenses to be overhauled / re-painted in August 2018, about a month later in September I was checked into repair traq. There was little to no communication after that up until August of this year when Alan started working on my gear, which has been finished, and is on its way back to me from their shop as we speak. My wait time was around 1 year and 3 months, so hang there.
truando
Member
Got my M2 back today after 15 months and it’s fantastic. They are true artists. In retrospect I would say it was worth the wait. Their communication may not be top rate, but their work sure is.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I joined Russian RFF in 2012. My open statement was "you need two RF. One for use, one for service". They were laughing at me back then.
SimonPJ
Well-known
Has anyone seen signs of life from Cameraworks recently? I sent some bodies and a lens to them last August and haven’t heard anything since, with no response to recent messages.
Yes, I have a shipment arriving today.
This was a difficult project, it took fully a year, as I shipped the gear to them in Feb 2019. The time frame was lengthened due to some gear that had previously been ‘worked on’ (perhaps ‘tampered with’ is a better description) by a tech that had no idea what they were doing.
Every project I’ve sent them I’ve always emphasized that I am in no hurry, and for them to take their time. The stuff arriving today is probably the tenth? project they have done for me? I’ve lost count over the past 3 or 4 years...I’m in the USA.
One complicating factor is that James has had some medical issues, which I won’t detail here.
Keep emailing: try alanstarkie at me dot com and admin at cameraworks-uk dot com
You could also call them, I suppose, although I’ve never done so.
FYI: Alan has indicated they no longer offer services for M5, and no longer offer painting of lenses, they have far too much standard work as it is...and their prices have increased accordingly.
This was a difficult project, it took fully a year, as I shipped the gear to them in Feb 2019. The time frame was lengthened due to some gear that had previously been ‘worked on’ (perhaps ‘tampered with’ is a better description) by a tech that had no idea what they were doing.
Every project I’ve sent them I’ve always emphasized that I am in no hurry, and for them to take their time. The stuff arriving today is probably the tenth? project they have done for me? I’ve lost count over the past 3 or 4 years...I’m in the USA.
One complicating factor is that James has had some medical issues, which I won’t detail here.
Keep emailing: try alanstarkie at me dot com and admin at cameraworks-uk dot com
You could also call them, I suppose, although I’ve never done so.
FYI: Alan has indicated they no longer offer services for M5, and no longer offer painting of lenses, they have far too much standard work as it is...and their prices have increased accordingly.
pedaes
Member
They CLA'd a lens for me a couple of years back. I e-mailed them just after Christmas re another lens CLA and have yet to hear back! Unless you are prepared to wait years, not months, would look elsewhere. I did.
DanskDynamit
Well-known
well if you dont need a repaint job, RedDotCameras is a good place and I'm sure they will work faster than cameraworks. I have serviced my first M3 and a lens with them and it was perfect.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Red Dot no longer take service work as they sent it out to repairers (they don't do any themselves - Ivor just sells cameras) and got fed up with having to sort out problems. He told me he has used cameraworks and others for work on his own stock, but the main Leica repair specialist he used, Malcolm Taylor, has retired.
Leica repairs take time in the UK, demand is overwhelming the few repairers left. I waited 9 months for my Dual Range Summicron to be CLA & the goggles recalibrated from Newton Ellis - they did a great job and the goggles needed shimming - and my Summaron has currently been with Richard Caplan's repairers for 4 months.
SimonPJ
Well-known
I was optimistic when I discovered Camerworks that they might replace the kind of service I was used to having from CRR Luton, who always turned things round for me within a couple of months at most. That came from reading some of the first posts about them on here, which talked about how quick their turn around was.
Not knowing how long it is going to be is what’s difficult. I would prefer to be given an honest estimate up front about when the work is likely to be completed. I think I remember rightly that Henry Scherer, who re-builds Contaxes, has a waiting list system which provides some visibility into the process. That would be very useful.
The current situation with Leica repairs in the UK would suggest that one should be proactive about sending equipment in need of repair or servicing off. A collection of ‘too many’ Leicas doesn’t look so extravagant if you need to plan for half to be away for work at any one time!
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Dralowid
Michael
Well things come full circle.
Back to the kitchen table with lighter fluid, toothbrush and a big mallet!
Back to the kitchen table with lighter fluid, toothbrush and a big mallet!
James24
Well-known
I have been looking around for a repairer in the UK recently.
I found these. None are endorsed by me as I haven't used any of them. But some may be worth investigating. Has anyone here used Aperture? Their offer is tempting.
Aperture offer a 'rapid turnaround, usually within a week'.
https://apertureuk.com/camera-repairs-london/
Classic Camera say 4-6 weeks, possibly longer depending on part availability and workload.
https://theclassiccamera.com/repairs-servicing/
The Real Camera Co offer repairs though anything specialist will probably get sent away
https://realcamera.co.uk/repair/
Otherwise it's Cameraworks, Newton Ellis or CRR .
I found these. None are endorsed by me as I haven't used any of them. But some may be worth investigating. Has anyone here used Aperture? Their offer is tempting.
Aperture offer a 'rapid turnaround, usually within a week'.
https://apertureuk.com/camera-repairs-london/
Classic Camera say 4-6 weeks, possibly longer depending on part availability and workload.
https://theclassiccamera.com/repairs-servicing/
The Real Camera Co offer repairs though anything specialist will probably get sent away
https://realcamera.co.uk/repair/
Otherwise it's Cameraworks, Newton Ellis or CRR .
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Aperture have done good work for a friend on two different cameras and yes they were rapid. They weren't Leicas though, and they (in keeping with their location) were not cheap.
I haven't used Classic Camera for works at all and know of nobody who has, but as Leica specialists I'd hope (like Caplans) they'd have someone sensible.
No idea about Real Camera - it wouldn't surprise me if they use Newton Ellis. The latter have done two, slow but reasonable, jobs for me and the work has been absolutely first class. But you'll end up waiting if it's Leica or Zeiss, Ian their specialist for those is swamped.
I haven't used Classic Camera for works at all and know of nobody who has, but as Leica specialists I'd hope (like Caplans) they'd have someone sensible.
No idea about Real Camera - it wouldn't surprise me if they use Newton Ellis. The latter have done two, slow but reasonable, jobs for me and the work has been absolutely first class. But you'll end up waiting if it's Leica or Zeiss, Ian their specialist for those is swamped.
Dralowid
Michael
I think Peter at CRR has retired, apologies to him if he hasn't.
The services that Alan and James Starkie offer at cameraworks-uk are unique, such as the frameline mask, titanium shutters, and restoration of wartime red shutter curtains. On top of that, their paint work is unmatched.
The quality of the work combined with their unique services has resulted in them getting overloaded with projects, and they've raised prices accordingly.
They are definitely NOT a shop for fast turnarounds, but then again, if something is worth enough to ship overseas for service, I'm not looking for speed, or low price. I have other repair shops that excel in those areas.
Here is the titanium shutter M5 that I just received yesterday, finished in black ceramic coating. I bought this chrome M5 from an RFFer and sent it to the Starkies:
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Gorgeous - a spectacular job! One day...
SimonPJ
Well-known
Here is the titanium shutter M5 that I just received yesterday, finished in black ceramic coating. I bought this chrome M5 from an RFFer and sent it to the Starkies:
That’s beautiful! Very much worth waiting for.
I once had a very battle-scarred black chrome M5 painted black by Shintaro Yaginuma. That also was beautiful. Stupidly, I sold it.
I understood that the Starkies no longer work on M5s?
Correct, this was the last one. I suppose they could change their minds later, it's just they are so swamped with work as it is...in the meantime there are other repair depots who will work on them.
megido
Well-known
I also think Peter has retired. However Malcolm Taylor has not. I spoke with him today.
Huss
Veteran
The services that Alan and James Starkie offer at cameraworks-uk are unique, such as the frameline mask, titanium shutters, and restoration of wartime red shutter curtains. On top of that, their paint work is unmatched.
The quality of the work combined with their unique services has resulted in them getting overloaded with projects, and they've raised prices accordingly.
They are definitely NOT a shop for fast turnarounds, but then again, if something is worth enough to ship overseas for service, I'm not looking for speed, or low price. I have other repair shops that excel in those areas.
Here is the titanium shutter M5 that I just received yesterday, finished in black ceramic coating. I bought this chrome M5 from an RFFer and sent it to the Starkies:
That is hot.
Which makes me think I should use my M5 with regular i.e. small sized lenses. I've only used it with CV 35 1.2 V2 and CV 50 1.1 as the size seems to balance well on that body.
But it must be fun to use with regular sized glass.
