fbf
Well-known
Hi all. I recent acquired a 3.5F and I am thinking about to give it a CLA, maybe a Maxwell screen? I saw rolleirepairs.com and it seems like a very reputable place. But $135 for a CLA and $204 for installing the glass? That's almost the amount I paid for the 3.5F. Anybody have done this before? Is it worth it?
Any comment would be appreciated. Thanks.
L.
Any comment would be appreciated. Thanks.
L.
plummerl
Well-known
I had my 2.8c done by Harry Fleenor and could not be happier with the results. He does fantastic work. The $204 includes the cost of the screen ($170), which is not a bad price for a Maxwell.
srtiwari
Daktari
I paid $148.30 for excellent CLA for my 3.5F to Paul Ebel. I am thrilled with the result. Given today's cost of prefessional services, I think this was quite reasonable.
Eryximachos
Registered User
Harry Fleenor CLA'd my Rolleiflex 3.5 and installed a Maxwell screen. It cost as much as I paid for the camera but it was worth it.
fbf
Well-known
Thank you guys. You just helped me to make the decision. I will send it to Harry Fleenor then.
jbh
Member
Send it to Harry; he's good. Also, Bill Maxwell's screens are a _tremendous_ improvement over the original.
fbf
Well-known
Thanks. I just sent my rollei for Harry. It seems like the turnaround time is gonna be very long....close to 4 months or so. Did you guys wait that long or it is just a crazy season for rollei users?....
aparat
Established
easyrider
Photo addict
Any link to Harry Fleenor or Paul Ebel?
Tnx
Tnx
plummerl
Well-known
For Harry, use: http://www.rolleirepairs.com/
fbf
Well-known
wow,the overhaul evaluation came back today and the total cost is about 700$...is the same price as I paid for my rollei. I don't know what to do with it...That's a lot of money for a CLA. I can get a decent condition leica m4 w/ that kind of money. How much did you guys spend?
R
rich815
Guest
Harry is considered the best by many but not cheap and does take a while. I've been very pleased with Paul Ebel. He CLA'd my 2.8E Planar and 3.5E3 Xenotar and did wonderful jobs with each. He also installed a Maxwell screen in the 3.5E3 which Bill Maxwell drop shipped right to him. He's getting my Tele-Rolleiflex next for a focus collimation and adjustment. Here's his contact info:
Paul Ebel Lens Services
PO Box 141
420 21st street Suite 2
Menomonie, WI 54751
(651)335-8759
He's a heck of a guy too. I just spoke with him a couple hours ago. He was on his way back from Milwaukee and answered even while driving through some rain!
Paul Ebel Lens Services
PO Box 141
420 21st street Suite 2
Menomonie, WI 54751
(651)335-8759
He's a heck of a guy too. I just spoke with him a couple hours ago. He was on his way back from Milwaukee and answered even while driving through some rain!
fbf
Well-known
Thanks Rich. I have been reading about Paul Ebel too and I also see many positive comments of him. But I am hesitating about it since many consider Harry the best (just like you said) and I don't really mind the long waiting, as long as it gets the job done. I actually have two rollei and the one I sent to Harry was a 2.8F whiteface which I got for cheap. I guess that explains the CLA cost......... 700$ is a lot of money, especially for a student like me...
Daniel Kreithen
Member
Also excellent is Krikor Marelian:
http://www.krimarphoto.com/index.htm
Again, not cheap, but faster turn-around time than Fleenor (who is excellent, BTW). No shortage of great Rolleiflex repairmen.
http://www.krimarphoto.com/index.htm
Again, not cheap, but faster turn-around time than Fleenor (who is excellent, BTW). No shortage of great Rolleiflex repairmen.
fbf
Well-known
Thanks Daniel. I have never actually heard about him...how is his service?
I just noticed the meter parts and calibration alone cost about 200$...Do you guys ever use the meter? May I should just skip this part and that will save me 200$.
I just noticed the meter parts and calibration alone cost about 200$...Do you guys ever use the meter? May I should just skip this part and that will save me 200$.
R
rich815
Guest
Skip the meter. At best they are usually off one-stop and a bit awkward to use, translating the number to the f-stop and shutter speed, tilting the camera up to see where you set it, etc. They can work ok, but for that price? Use a $9 GE PR-1 or similar...
Krikor has a good rep though some say he's so fast he sometimes misses some screws and such. I've not had that happen but have read that elsewhere. He installed a Maxwell screen for me on my 2.8E Planar. The camera had been fully serviced by Paul about 2 years ago after the shutter jammed and worked like a charm. I sent it to Krikor to do the screen (someone who mis-ordered it from Krikor sold it to me so I sent the camera to Krikor for the install since he already had the screen). When Krikor got it he told me it needed some work so I had him do it (even though I thought all was fine). Now a few months later it's shutter jammed up again. Was that due to Krikor? I doubt it but my luck with Paul has been 100%. So this time it's going back to Paul again. Take that for what it's worth. Some really sing Krikor's praises....
Krikor has a good rep though some say he's so fast he sometimes misses some screws and such. I've not had that happen but have read that elsewhere. He installed a Maxwell screen for me on my 2.8E Planar. The camera had been fully serviced by Paul about 2 years ago after the shutter jammed and worked like a charm. I sent it to Krikor to do the screen (someone who mis-ordered it from Krikor sold it to me so I sent the camera to Krikor for the install since he already had the screen). When Krikor got it he told me it needed some work so I had him do it (even though I thought all was fine). Now a few months later it's shutter jammed up again. Was that due to Krikor? I doubt it but my luck with Paul has been 100%. So this time it's going back to Paul again. Take that for what it's worth. Some really sing Krikor's praises....
fbf
Well-known
wow fast response, Rich. Do you know how Paul charges for his service? If the cost difference is minor (within 100$), I think I will just stick with Harry this time.
literiter
Well-known
I've had my new (to me) Rolleiflex Automat apart, myself, to repair the autoload mechanism, clean the shutter and lubricate the thing. I did not collimate the lens in any way.
I've done this before, this model is fairly simple to work on and it took me four hours. If I did this for a living (and I don't) I'd charge $100/hr so...$400.00. Add things like collimate the lens and add parts the price could go up considerably.
Functioning well a Rolleiflex is a joy to use, in many ways it seems preferable to my Hasselblad 501cm.
I'm not nearly good enough to do repairs for other people, so I don't. If I did this for a living, had the parts in stock, had the accumulated experience of working on hundreds perhaps thousands of these things I'd want to be paid but it would be good.
Leicable
Newbie
I had Krikor Marelian service two of my Rollei TLRs, a 2.8F and a 2.8D. He did an excellent job and turnaround was about a week door to door...that included full CLA's and installing Maxwell screens. I highly recommend his work.
Charles Hehl
Charles Hehl