Eddy Smolov is "The Man!" for fixing anything

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
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I am expecting in the mail a Contax III from Eddy. He called me yesterday, and we chatted about camera and lens repair. In his heavy Kiev accent, Eddy asked me [again] :" Raid, you know, how many parts in Contax"?
I guessed: 200?
Eddy: "Raid! 1725 parts! I know two people in USA who know how to fix."

Eddy is a treasure to have access to for people on low budgets and with a love for old mechanical cameras.

I now have a Contax IIa, IIIa, and finally, a III.
The III was a mess, I am told, but Eddy took his time to fix it up for me.
One day I will travel to NYC to meet Eddy.

The Contax RF camera (any!) with a CZJ 5cm lens (any!) make together an awesome set for photography and enjoyment of truely first class craftmanship.

By the way, Eddy fixes any non-electronic camera. He also fixed for me a Bessa T with a broken mirror. The problem was mechanical, so he will fix it.

I just felt like praising this man.
 
I searched and found my dad's iia CD hidden under a desk that I remember him using all the time, growing up in the 60's. I put myself on HS's list and then realized the wait time was in years, not weeks. So rather than let it sit some more, I found Eddy's name, sent him the iia and now all is smooth again. I even picked it up in person since I work in NYC. He was very nice and personable and we chatted for a while. My Nikon F will go to him sometime soon.
 
Eddy has worked on many cameras and lenses for me. In fact, I have sent him so many different camera systems that he often laughs on the phone and tells me that I have too many systems. He keeps repeating that he only knows how to repair the cameras but that he does not know the value of a specific lens or camera.

I got to know him by having a broken Contax IIIa. Someone at photo.net advised me to give Eddy a try.
 
Eddy is very proud of his craftmanship.
He is 70 or 71 years old now.
He is a master repairman indeed.
His golden heart makes him special.
 
Wow!

I have a WW2 "BRINGBACK" 1938 Contax that needs work, was that same guy in 9th Armored who had my 43' IIIC K ~ I also have his 1939 Rolleiflex Automat I ~ that also needs repairs.

I never used Eddy for CLA's/repairs, but I certainly have bought some kool stuff off him n the past, mostly WW2 Leitz lenses, Summitar's and Elmar 50's.

Tom
 
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I followed Raid's suggestions a couple of years ago and sent Eddy S a very dead Canon 7. Miraculously, he found a whole new shutter assy for it. Now works like a charm... no, like a good camera should.
 
Tom: Eddy is like a friend to me. Mention my name and RFF.
He will treat you right.
 
Eddy sometimes does not have the spare parts for some older equipment that is not common, but he will look for the spare parts everywhere.Once, I did the search for the part, and I found it at Krikor. Then Eddy fixed the Rolleiflex TLR.

Nobody has a "spare" aperture mechanism/blades for a Zeiss 85/1.4 in QBM for the Rolleiflex 35mm SLR. Not even DAG could help me. Eddy will not be able to do the reapir, and I use the lens wide open.
 
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I just got a USPS note that a parcel has come to me from Eddy! It feels like Christmas.
 
Eddy did a great job on a Zorki 3 a while ago (thats the one with the slow speed dial) CLA and new curtains .......great job and reasonable!!!
 
It may be serious since he left a message on his answering machine that he is getting treatment. I don't want to guess.
 
Same situation with Pete Smith of Nikon repair fame.....he is returning 2 cameras I sent him over a month ago......unopened in the same box.
 
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