My Bessa R2 is no more

[ijonas]

Today is a sad day.

Found out today that my Bessa R2, which I dropped on a stone floor badly 2 years ago, is "beyond economic repair". I coninued to work well until two weeks ago when out of the blue the shutter locked up.

I suppose the arrival of my M6 on monday goes someway to cover its loss. Funny though how you can build an emotional attachment to hunk of metal, which over the last couple of years has recorded the most amazing photographs.

Time amend my signature,
Ijonas.
🙁

 

[taffer]

Have you tried to contact Stephen Gandy at CQ ?

 

[ijonas]

No,

Apparently because of the drop a few years ago, the chasis is twisted (although it doesn't look twisted), meaning its "uneconomical" to try and fit another shutter or shutter compartment.

The problem with sending it to Stephen is that when you add up the costs you're looking at a minimum of $210+$60 shipping + a potential import duty, from Her Majesty's Customs & Excise, you might as well buy a second hand R2 of ebay.

Ij.

Ij.

 

[Peter]

The R2 is a very tough camera and you really should ask Steve to take a look. It is not that expensive to replace a copal shutter and the fact your R2 lasted for 2 years after a fall is a testimony of its ruggedness. You are not alone for having sentimental attachment to your camera as I have a R2 myself and the thought of the photo adventures we shared brings tears to my eyes! (sentimental new age man) 😛

 

[chug]

That is sad.. You could always buy another one and use the now dead one for repairs if something happens to a new one 🙂 But then again, you have an M6 comming..

 

[Bertram2]

No,

Apparently because of the drop a few years ago, the chasis is twisted (although it doesn't look twisted),

T you're looking at a minimum of $210+$60 shipping + a potential import duty, from Her Majesty's Customs & Excise, you might as well buy a second hand R2 of ebay.

Ij.
Ij.

This confuses me: The chassis is apparently twisted tho it doesn't look like ?
Is it or is it not and and if yes who found out that it IS twisted ?
As long as you are not sure about that I would not give up. The camera worked 2 years after you dropped it, the breakdown could have another reason ?

Is there nobody in UK who can replace a Copal shutter in a Bessa ? I can't imagine.
Better check out all this before you throw your friend away 🙂
Bertram

 

[taffer]

This confuses me: The chassis is apparently twisted tho it doesn't look like ?
Is it or is it not and and if yes who found out that it IS twisted ?
As long as you are not sure about that I would not give up. The camera worked 2 years after you dropped it, the breakdown could have another reason ?

Is there nobody in UK who can replace a Copal shutter in a Bessa ? I can't imagine.
Better check out all this before you throw your friend away 🙂
Bertram

It's always a good idea to ask, my G-III Canonet was 'unrepairable' here just because they didn't have the tiny piece needed and were not willing to look for it, with some luck I found it after some days thanks to a friend in the Classic camera repair forum, and some weeks after that the camera was successfully repaired, they were amazed that I could find the piece myself 😛

 

[rover]

The shutter is jammed, and may be economicly unrepairable true, but I too question the diagnosis of a twisted frame.

Well, hang onto her, remember her glory and grace. Some day perhaps she will be called on to donate parts to another and can live on in that way.

 

[ijonas]

I'll pick the R2 from the shop tomorrow and take a look at it again. I might post some photos of the damage and maybe get an opinion from some of you on the site, plus it might let Stephen Gandy look at it before I ship it out to him.

FYI UK residents: I was wrong to think I was liable for import duties. Just phoned Customs & Excise and you don't need to pay duties if:
1.) you get a "proof of export" from the courier
2.) you get Stephen Gandy to clearly mark the return package O.P.R., which stands for "outward processing"

Cheers,
Ij.

 

[peter_n]

Ij I would get a second opinion from within the UK before shipping it out if poss. There is presumably no CV repair facility in the UK?

 

[ijonas]

thanks for all the help and advice, guys.

you're stars!

 

[sockeyed]

I have a Canon T-90 with a twisted frame, but that's because a polo horse stepped on it. I have it put aside for parts should my working T-90 go belly up.

 

[Doug]

I agree it might call for a second opinion, ijonas! A major professional repair shop in Seattle has more than once diagnosed a camera problem as "infeasible to repair", but which I've had successfully repaired elsewhere. I can only guess that they just didn't want to deal with those specific repair issues. I too would be reluctant to part with a faithful companion that's given good service! Good luck!

 

[tedwhite]

My curiousity centers around the apparent fact that it was dropped, frame twisted, but then continuted on working properly for a couple more years.

Perhaps the shutter packed up for another reason. Also, as Bertram 2 pointed out, that it would take two years for a twisted camera body to kill a copal shutter doesn't make a whole lot of sense, "logic-wise" (my New York girlfriend uses such phrases).

If it doesn't look obviously "twisted" to you I wouldn't toss it.

Ted

 

[Trius]

I agree with Doug. "Beyond econonmic" repair often means "you can't afford what WE would charge because we don't really know what we are doing and therefore it would take a lot of time and effort to figure it out."

 

[Doug]

Very true, Trius! One of my instances was with a Fuji GS645S, the model with the "bumpers", not the folder. Non-linear meter response, sticky RF spot... "infeasible" they said. Months later I learned of Fuji-expert CameraWiz, sent it off to them, and it was quickly done for only $135, which included replacing broken plastic parts in the lens mount not even noticed by the Seattle shop! I gather many shops have specialties as well as gaps in their abilities.

 

[DavidK]

AFAIK, CV do have an official distributor in the UK, so maybe there is a CV repair facility in the UK (although I suspect it consists of a slow boat back to the factory 🙁 .) The people at Robert White might be able to offer you some advice on that front, Ijonas. It's where I have bought all my CV stuff and they are very friendly and helpful. Even if there is no official CV repair service in the UK, I'm sure they would know of a tame tech who might be able to help you. You'll find their contact details here:

Robert White

I looked into this recently. Robert White don't do repairs themselves but can send it away to a 3rd party. They commented that the new UK service agent for Voigtlander is JP Distribution (01782 753300). I have no experience with either repair option.

Regards

David

 

[ijonas]

Thanks guys,

I'll give them a shout today. Finger's crossed...


Cheers,
Ij.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

You should have gotten a FED or Zorki. The joke was that part of the inspection process was dropping them 2 meters onto a concrete floor. I am not sure what happened after that-Maybe cameras that still worked became export models and the broken ones were kept for domestic consumption
Sorry about your camera.