Repairs

Looking for camera or lens repairs? I offer a reasonably priced service for a variety of different models. I like solving puzzles and I will take on a wide variety of jobs even others would turn away, but I found I was spending too much time on these whilst billing too little - if you have something bizarre and difficult, drop me an email.

Cameras

I am happy to inspect and provide my opinion on any camera, and I charge the inspection as a one-hour job at my hourly rate (£50). The rate may be lower if I find issues quickly or for smaller tasks. I will provide an assessment as to what I believe needs doing alongside an estimate of the costs. Please keep in mind that this is an estimate - the cost may change if more is wrong than first thought, or if someone else has previously attempted to repair it. If the repair is so minor I can complete it in that hour, I'll go ahead and do so.

I offer light-seal replacement and for most smaller jobs this costs less than £50. More complex and time-consuming jobs, such as replacing all the seals and mirror buffers in something like a Mamiya RB67 will take longer (there's quite a few).

Rangefinder calibration can be carried out on most cameras relatively quickly, and if you come into the market likely while you wait. This will depend on model but for minor adjustments, most cameras are relatively quick to adjust.

The following table is a list of cameras I fix regularly and I can give an up-front estimate for various jobs:

I am currently learning to service Minolta SR-Ts, and I'm always taking apart different TLR models to figure out how to work on each variation.

Unlike many repairers, I will attempt pretty much anything. I'm currently working to save a Rolleiflex that was dropped in the ocean.

Electronics/DSLRs/Mirrorless/Compact cameras

I do perform electronics repairs, however this is very model-specific in terms of spares and difficulty of the repair. Many 90s/2000s cameras really weren't designed with longevity in mind, and it's ironic that some of those have become some of the trendiest models available. Get in touch if you do have a suspected electronics issue.

Lenses

Notes

A CLA (Clean, Lubrication, and Adjustment) includes: disassembly, cleaning of fungus and haze where possible, freeing of stuck aperture blades, removal of old lubricants, full cleaning of the helicoids and regreasing.

M42 mount lenses and other earlier designs are often radioactive and require additional precautions for repairs, hence the added cost.

Specialist repairs not listed here require assessment first - get in touch with the issue you're facing and I can provide an estimate.

I do take on jobs that others have failed/bodged, however this does affect the price and warranty on my work.

Warranty on repairs

I warranty the work I performed for 6 months from repair completion, and will rectify any regressions as part of the original price. However I do not warranty work on cameras others have failed to repair correctly before me, as I cannot guarantee I can rectify the issue permanently or what might otherwise fail because of their work. I have the final say in whether a new failure is related to work I completed previously or whether it's a new repair.

Turnaround times

Timelines for repairs are entirely managed by me, and I am not particularly quick to begin with. I tend to get quick jobs out of the way so I can focus on the complex repairs, and some jobs just take a long time due to things out of my control, like seized threads or broken screws. If I need to let a screw thread soak in penetrant for a week in order to release it then I will do that.

I will provide an estimate before starting the work, but it is liable to change depending on any time-dependent work that might come in (either for my photography business or, for example, a Rolleiflex that's been dropped in the ocean).

My flexible repair timeline is one of the reasons I can offer many repairs for reasonable prices. If you are in a rush, let me know and I can work to accommodate you.