Got my R3A Rangefinder Re-calibrated

[vsolanoy]

I'm happy now -- I just got my R3A recalibrated (it was out of alignment when I got it). It's so much easier to use.

If you live in San Jose, California, Kamera Korner on Bascom Avenue goes great work!

 

[fredus]

Hi Viktor, how much did they charge for that work ?

Fred

 

[Theo-Prof]

Did you purchase this camera new or used?

 

[vsolanoy]

It cost me US$120 to have it done close to where I live. The only other location that I would have trusted to do the work is in San Francisco (about 50 miles from where I live). They were charging half as much, but the cost of travelling would have offset the cost difference.

I purchased the camera new, and was initially hesitant on having the work done on a new body since it is under warranty, but I didn't want to have to deal with sending the camera off by mail, which may have had something to do with the rangefinder being unaligned to begin with.

 

[Theo-Prof]

Victor,

The reason I asked whether it was new is that I have the same problem with the Bessa-R that I purchased new from a dealer well-known to this forum. I sent him an e-mail explaining that the rangefinder was out of allignment vertically. He responded that it was fine when it left his shop and that it could have been effected in shipping. That is highly probable since the camera and lens were packed in a very small box with only two pieces of newspaper jammed in to keep the body and lens boxes from banging around in the shipping box. The box from the body was packed right up against the outer shipping container. I finally gave up trying to reason with the dealer.

On the Bessa-R page of his website he says "With a lens mounted and focused on a (sic) object a couple of blocks away, the bright RF patch image should align perfectly Vertically and Horizontally. . . Nevertheless, customers should not put up with any problems in a new camera." Aparently he is referring to customers of other dealers.

I do not know whether you purchased the camera from the dealer to whom I am referring, but I would have to say that his after-sale service leaves a lot to be desired.

Kevin

 

[vsolanoy]

Victor,
I do not know whether you purchased the camera from the dealer to whom I am referring, but I would have to say that his after-sale service leaves a lot to be desired.

I didn't purchase the camera from the dealer you are referring to. I purchased the camera from B&H Photo in New York (I live in California -- I really wanted to purchase the camera locally, but the only real camera shop stocking new rangefinders in my area sells Leica and Contax, nothing else [Keeble and Shucatt for those that are curious]).

I was originally going to send the camera back, but figured that the act sending it back and recieving another one would result in more of the same. Instead, I kind of took a philisophical approach to it all. I figured moving to a more or less mechanical camera would mean that at some point in the camera's life, I'm going to need it serviced, so I started looking at local established camera repair facilities figuring that I would use them in the future.

Just so you know why I think it was shipping that caused the problem, when I got the box, there were all these beautiful air bubble things. After pulling them out, at the bottom of the box were the items, on top of a single layer of small bubble wrap, which signaled a bad omen to me, with the camera body (in box) nestled in the corner -- bad spot...

 

[Theo-Prof]

I agree. I expect the out of alignment rangefinder on my R may have been the result of the camera box not having anything between it and the outer shipping box.

Kevin

 

[vsolanoy]

I agree. I expect the out of alignment rangefinder on my R may have been the result of the camera box not having anything between it and the outer shipping box.

Kevin

This is going to sound funny, but if it's out of alignment enough, the cost of alignment isn't huge (all things considered).

I got quotes between $60 (located in San Francisco) and $120 (located in San Jose). At the cost of gas and parking in San Francisco, plus typical excursion costs (lunch, snacks, etc) $120 wasn't all too bad.

I think the most difficult part is finding a camera shop that actually does their own repairs, even bigger yet, a camera repair facility that's got experienced staff, particularly with RF cameras.

 

[Andrew Touchon]

The Bessa out of vertical alignment problems are far to frequent. In my opinion it is a serious Quality Control problem . The camera should be able to withstand the normal handling experienced when being shipped. I am not buying into the theory that all of the problems are caused by shipping, but even if the camera is so delicate that it can't withstand the normal shipping shock, its still a quality control problem that needs to be corrected at zero expense to the consumer. There is absolutely no acceptable excuse for a new camera that requires repair upon receipt by the customer.