stevierose
Ann Arbor, Michigan
I think that really excellent camera repairmen are getting harder and harder to find. They are becoming a dying breed in the new digital/throw away world. I want to let you folks know about a really superb guy who doesn't have a web presence yet. First, the usual caveats: I have absolutely no financial ties or any other conflict of interest related to this guy. I am posting this because he is really superb, prices his repairs fairly, and probably could use more business given the state of the camera world now. I think it would benefit all of us if people like this stay in business.
The fellow's name is Dave Easterwood. His business is called "Dave's Camera Repair". He had a store front for a number of years in Westland, Michigan, but gave it up a year or so ago to save money. He now works out of his home in Chelsea, Michigan. His phone number is: 734-433-2640. His email address is: davescamera@sbcglobal.net
Dave has been repairing cameras since 1971, and has 40 years worth of parts to show for it. He has old camera parts overflowing his basement into two outside storage units. When other camera repair operations have closed he has acquired their parts. He has done repairs and CLAs for me through the years on cameras such as: Leica M3, Minolta CLE, 70's era compact rangefinders (Olympus RC, RD, SP), Pentax MX, Olympus OM4t, as well as lenses, etc.. He has not charged me for estimates even if he has to take the whole camera apart to test it. His charges for repairs are very fair. He is clearly a master at what he does and on many occasions has been able to fix my camera by cleaning a contact or re-soldering a connection rather than replacing a part. In other words, when it comes to repairs, he only does what he has to and does not do extra stuff to over charge you. He is happy to check out a camera on his instruments and if it looks OK, tell you so. If it is not worth repairing he will tell you so, and does not charge you. He is really terrific.
He is very comfortable with all cameras and loves to work on Leicas-screw mount through M8, as well as any rangefinder camera including medium format cameras. He is very good with all cameras, and loves older mechanical cameras. As mentioned, he has harvested parts for 30 years, and not infrequently can pull an old part out of his hat to fix a camera.
I hope that some of you will give him a try. He is the real deal.
The fellow's name is Dave Easterwood. His business is called "Dave's Camera Repair". He had a store front for a number of years in Westland, Michigan, but gave it up a year or so ago to save money. He now works out of his home in Chelsea, Michigan. His phone number is: 734-433-2640. His email address is: davescamera@sbcglobal.net
Dave has been repairing cameras since 1971, and has 40 years worth of parts to show for it. He has old camera parts overflowing his basement into two outside storage units. When other camera repair operations have closed he has acquired their parts. He has done repairs and CLAs for me through the years on cameras such as: Leica M3, Minolta CLE, 70's era compact rangefinders (Olympus RC, RD, SP), Pentax MX, Olympus OM4t, as well as lenses, etc.. He has not charged me for estimates even if he has to take the whole camera apart to test it. His charges for repairs are very fair. He is clearly a master at what he does and on many occasions has been able to fix my camera by cleaning a contact or re-soldering a connection rather than replacing a part. In other words, when it comes to repairs, he only does what he has to and does not do extra stuff to over charge you. He is happy to check out a camera on his instruments and if it looks OK, tell you so. If it is not worth repairing he will tell you so, and does not charge you. He is really terrific.
He is very comfortable with all cameras and loves to work on Leicas-screw mount through M8, as well as any rangefinder camera including medium format cameras. He is very good with all cameras, and loves older mechanical cameras. As mentioned, he has harvested parts for 30 years, and not infrequently can pull an old part out of his hat to fix a camera.
I hope that some of you will give him a try. He is the real deal.
Bill Clark
Veteran
Welcome to Rangerfinder forum!
Nice endorsement. Suggest copying him on your post. I'll bet he'll be flattered. We all need a picker upper every so often!
Thanks for the info.
Nice endorsement. Suggest copying him on your post. I'll bet he'll be flattered. We all need a picker upper every so often!
Thanks for the info.
news shooter
Established
Dave Easterwood, Daves Camera Repair
Dave Easterwood, Daves Camera Repair
Hello everybody,
Just got my Nikon S3 rangefinder camera back from Dave Easterwood, Daves Camera Repair. First of all, It' because of Stevie Rose. After reading his great review and experience, I decided to give Dave a try. Wow! Everything that Stevie says is spot on!
Thanks! I had banged the S3 against a rock damaging the rear corner of the baseplate. Shortly thereafter, film advance locked up.
After sending it to Dave he gave a very reasonable estimate and well, he did. He called and said what he was going to do and more!
The advance pack was replaced, shutter speeds adjusted, CLA, rangefinder cleaned and adjusted, frame counter replaced, sync contacts cleaned, lens mount tightened and focus adjusted. Here is the really cool thing besides the complete servicing. He had a used S3 flim back. WOW! It's like having a new camera! When you find a great camera repairman, in my case Dave, you stick with him. Just like a doctor, mechanic, or other professional. He has passion for what he does and it shows. Highly recommend him. He is about to receive another camera and lens to work on from me. Oh, and communication is excellent, returning calls right away and as a old school kind of guy, he'd rather talk on the phone than e-mail. His web address is: davescamera.net
Dave Easterwood, Daves Camera Repair
Hello everybody,
Just got my Nikon S3 rangefinder camera back from Dave Easterwood, Daves Camera Repair. First of all, It' because of Stevie Rose. After reading his great review and experience, I decided to give Dave a try. Wow! Everything that Stevie says is spot on!
Thanks! I had banged the S3 against a rock damaging the rear corner of the baseplate. Shortly thereafter, film advance locked up.
After sending it to Dave he gave a very reasonable estimate and well, he did. He called and said what he was going to do and more!
The advance pack was replaced, shutter speeds adjusted, CLA, rangefinder cleaned and adjusted, frame counter replaced, sync contacts cleaned, lens mount tightened and focus adjusted. Here is the really cool thing besides the complete servicing. He had a used S3 flim back. WOW! It's like having a new camera! When you find a great camera repairman, in my case Dave, you stick with him. Just like a doctor, mechanic, or other professional. He has passion for what he does and it shows. Highly recommend him. He is about to receive another camera and lens to work on from me. Oh, and communication is excellent, returning calls right away and as a old school kind of guy, he'd rather talk on the phone than e-mail. His web address is: davescamera.net
nanthor
Well-known
I've used Dave several times in the last couple years and he is as good as the above fellows say. Experienced at every kind of camera, conscientious, and the price is fair. I've even sent 2 different Plaubel Makina cameras to him and he was able to completely CLA them and fix broken parts, he even machined a few smaller parts that needed replacement. You don't need to send stuff all over the world when he is here in Michigan. Fortunately he resides about an hour away so I can either ship to him or visit him. He is very sociable, a super nice guy too. But please don't get him too busy, right now he can complete projects in good time. Bob.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
He takes checks, credit cards, cash, Paypal? Just wondering before doing anything about a camera that needs checking. Thanks!
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I love this forum for many reasons but one of the biggest is just this kind of sharing! This is great info and I thank you for posting it!!
Chemophilic
Established
I likewise had really good experience with Dave as well. I sent him a 90/2 summicron to clean up some haze. Communication was prompt and the charge was reasonable. The turnaround was less than 2 weeks, exactly as he quoted. Hopefully not too often, but if I have cameras and lenses that need repair I will definitely use him again.
From his email, he takes check, AmEx,Visa,M/C,Discover card & paypal.
From his email, he takes check, AmEx,Visa,M/C,Discover card & paypal.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
Dave is great (and I have had literally hundreds of things fixed by him over the past 20 years). Top-notch service, very friendly, and very reasonably priced. And he can fix almost anything (but be aware that some things can take longer than others).
Dante
Dante
Radost
Established
Dave is the best
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Thanks for this. Bookmarked for future reference: http://www.davescamera.net