Platinum RF
Well-known
Such as Hasselblad, Leica, and Rolleiflex?
Can camera repair still make living in this digital age?
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rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
I worry about that! This is one reason why I have taught myself camera repair (slowly, clumsily) over the years. I anticipate the day when there is nobody left to fix all my timeless beauties. For some of them, that day arrived long ago (the original motivation to learn repair and invest in tools).
In the meantime, I make it a point to patronize the fantastic repair people who we still have. Most (all?) of them are a joy to deal with, and I have never had shoddy, un-guaranteed work.
In the meantime, I make it a point to patronize the fantastic repair people who we still have. Most (all?) of them are a joy to deal with, and I have never had shoddy, un-guaranteed work.
S.H.
Picture taker
I know someone who started his repair business two years back, he has too much work now. But it is uncommon to find a young repairman (repairperson?) ...
Rangefinderfreak
Well-known
I sent my hasselblad distagon 50mm:4 for repair to haselblad factory. The repair bill was €1800.- that is US $ 2300,- I guess it is more profitable than building new equipment...
Vics
Veteran
It seems to me that the people doing it now are buried in work, but it's also true that most of the repairs I've had done lately turned around very quickly from DAG and Youxin Yee. That's Leica. My Rollei repairs from Harry Fleenor took 12 weeks last year, and who knows how long I'd have to wait for Henry Scherer with a Contax repair?
Looks like you could stay busy, but that says nothing about financial viability.
_goodtimez
Well-known
I have been interested to follow repair courses for a long time already. Does someone know where to get the courses ?
pdexposures
Well-known
There is a local store to me that does camera repair as their main business. Selling consignment items up front as well, however that is much less of a profit generator for them. In the past 5 years they have exploded with business to the point that prior to summer (when everyone want's their gear working) it can be a 3-4 MONTH wait to get your equipment back.
thegman
Veteran
I suppose as vintage cameras get older and older, demand for servicing will rise? That all depends on people continuing to use such cameras, but only time will tell about that.
Harry Caul
Well-known
Good point. The existence of quality repair people will probably be linked more closely with the availability of film than the availability of cameras!
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
pdexposures, I know that shop you're talking about. I sent a Rollei to them several years ago. Came back in fully non-functional condition (it actually went to them functioning) and I was charged for a repair! I hear people talk about them like they're great, but I beg to differ. Fixed the camera myself. Should have done so from the beginning.
I can see a pattern with the repair business. "High end" models, such as Leica and Rollei, or very current amateur-grade models, such as Nikon D700, will have places to go to get repaired. For a while at least. But, try getting your Minolta Hi-Matic repaired. It all ties in with planned obsolescence too. Consumer grade cameras sold last year (e.g., Nikon Coolpix) will not get repaired. But during the 1960s/70s, getting a consumer grade Minolta Hi-Matic made sense and happened frequently (showing my age). We really are becoming a "disposable society" and stuff like Leica and Rollei (and the others we all know) are definitely a minority phenomenon.
The brand that puzzles me now is Cosina-Voigtlander. I recently needed to repair my Bessa-R (just needed a replacement screw actually) and I could not get it repaired or purchase the replacement part (1 tiny black screw). I hear the same story for many CV items. Sometimes for stuff that was purchased less than 1 year ago.
BTW, I eventually made my own replacement screw for the Bessa. Works great now, nice camera while it lasts.
I can see a pattern with the repair business. "High end" models, such as Leica and Rollei, or very current amateur-grade models, such as Nikon D700, will have places to go to get repaired. For a while at least. But, try getting your Minolta Hi-Matic repaired. It all ties in with planned obsolescence too. Consumer grade cameras sold last year (e.g., Nikon Coolpix) will not get repaired. But during the 1960s/70s, getting a consumer grade Minolta Hi-Matic made sense and happened frequently (showing my age). We really are becoming a "disposable society" and stuff like Leica and Rollei (and the others we all know) are definitely a minority phenomenon.
The brand that puzzles me now is Cosina-Voigtlander. I recently needed to repair my Bessa-R (just needed a replacement screw actually) and I could not get it repaired or purchase the replacement part (1 tiny black screw). I hear the same story for many CV items. Sometimes for stuff that was purchased less than 1 year ago.
BTW, I eventually made my own replacement screw for the Bessa. Works great now, nice camera while it lasts.
thompsonks
Well-known
The saddest case is Essex in NJ, who were deluged by Hurricane Sandy. They had expertise and quite a few parts for Nikon RF repair.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Are there any young repairers coming along? If not...
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I have a good friend who has run his own camera repair business for 8 years. He has one half time employee who just does administrative work. He stays busy 40 hours a week with a clientele of mostly full time pro photographers. He only accepts work that you bring in the door, noting by mail. He does zero advertising and does not even have the name of his business on the door. He says that cuts down on the amateurs and soccer moms. I sometimes hang around his shop as do other photographers.
His business has transitioned to where 75% of the service work is on high end digital cameras and lenses. He says working on a digital camera is very similar to a film camera. Digital has the advantage of his either being about to fix it in an hour, knowing it needs a part (infrequent) or simply not economically repairable.
BTW, his turnaround time is entirely a function of the photographers needs. I need a camera fixed for the next weekend and he will have it done. I was there when a out of town pro brought in a Canon 200mm f2.0 lens that he needed in 2 hours for an NBA game. It was done. Working pros do not mind that the quick turnaround time is reflected in the bill, only that the repair is made quickly.
His business has transitioned to where 75% of the service work is on high end digital cameras and lenses. He says working on a digital camera is very similar to a film camera. Digital has the advantage of his either being about to fix it in an hour, knowing it needs a part (infrequent) or simply not economically repairable.
BTW, his turnaround time is entirely a function of the photographers needs. I need a camera fixed for the next weekend and he will have it done. I was there when a out of town pro brought in a Canon 200mm f2.0 lens that he needed in 2 hours for an NBA game. It was done. Working pros do not mind that the quick turnaround time is reflected in the bill, only that the repair is made quickly.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
If your Minolta Hi-Matic breaks, it'll probably be more economical to get another. That's one of the reasons there will be no repairers.
Made your own screw? That's terrific!
btgc
Veteran
Even if last roll of film disappears from shops, army of collectors who are crazy to keept things intact and working will keep few repair people (relative to amount of fondlers) busy until they realize train has left.
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