Repair a minty Canon EF? Who?

[goamules]

Hi,
In a fit of stupidity, I bought a minty Canon EF SLR. I've wanted a black beauty for a while, and it was only $20. Of course, it doesn't work.

The problem is it won't fire the shutter, and it seems related to the winding lever and on/off switch, which is loose. Sometimes it winds fine, sometimes it feels jammed. The shutter never snaps. But it's so beautiful, I thought I'd consider repairing (if it won't cost more than just buying another one).



I tried SLR35.com, but he won't work on EFs. Anyone know a good repairman?

thanks,

 

[Dean Cho]

Try KEH Camera Repair. I've used a number of well known camera repair shops over the years. KEH does the work for a reasonable amount, has tons of spare parts (given their used camera business), and will give you a free estimate AND SHIP IT BACK TO YOU FREE IF YOU DECLINE THE ESTIMATE. All of their technicians have at least 10-15 years experience (most considerably more) and have technicians that specialize in various makes of cameras. KEH also gives you a 6 month warranty on their repairs, which is more than most places. Having bought a number of items from them, I also know that they will bend over backwards to make you happy.

For example, I recently sent KEH an OM-4T camera that has been a bit of a lemon since I bought it new years ago. Despite light usage, it developed a problem where it would spontaneously fire every couple of times the film was advanced. I had it serviced at a well known repair place and paid $180 for the shutter and mirror problem to be fixed, but the problem returned just after the three month warranty expired. After sending it to KEH, I received a call telling me that the mirror box assembly would need to be replaced and that the focus was also a bit off and would have to be adjusted. The total cost quoted was $125, including a full CLA, with a six month warranty and free return shipping. Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

 

[goamules]

I may give them a try. I also contacted Essex in New England, and they quoted about $110, so they're close. I guess I may bite the bullet, but I've never needed a repair on a camera, I've gotten lucky. Actually I mostly shoot large format, no moving parts!

 

[kuzano]

There's a fellow on eBay... Don't scoff please...

There's a fellow on eBay... Don't scoff please...

There is a fellow on eBay who has an auction wherein he repairs the eee errors on Canon T90 cameras. He CLA's and repairs the chronic error with these cameras.

I gather from his auction text that he is a Canon factory trained repair person with his own shop. Here is a link to the T90 repair. In addition he has 690 feedbacks at 100% positive. I have spoken with him on the phone because I have one T90 with the eee error and a mint T90 that has exhibited the eee error a couple of times when it was very cold. I will likely be sending both my T90's to him for repair.

Here is a link to his current auction for the repair:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Repair-or-servi...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27ad128dca

I've had a couple of EF's and just sold one. Have one left, and I will probably check with this fellow to see if he can fix it.

What I like about the EF is that while it uses the old 1.35v mercury batteries, the circuits in the camera are designed to reduce 1.5 volt batteries to 1.35v automatically.

I have to add here that there was a beauty contest (?) recently on this site for the best looking Canon. I personally think that the Canon EF walks away with the prize on that score.

 

[goamules]

Well Garry's nor 35SLR will even work on the EF model. Anyone want to buy a mint, nonworking body cheap?

 

[ZeissFan]

Be careful about that "minty" description. It's not mint if it doesn't work. It's just another broken camera, unfortunately. Hope you can get it repaired. It is a nice piece.

 

[goamules]

Good point.

 

[Dean Cho]

It probably is readily repairable. The Canon EF, being a early to mid 1970's camera as I recall, probably predates the use of proprietary printed circuit boards in cameras. Those circuits, while allowing for more advanced functions, tend to render cameras using them non-repairable once the supply of available replacement circuits is exhausted. That's why some older electronic cameras -- such as the Olympus OM-2n -- can be more readily fixed than later cameras such as the Olympus OM-2S, which is essentially unrepairable if the circuit board goes bad.

So your Canon EF most probably is readily repairable if you go to a repair shop with a "can-do" attitude (which are admittedly becoming harder to find) as opposed to shops that reflexively refuse to touch older, discontinued cameras.

 

[goamules]

The "E" in EF is for electronic, and some of the shutter speeds use circuitry, as does the meter of course. The EF also uses a special sensor, and at least one former Canon repairman said they "are a nightmare to fix." The two smaller shops said no, Essex said yes (but it looked like a form letter), and I didn't try KEH. I'm still thinking it's a better value to sell the body for what I paid, and buy one that is working. I've watch several go by on the auction site, with lenses, for less than the cost of repairing this one. But all the discussion is helpful to make the final decision.