Yashica Mat 124

G

Gilo25

Established
Local time
11:26 PM
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
107
View My Gallery
I got a Yashica Mat 124 from Ebay. Unfortunately I got swindled and neither the shutter nor the meter work (despite they were advertised as working). No success in sending it back, so after leaving negative feedback, I have no choice but having it repaired. Anybody you would recommend? I read another thread from which Mark Hama doesn't come out so well, so I would welcome some other suggestions, if you have any.
Many thanks to all!
 
Mark Hama did stunning work on my 124, so I'm shocked to hear a complaint about his work. He repaired mine quickly, with good communication . . . Heck, it even smelled new when it came back to me.
 
Well, I am not sure about his level of satisfaction though. He got his camera back and fixed, yes, but it took 9 months! And a lot of phone calls. Since unfortunately I am based in the Philippines I certainly can't afford to deal with somebody who is not inclined to use email and requires constant telephone follow up.
 
Im from the Philippines. There are two local repairmen i know of who have fixed tlrs for me in the past. Message me an di will send you their details.

Gilo25 said:
Well, I am not sure about his level of satisfaction though. He got his camera back and fixed, yes, but it took 9 months! And a lot of phone calls. Since unfortunately I am based in the Philippines I certainly can't afford to deal with somebody who is not inclined to use email and requires constant telephone follow up.
Click to expand...
 
Gilo25 said:
I got a Yashica Mat 124 from Ebay. Unfortunately I got swindled and neither the shutter nor the meter work (despite they were advertised as working). No success in sending it back, so after leaving negative feedback, I have no choice but having it repaired. Anybody you would recommend? I read another thread from which Mark Hama doesn't come out so well, so I would welcome some other suggestions, if you have any.
Many thanks to all!
Click to expand...


Sorry for my first post here (hi everyone!) to be a bummer, but I am currently having issues with Mark Hama.
He has two of my cameras, promised them in 2 weeks, it's been more than 4 months now. As for the excuse he is from an old generation, they do things differently etc... well, he was extremely responsive to my initial email (replied immediately), and had no issues taking my money in advance.
I have so far managed to get him on the phone just once out of countless attempts. The reply was they would be ready in a week. Never happened. Does not return any phone calls, does not reply to emails.

So. I'm hoping that everything works out eventually but I cannot ever recommend him to anyone. There are plenty of techs out there, I blame myself for not performing my due diligence and checking him out first.

Anyway, Rangefinderforum looks like a great place to be, and I'm looking forward to spending time here!

Best regards
Huss
 
Hi Huss, thanks and sorry to her about your problems with Mark Hama and I hope it will be solved soon. I had actually read in another thread here that other people had similar issues. As a matter of fact, I have also sent him an email last week regarding my Yashica and he has replied immediately like he did with you; however I eventually chose to send it to Zacks Camera Repair who was suggested to me above. It's with them now.
By the way, I managed to get the Ebay seller to refund me 50% of the final price.
 
I just wanted to update all those who contributed and are interested (Konickon in particular, many thanks for the referral) that I got the camera fixed by Zacks Camera Repair and he did an excellent job for USD 100 inclusive of CLA. Very timely turn around and excellent communication. The only thing he did not manage to do is to restore the coating of the lens, which is off.
 
Glad to hear of your good result Gilo.
I finally got my cameras back from Mark Hama after more than 5 months. No difference in functionality with the Voigtlander Vitessa - it still scratched the negatives. And the Zeiss Ikon Contessa is actually worse. Before it would occasionally jam when trying to advance film (it happens about 4 times per 36 exp roll) which is freed up by taking a multiple exposure. That has not been fixed and now the previously working frame counter is broken..
Yeah, not happy at all.
 
Gilo25 said:
I just wanted to update all those who contributed and are interested (Konickon in particular, many thanks for the referral) that I got the camera fixed by Zacks Camera Repair and he did an excellent job for USD 100 inclusive of CLA. Very timely turn around and excellent communication. The only thing he did not manage to do is to restore the coating of the lens, which is off.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear Zacks came through for you -- I am not surprised at all. I sent them a Voigtlander Prominent early last year that was totally jammed up. Working fine now, and gleams like brand new. And I know this is not an easy camera to fix. I'm thinking of asking them about the cost to fix another camera (Mamiya Super Deluxe), but first I'm going to ask the group here for some assistance.

About the lens coating -- I am not surprised Zacks couldn't fix that; that's a very specialized (and expensive) repair. About the only place I know of that will re-coat lenses is Focal Point, in Colorado. Personally I wouldn't worry about the coating. Just make sure you use a proper lens shade.
 
I feel compelled to report a positive experience with Mark Hama's repair service. I sent him an email describing the problem with my Yashica Mat (shutter would not fire). He replied immediately with an estimate of $135 for a CLA and an additional $18 for shipping. He said to allow two weeks. I received the camera back about 12 days after I mailed it, working perfectly now. Apparently his service included cleaning the viewing optics because the viewfinder is brighter than any of my other TLRs.

I was especially pleased that he was able to give me an estimate without having seen the camera and that he did not add any extra charges.
 
pschauss said:
I feel compelled to report a positive experience with Mark Hama's repair service. I sent him an email describing the problem with my Yashica Mat (shutter would not fire). He replied immediately with an estimate of $135 for a CLA and an additional $18 for shipping. He said to allow two weeks. I received the camera back about 12 days after I mailed it, working perfectly now. Apparently his service included cleaning the viewing optics because the viewfinder is brighter than any of my other TLRs.

I was especially pleased that he was able to give me an estimate without having seen the camera and that he did not add any extra charges.
Click to expand...

He's fixed enough of them that unless something has broken, it's usually just a matter of cleaning out the gears, and sometimes the shutter and aperture blades. And like any good repair person, he includes cleaning the viewfinder, and anything else that needs it. I hope to send a YF his way later this year. It can use the Masters Touch.

PF
 
Mark Hama did an excellent job for me, including installing a new meter. It came back working wonderfully well, meter was accurate, I was happy. Then, about a week after I got it back, I opened the back door of my 4Runner and the camera jumped off the seat to a horrible death on the parking lot pavement... Oops... But it was a wonderful camera before that little mishap!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Velorum
TLR owner once again! Yashica 'A'
Replies
10
Views
1K
Retro-Grouch
Retro-Grouch
E
Who can recement a Leica M2 prism in Australia?
Replies
11
Views
1K
nickthetasmaniac
N
K
One for do it yourself repairers -- Warning: rambling tale of semi-woe
Replies
16
Views
1K
ChrisPlatt
ChrisPlatt
M
Servicing & Restoring a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 1:2 f=5cm T LTM Collapsible
Replies
5
Views
390
dexdog
D
Dogman
Just need to vent. Our lives are now overly secure!
Replies
14
Views
756
JeffS7444
JeffS7444
Back
Top Bottom