rewind crank (R2/R3/R4) for 190 USD and Voigtlander Germany behaviour

[Sonnar2]

Last year the rewind crank of my R3M fell off when roaming through a theme park with our daugther. This small thing is screwed to the axle without additional locking. The axle diameter and crank size is similar to old Leica stuff but with different threading.
I have about 60 cameras with rewind cranks, most of them 50 years or older. No one have lost the crank. Except of the newest of them, which is still under warranty.
Lately I took the camera to the shop where I bought it here in Wiesbaden and they told me they have to send it to the German branch of Voigtländer. Yesterday the shop owner told me that they want 125 EUR (about 190USD) for this small part - if I want it back unrepaired they even charge me for shipment. Actually it wasn't my idea to send it - all I wanted was a crank for replacement. But not for this absurd fee.
I send them a message on their website with no response.

My suggestion is: Keep away from German Voigtländer. I will immediately shutdown my Voigtländer webpages. They don't have learned the lession why Voigtländer Braunschweig gone to ground. Bad attitude to customers. Simply buy elsewhere. For the extra you have to pay, there is no advantage back.

-Frank-

 

[alkos]

Maybe its the shop that wants to charge you e125? Have you called Voigtlander to clarify the situation?

 

[Bill58]

There used to be a Japanese website that carried stronger replacement parts for CV cameras. Dunno if it's still on the 'net or not now. Maybe you can google them.

 

[Sonnar2]

It looks to me that they damn need these stronger replacement parts.
Yes I talked to Voigtländer Germany, and obviously service dept. is outsourced to a contractor

 

[Didier]

You may ask Voigtländer Germany directly. In fact, Voigtländer Germany is nothing else than Ringfoto GmbH in Fürth, the owner of the Voigtländer trademark. Voigtländer does not exist as company anymore like they did in Braunschweig. It's just a brand given away under several licenses. So Ringfoto sells a license to Cosina to produce and market the film camera/lens brands (others have a license for digital Voigtländer cameras), and Ringfoto imports Cosina's goods to sell them as their "own" production, in Germany and Europe. As for spare parts, they have to buy it from Cosina, and put the horrible german VAT on - that makes it expensive.

But you may, out of warranty, but likely for a lower price, ask our list owner Stephen Gandy (Cameraquest) if he can help you.
Didier

 

[Sonnar2]

Hi Didier, a German person of my age and avid photographer knows about Voigtländer Germany/Ringfoto. THANKS for your explaining this to other people

 

[mr_phillip]

Have you tried getting in touch with a few dealers directly? A friend had a similar issue with his R2 - the crank popped off and fell into a canal. Voigtländer wanted to charge him a fortune to repair the camera, but in the end he got the part from Robert White for a fraction of the original quote. Might be worth a try.

I seem to remember that someone at Robert White suggested to him that, after fitting the new crank, he put a spot of clear nail varnish over the screws to stop them coming loose again. They seemed to suggest it was a common occurance with those cameras.

 

[ampguy]

Are the R2A and R3A cranks any stronger?

 

[wallace]

A few days ago I talked to Ringfoto Germany because the shutter of my Bessa R won't close when I choose 1/60 sec. The service man told me that he already had 3 cameras with this problem and that the shutter needs to be replaced. I was happy to hear that they charge only 100 Euros for the repair (incl. taxes plus shipping). So to me it seems that your shop wants to rip you off.....Beside, I think I'll sell the Bessa after having it fixed. It seems they are not really reliable (unlike my beloved Canon P). I surely will miss the beautiful finder, but better than to miss a good picture because some important part will fall off in that decisive moment!

 

[Sonnar2]

A whole shutter mechanism for 100 EUR and a crank for 120?? Make a mark on your shutter to see if they replace it.

It happened to my Bessa L that the shutter got stuck in middle of the film window and a local foto dealer and repair shop (in Frankfurt/M. near the old opera) made it working again for the equivalent of 25 EUR...
In general, the Bessa L/ R shutter is reliable and very precise for the small money the camera costs.

In the meantime I've got an eMail of the Ringfoto service manager, who told me the crank must have "broke off" and therefore warranty replacement isn't possible. If they go further this way, the case will be published on my website in a few days.