JCH visits Kanto Camera Repair

Very nice to view the video over a Sunday morning cup of coffee. I noticed that the painter didn't wear gloves.
 
Out to Lunch said:
An excellent clip. I am wondering what these repairs in a high-cost country like Japan would cost.
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The CLA on my Canon VI-T cost $300.00 if I remember correctly. Shipping was about $70.00 from the U.S. to Japan. Ms. Suzuki, who you see in the video, speaks and writes English and she handles all correspondence and "bookings". I was told it would take three months for Kanto to get to my camera, and after three months, I received an email that they were starting work on my camera. They did the CLA, and also replaced the self-timer, which was faulty. I wondered where they got a self-timer for a 60 year old camera, but after seeing all of the camera parts they have in stock, now I know. Totally happy with their work and I will use them in the future.

Jim B.
 
Thanks for that link. It seems that camera repairers are in gradual demise, particularly in Australia and I wouldn't be surprised in other countries also. It's to be expected I suppose as old cameras fade away and supplies of spares dry up. I was corresponding with another forum member last week about this very fact; he suggested that he might send his cameras to Singapore in future. Knowing of a reliable repairer in Japan who will likely be around a while is very comforting. It occurred to me also that of all the camera brands, probably Leica and maybe Nikon are most likely to remain repairable longest into the future. All rather depressing if one is committed to film photography.
 
Out to Lunch said:
Very reasonable!
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I agree. They have employed highly qualified people and you don’t get that at a discount.
When I lived in Tokyo 7 years ago, I needed the top of my M6 to be cleaned due to some condensation residue after photographing during a hurricane in Okinawa. Leica Ginza offered to do a CLA for a measly 100,000¥ (1000$)!
I insisted on just a cleanup of the top and it cost me 25,000¥ (250$).
In all fairness, their work was impeccable - I am sure the did everything that can possibly be done when removing the top.
As a consequence I choose to send my Leica CLAs to Sherry Krauter in the US. Had I known of Kanto at the time I would have used them.
Japanese craftsmen (and women) tend to be anal in their attention to detail. I highly respect that.
 
Many years ago I dropped my UC-Hexanon 35/2 and damaged the helicoid. Sent it to 3 technicians in the US, all of the highest prestige, to no avail after half a year and $$$ spent. Eventually sent it to Kanto and was told some of the repairs messed up the otherwise fixable helicoid but they'll do what they could. The result wasn't bad at all - just a bit coarse during action. Almost a decade later, When I dropped my second UC-Hexanon (gosh), I sent it to Kanto without hesitation. They fashioned a new helicoid and planted it into the lens. I could only gasp at the marvel.

They also repainted my 35cron v1 back then. A few years later I sent the lens to them to have its internal elements recoated (!) and the lost infinity lock replaced - they make their own parts but have agreement with Leica that they'd only include them as part of a service. All top notch job.

On the other hand...I sent via a friend a FM3a with dead meter to Nikon Japan. It was 2016, so extra nice of them to be still supporting an old model. The camera was fixed, supposedly CLAed and came with a warranty. Only until I (carelessly) sold it off to another friend did I realize the camera metered but wouldn't do AE. Turned out that Nikon's technician, when installing the shutter button, misplaced it in a tricky position that the shutter actuates before the meter activates, so the camera would think it's extra long exposure regardless of the lighting condition. As the camera had to be sent to Ginza in person to claim the warranty, I just didn't bother and had a local technician fixed it for a small fee.

So, a bit of mixed experience for me, even with Japan. Guess things just happen regardless of nationality.
 
If this were 5 hours long I'd still be watching, only stopping for occasional bathroom break...
I love watching mechanical things being fixed...
Thanks...
 
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