Pentax Spotmatic service/shutter repair

[cnphoto]

Can anyone recommend anywhere (preferably in Australia, but O/S ok as well).

I have a Pentax Spotmatic that was given to my by a close friend of mine, his mother (who passed away recently) had two Pentax Spotmatics and he has given one to me. The shutter is creased and wrinkled and covered in oil (probably from a dubious CLA in the past) and the advance is a little rough. I'd really like to get this serviced and some new shutter curtains in there too. I'd really like to put this camera to use, and i'm sure my mate would be pleased.

I have contacted one place (a reputable Pentax servicer) and was told 'we don't do shutters' (WTF?) and that 'it wasn't worth it anyway'... well it is to me 😡

 

[LKeithR]

I have contacted one place (a reputable Pentax servicer) and was told 'we don't do shutters' (WTF?) and that 'it wasn't worth it anyway'... well it is to me 😡

Sadly, this may be the case with other repair companies as well. Good Spotmatics just aren't worth that much, hence the reluctance to perform repairs and/or carry parts. How handy are you with your hands? You might consider purchasing a good used body and salvaging the necessary parts...

 

[paulfish4570]

eric, who is in tennessee, does a fine job. i am sorry i do not remember his last name, and that i killed his email address after i sold my sp1000. check the pentax forum, or google "eric tennessee pentax repair"

 

[DanOnRoute66]

Sure you can buy another one for maybe $20 or $30 but it may soon fail as well. If the cost of an overhaul is worth it to YOU then get it done. Done right, the venerable Spotmatic should give you many more years of service. I'd recommend Essex Camera in New Jersey; they work on many makes and have done a great job on a couple of my cameras.

 

[cnphoto]

Sadly, this may be the case with other repair companies as well. Good Spotmatics just aren't worth that much, hence the reluctance to perform repairs and/or carry parts. How handy are you with your hands? You might consider purchasing a good used body and salvaging the necessary parts...

Yes, that's the other option. I think I may need to do that... it's frustrating when you are prepared to pay the costs to have something repaired but no one seems interested in your business.


Thanks paulfish, I've emailed Eric (www.pentaxs.com) and am waiting for a reply from him, hopefully he can help me out.

 

[ChrisN]

Talk with Ben Vang at Camera Checkpoint in Dubbo. He's done a mirror buffer replacement on an LX for me. As mentioned above, the cost of a qualified technician's time is likely to exceed the (monetary replacement) value of the camera. But if the camera is special to you and the repair cost affordable, it can be well worth it.

 

[paulfish4570]

eric is a good guy and will make things right. the spotties are built very well, and a cla could get you 40 more years. m42 mount lenses are inexpensive and easily available. but i understand that shipping from oz to usa and back can be, uh, crippling ...

 

[cnphoto]

yep, hopefully Eric can sort it out for me 🙂

and i am aware of the cost vs buying another one. i rarely shoot SLRs and wouldn't ever buy a replacement or another SLR, but this camera has sentimental value and i'd really like to get it overhauled so i can use it occasionally when i feel like shooting an SLR etc... and those M42 lenses are cheap! 😉

 

[jmcd]

Eric is wonderful and capable. I am enjoying Paul's old SP1000 and was actually using it today.🙂

 

[KoNickon]

It's Eric Henrickson (I think that's how he spells it), pentaxs.com. Very fast, very good, and very reasonable prices. He's the guy to use.

 

[jmcd]

Eric Hendrickson
http://pentaxs.com

 

[shimokita]

I have used this guy here in Tokyo (Ueno area), so if you have a friend up here maybe they can manage the project for you.... Here is a write up and some photos...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101249

and here is the contact detail:

Hasegawa Kosakusho
Address: Higashi Ueno 6-4-12
Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan 110-0015
Phone: (03) 3844-8704
Fax: (03) 3844-0437
Web Site: http://www2.to/repairhouse (Japanese only)

I always hate listing prices as times and conditions change...

Casey