Canon LTM ever heard about Camera Works in Durham, NC?

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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Paulus

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I'm starting to think about a CLA on my newly-acquired Canonet QL17/GIII.

Should I just bite the bullet and send it to Essex or do you think I can trust a local shop.

Anyone heard about Camera Works in Durham, NC? They've quoted me a price of $65 for CLA which includes replacing the light seals.


Thanks,

Paul
 
I've never used them but once purchased a lens from their eBay auction. I am also currently watching one of their auctions.

The purchase went smoothly with no problems..
 
Paulus said:
I'm starting to think about a CLA on my newly-acquired Canonet QL17/GIII.

Should I just bite the bullet and send it to Essex or do you think I can trust a local shop.

Anyone heard about Camera Works in Durham, NC? They've quoted me a price of $65 for CLA which includes replacing the light seals.


Thanks,

Paul
Click to expand...
Does it work - o.k.?
 
Yes, the camera seems to work okay. I've only got two rolls through it and the images are very good. The film advance mechanism hiccups once in a while producing double images.

I'm of the "ain't broke, don't fix it" school but the light seals are basically disintegrated into black powder.

BTW, Essex quoted me $110 for CLA including seals. Strauss in Washington DC quoted me $85 for CLA including seals.

Paul
 
I used to live in Raleigh... I've never had any work done with camera works, but I have used peace camera in Raleigh extensively. I had a broken focusing ring on a yashica electro that they fixed for me... seemed to do a nice job of it.
 
I've lived in the Charlotte area for close to forty years and have always been amazed at what this city lacks. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice place. There's just nothing here.
 
I had an M6 CLA'd by Sebastian at CameraWorks in Durham. He also replaced a sticky gear on the shutterspeed dial. He did a good job, but it took a while to get it back. Not any fault of theirs, it took a while to get the part from Leica. I have also purchased a few lenses that he has overhauled that I have had no problems with. Sebastian got his training in optics repair working on periscopes in the US Navy... interesting guy to talk to.

As far as Peace Camera in Raleigh... I won't shop there anymore... I used to shop there quite a bit... the last time I took an fixed lens RF in there to see if they could CLA it for me, they said they didn't want to work on it because it wasn't worth it. It seems that now, if you aren't buying the latest and greatest DSLR with the MegaPhallic lens, they tend to look down their nose at you. The last three times I have been there to buy film and other consumables, the three people working could not have been less interested in helping "the guy wanting to buy film". YMMV

Alan
 
Yeah, I'm not to thrilled by Peace camera either. I agree with Acall assessment. I was in there a month ago and was very excited to see a number of Leica R lenses. There had to be at least 6 salesmen and 1 other customer beside me. I finally got the attention of someone and said I wanted to look at the four lenses they had. He grabbed one at random, put it on the counter and walked away. After 5 or 10 minutes I got someone attentions, again he grabbed a lens at random, put in the counter and walked away. This kept up until I saw all four lenses, took maybe 30 minutes (at least). Not one wanted to talk to me. Finally I decided what lens I wanted (I would have bought all 4 if I could have afforded them) and now I tried to get someone to ring me up. Finally gave up and went home empty handed.

On the other hand www.[B]southeast[/B]erncamera.com is great. They also have a store in Wilmington. The owner is a great guy and so are most of the employees. Lot's of Leica stuff and other fasinating gear. Very reasonable prices.
 
I have not dealt with Crystal Camera in Asheville, but I have been to Ball Photo Supply. Assuming they're still open (as I've not been in over a year), they had a fairly decent stock of classic cameras, and -- my favorite kind of thing -- bins and bins of little bits and bobs. If you need e.g. some kind of odd-sized filter, they'll let you rummage through the right bin and you may find NOS things with faded 1970s price tags. Excellent! I try to visit whenever in Asheville. But I have not used them for (or even enquired about) service.

Agreed, Keith, Charlotte is a cultural dead zone. I assume most "new South" cities would be. I often joke with family/friends visiting from afar that the main attraction in Charlotte is Asheville!

--Dave
 
I just had my Canon AE1 program CLA'd at Camera Works during Christmas. Took two days. The camera never looked so good plus the dreaded canon squeal is gone. I'm pleased with Sebastians work.
Peace camera has always been good to me. I buy my film & chemicals there. Anytime I want to look at something...no problem! I've read where others have had problems but not me. They have even cut their prices for me & I didn't even ask them to!
 
i was thinking of getting my honeywell h1a sent there before spring break.

i go to peace camera when i have to. some guys there are really cool, others aren't.
 
acall said:
As far as Peace Camera in Raleigh... I won't shop there anymore... I used to shop there quite a bit... the last time I took an fixed lens RF in there to see if they could CLA it for me, they said they didn't want to work on it because it wasn't worth it. It seems that now, if you aren't buying the latest and greatest DSLR with the MegaPhallic lens, they tend to look down their nose at you. The last three times I have been there to buy film and other consumables, the three people working could not have been less interested in helping "the guy wanting to buy film". YMMV
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience when I was getting started. My wife had gotten me a gift card for Peace Camera. Half the guys there really seem to hate their jobs & resent their customers but that is not true of the other half.

When my wife tried returning my unused gift card for a refund she found one of the guys there that cares. Now I make a bee line for him every time I go in. He knows & uses film, and some of the local photographers outsource their darkroom prints to him. Ask for Geof.
 
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