Beemermark
Veteran
My opinion, based on 30+ years of dealing with repair people, is that some are very good at what they do but are terrible business men. I think they just basically get cameras in and then lose track of them. There is no rhyme or reason to when they receive it, when they work on it, and when they return it. One highly respected Leica Repair gal on this forum got so bad I finally gave up. It was only to fix a polarizer (which use to be pricey) and after a year I gave up calling and never did see it again.
BTW, whenever I used a repair FIRM, the camera usually comes back in a very reasonable time. Harry Fleenor (who I haven't done business with in years) also use to give fairly accurate estimates on repair times. (Harry was Rollei trained and worked on TLR).
Ye has done 4 or 5 cameras for me and it's always been lightning quick and done right. Some people have had to send the camera back for adjustment but even given the cost of shipping and two repairs, he is still months (and cost) ahead of most Leica repairmen.
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HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Will van Manen: brought two M1 bodies last Monday night. Got a phone call late this afternoon they could be picked up. Less than two days for two bodies, that's fast!
streetshooternyc
Newbie
Poor Service/Camera Damage KRIMAR PHOTO
Poor Service/Camera Damage KRIMAR PHOTO
Krikor Maralian ... I gave him a MINT, LIKE NEW collector Rolleiflex 2.8F - a very rare camera for the shape it was in optically, mechanically and cosmetically for CLA service. I transported the camera along with a Tele Rollei (which I also had CLA'd) to/from his store - to make sure nothing happened to them.
After 10 days, Krikor returned my flawless Rolleiflex 2.8F with faulty service and paint loss. When he worked on the crank side of the camera he somehow chipped paint off the corner of the front right corner of the collapsible viewfinder. The leatherette (from where he had to open the crank side of the camera to CLA) is also glued down poorly.
I realize things happen, but when I brought these problems to his attention, he didn't apologize or try to make things right. He said "you want to use the camera to shoot with, not put it in a glass case, a chip in the paint and poor gluing doesn't hurt it's function." When I complained, instead of saying "I'm sorry" or offering monetary compensation - he offered touch up paint and a brush. This is BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE. The first rule of camera repair is "do no harm." Mr. Maralian cannot be trusted.
In addition to the damage - he forgot to clean and lubricate the focus mechanism on my camera (but charged me for a full CLA). Krikor may be a personable, nice man, but with failing eyesight and foggy memory, his repair work is a gamble. Bottom line: I paid him $900.00 to CLA 2 cameras, and install Maxwell screens. He damaged one of the cameras and forgot to CLA the focus. :bang:
Poor Service/Camera Damage KRIMAR PHOTO
Krikor Maralian ... I gave him a MINT, LIKE NEW collector Rolleiflex 2.8F - a very rare camera for the shape it was in optically, mechanically and cosmetically for CLA service. I transported the camera along with a Tele Rollei (which I also had CLA'd) to/from his store - to make sure nothing happened to them.
After 10 days, Krikor returned my flawless Rolleiflex 2.8F with faulty service and paint loss. When he worked on the crank side of the camera he somehow chipped paint off the corner of the front right corner of the collapsible viewfinder. The leatherette (from where he had to open the crank side of the camera to CLA) is also glued down poorly.
I realize things happen, but when I brought these problems to his attention, he didn't apologize or try to make things right. He said "you want to use the camera to shoot with, not put it in a glass case, a chip in the paint and poor gluing doesn't hurt it's function." When I complained, instead of saying "I'm sorry" or offering monetary compensation - he offered touch up paint and a brush. This is BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE. The first rule of camera repair is "do no harm." Mr. Maralian cannot be trusted.
In addition to the damage - he forgot to clean and lubricate the focus mechanism on my camera (but charged me for a full CLA). Krikor may be a personable, nice man, but with failing eyesight and foggy memory, his repair work is a gamble. Bottom line: I paid him $900.00 to CLA 2 cameras, and install Maxwell screens. He damaged one of the cameras and forgot to CLA the focus. :bang:
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
That's not how we do things on this forum, dear friend... tsss....
streetshooternyc
Newbie
my apologies.
i was trying to put valid information in some old threads - which may be the sole reference for someone trying to decide about camera repair.
from the responses i've gotten, i will never do it again.
cheers
i was trying to put valid information in some old threads - which may be the sole reference for someone trying to decide about camera repair.
from the responses i've gotten, i will never do it again.
cheers
Brad Bireley
Well-known
Karl Bryan received my Autocord last Monday afternoon & emailed Monday afternoon that it was finished!
Hi Brad,
I recvd your camera this afternoon and I have performed the following services on it:
checked flash
checked film wind
checked frame counter
checked double exposure interlocks
checked shutter, no need for a CLA
tightened pressure plate hold down screws
cleaned outer surfaces of lenses
cleaned and relubed focus helix $60 (I needed to repair a stripped out screw holding the helix down, so while I had it apart I cleaned/relubed helix)
repair of stripped out focus helix screw $10
reset focus of taking lens (actual focus for infinity was 50 ft.
reset focus of viewing lens (your original setting was accurate but with the refocus of the taking lens I had to reset the viewing lens focus)
cleaned WLF magnifier, removed it and reinstalled it correctly
cleaned/straightened aperture/shutter controls $15
cleaned aperture/shutter viewing lens $5
fix waist level finder action and the sports finder hold down $15
tightened up waist level finder magnifier spring action
Hi Brad,
I recvd your camera this afternoon and I have performed the following services on it:
checked flash
checked film wind
checked frame counter
checked double exposure interlocks
checked shutter, no need for a CLA
tightened pressure plate hold down screws
cleaned outer surfaces of lenses
cleaned and relubed focus helix $60 (I needed to repair a stripped out screw holding the helix down, so while I had it apart I cleaned/relubed helix)
repair of stripped out focus helix screw $10
reset focus of taking lens (actual focus for infinity was 50 ft.
reset focus of viewing lens (your original setting was accurate but with the refocus of the taking lens I had to reset the viewing lens focus)
cleaned WLF magnifier, removed it and reinstalled it correctly
cleaned/straightened aperture/shutter controls $15
cleaned aperture/shutter viewing lens $5
fix waist level finder action and the sports finder hold down $15
tightened up waist level finder magnifier spring action