Who are THE Nikon MF Lens CLA Persons?

bayernfan

bayernfan

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I've got two lovely pre-AI lenses (35/2 O-C & 105/2.5 P) with dry helicals. I have no idea where to send them for CLA. Seeking recommendations.
 
I have had very good results from
http://www.nikoncamerarepair.com/

I did have to have one job re-done because apparently they have/had a policy of setting MF lenses to focus beyond infinity because of the demand of certain DSLR focusing systems, so be sure to tell them that you don't want them to mess with infinity focus!

Otherwise, they were fast, they are an authorized Nikon shop, and their work was perfect. I didn't think the price was unreasonable, but I don't know what others charge.
 
bayern fan, where are you located. I'm sure any old-school camera repair guy can handle that job for you.
 
Those are both pretty easy to clean and re-lube, nothing intrinsically difficult. Do you not have someone in DFW? You don't need a specialist but if it's more re-assuring to send it to a Nikon-only tech, I understand.
 
What is APS getting for a typical manual focus Nikkor CLA? My trusty 105\2.5 AI-s needs cleaning.
 
Back in 2011, I bought a Micro-Nikkor 55 2.8 from a fellow RFFer. He disclosed in the ad that the lens needed relubrication. I bought it, and had it sent directly to APS. $110 later, it was as good as new.

More recently I had my 105 2.5 AIS serviced. I don't have the receipt at hand, but I recall that it was in the $135 range with APS. Incidentally, infinity is at infinity in all my lenses.

Finally, I bought in April 2018 a Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 GN (Guide Number) lens. I sent this off to Frank Marshman, in Virginia. The fee was $95, but the lens is sparkling clean, and smooth to focus now.

I have to put in a pitch for the 45mm GN lens. It's not "just another Tessar". It's a really great one. Sharp even wide open, with no distortion. The GN feature is brilliant. Lock in your guide number, and all your flash pictures will be perfectly exposed. When locked in, you can't focus closer than the correct distance for f/32, which is the minimum aperture with this lens. I use it with my Nikon F and the Nikon BC-7 flash unit. Just keep putting new bulbs in the unit, focus and fire. It's just that simple. (You can do this with less drama using your electronic flash on the manual setting). The BC-7 has two positions on the reflector. The wider setting is for a 35mm lens. The "normal" setting is for the 45mm lens. It shows you how well thought out and integrated the Nikon F system was.
 
I love my GN - I have had one continuously since the late 70’s, the first one was borrowed until I finally bought one of my own. I started using it as a fire scene and MVA lens since early auto flash was unreliable with the reflections, but I learned just how good the lens is for all around use. For many years my briefcase camera was an unmetered F2 with a GN. Just superb.
 
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