In Praise of Don Goldberg (DAG)

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
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I have been using for some time a Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 in Rollei QBM mount on M 4/3 cameras, avoiding the old Rollei SL35 camera that is unreliable and prone to jam. Since a few years, the lens is stuck wide open. This has complicated its use in sunny Florida, and it has become my Indoors lens because of this problem. I have sent it to 3-4 repair people so far over the years, including DAG, but I was always told that the required replacement parts cannot be obtained anymore.

Last December, I contacted Don again, requesting a last inspection before I give up, and then use the lens always wide open. Don and I expected the aperture blades to me broken, and he was gong to build me replacement blades. Other repair people turned me down for such a task. I mailed Don the 85/1.4 along with a Zeiss 35/1.4 which has the same blades. I thought that Don could use those as a model for copying. After some inspections, Don informed me that the blades were actually there in the 85/1.4, but they needed to be rearranged. He identified the need to build some part that was needed to close down the aperture beyond 5.6. Then he surprised me by his assessment of the 35/1.4 Distagon. It was taken apart in the past, and it was not correctly put together again. He had to reassemble the lens.

Lastly, he asked me yesterday for a Rollei SL35 so that he could make sure that both lenses were focusing correctly. I am very grateful for such masterful work.

It is important to share such services with RFF. Don is one of very few talented repair people who are very special. These two lenses are exceptionally good lenses. I am looking forward to be using them again.
 
Thank you Akiva. I will post anout the lenses once I get them back from DAG. I will mail him the SL35 tomorrow.
 
I will concur about DAG being the most skilled camera repairman I've used. He has not been stumped by my projects yet. The Kern 10mm extreme wide angle with the internal paint chipping off? Fixed. The 1930 black Leica needing shutter curtains? Now like new. The Cooke Ivotal with bad fungus? Cleaned with no trace of damage to the coatings. He additionally will go the extra mile when he has your item. One of my lenses he was cleaning he actually re-inked the black lettering on the chrome barrel, for example. Don is the best of the best, and about all that's left of the old generation camera craftsmen.
 
Thanks for the examples on Don's work, Garrett. Such services will not be replaced after Don retires. He could have told me that nothing could be done for my lens, but he got back to work after I asked him to do what he was able to do. I always ask first whether his work schedule allowed him to work on my lenses, and I only send him a lens if he tells me it is OK to do so.
 
Don is definitely a master of the craft but you have to be reaaally patient in when to expect your equipment back:D.
 
The thing that always gets me about Don's work is that the item is returned feeling as new. What I mean is one can tell there was some real care used. It feels, looks, smells, and works like the factory intended. Clean as a whistle ... not just "repaired."
 
Exactly. Don has my two Zeiss lenses for a few months now, but he is double and triple checking each part of each lens now to make sure that they work 100% like new lenses would work.
 
An M2 repair

An M2 repair

Years back I sent Don an M2 that I'd picked up used. It wasn't feeling great with regard to the transport......more like a little Konica Auto S, not an M2.

He sent it back with a little plastic bag of parts and a note. In 20 years I haven't seen one this bad! It should be good now for another 20!
....or to that affect :)

David
 
His approach of looking at the problem from multiple perspectives is but one of the reasons he get's my vote for being the best in the world.

He needs an apprentice so that our children can have as much fun with our now aging stuff as we do.

B2 (;->
 
I just got back a single stroke M3 that I bought here on RFF, and had the seller directly ship it to DAG. I decided to go whole hog on this camera: full overhaul, adjust minimum focus to 0.7m and add the parts to accommodate the Leica Motor M or Leicavit / Rapidwinder. Camera was sent to him in Sept. 2014, and I got it back in March 2015. That is actually good turnaround time for DAG.

The camera works like a charm. I still have the first roll going through the camera.
 
At times, it as been said that communication is sometimes poor. It has not been my expreriance. Just this weekend, I email Don to inquire on the availability of a black paint advance lever in his stash of parts. It was close to 11:00pm on a weekend and I had a reply within 15-20 minutes in my inbox.
 
don

don

I´ve purchased many times parts for fixing M cameras, his service and products have always been fast and reliable.
 
Does anyone know how old Don is? I sent him my first M3 for repair 25 years ago. He has done some amazing work for me over the years.
 
I received back today my Zeiss QBM 35/1.4 and 85/1.4. Both had problems, and Don crafted parts that were not available anymore, and he put the lenses correctly back together, along with checking the focusing on a SL35 Rollei camera thathe asked me to send him. The lenses look great, and they seem to be back like new mechanically. Each lens sells for $1000-$2000 online.

I am glad that we still have such gifted camera and lens repair people around.
 
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