Camera repair news
It is my sad duty to announce that a number of cameras will no longer be serviced by their makers in Japan.
As many of you may know, I have been arranging repair jobs for a number of Japanese camera brands for a few years now (link here). All was fine and dandy, with lots of happy cameras going back to their owners working like a dream. But the happy days are over.
I had a conversation with a staff member at Ricoh today and he informed me that there are no longer any parts for the Ricoh GR1 and GR1s cameras and as of now they will no longer accept repairs for these cameras. The Gr1v has limited parts too, so only certain repairs can be carried out (no more complete lens units).
I have also been in touch with Kenko-Tokina (Konica) and they have told me they have no parts for the Konica Hexar AF cameras and only limited parts for the RF cameras. Minolta cameras are handled by the same group, and they are still repaired, for now.
Kyocera (Contax) cannot repair the T2 due to lack of parts (noticing a theme here?) and can only perform limited repairs on the T3.
Epson still repair the RD cameras, but will not replace sensors.
Sad news indeed, but news that we all expected to come at some point. These cameras are complex and parts are limited.
I no longer can have these cameras repaired, and will not be taking them on.
Many other cameras can still be repaired though, including classic Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Leica, Mamiya and many others. Drop me a line by clicking here if you want to know if your camera can be repaired.
If any of you have any alternative suggestions for repairs of these cameras please share them below.
Cheers
JCH
Maybe it’s time for people to start buying backup cameras or broken ones for parts? I already do this for a few of my favourites.
Oof. Off to sell my kidney so I can afford a back-up Ricoh GR21 :(
Was thinking the same, but who does the repair?
looking at my collection of film cameras (well… more an accidental accretion than collection), one of the reasons, well, really, the only reason, I went out and added 2 Leica bodies (IIIf & M2) to the mix was knowing that someday in my lifetime any and all of them are likely to break down. And that in all likelihood any need parts for at least these two cameras will be available well past the time I get put in a box.
One hope I have for the purely mechanical models is that if (when) metal sintering 3D printing becomes viable for camera repair workshops to own or cheaply outsource to that there will be a much improved viability of repairing some of the more esoteric, less financially valuable models (and possibly improving them… replacing the square tooth cheese-wizz gears in some with proper meshing nickel cogs maybe?)
My Konica Hexar AF developed the dreaded (shutter) button problem with the button not reacting at all or only randomly. I researched it and I am more or less certain this is the same issue and root cause troubling this camera for many others and can be solved by opening the camera correctly, getting to the problem button and cleaning it thoroughly with cleaning alcohol.
I am pretty convinced that many cameras not manufactured or sold anymore have typical issues like these that occur frequently in a large number of cameras – and can be fixed without spare parts in a DIY kind of manner.
Bellamy, you have tons of experience with all sorts of cameras and their issues I suspect. Would it make sense to manage and maintain this kind of information in a database along with potential fixes and instructions? All without any warranty for correctness of course! This would also make a great checklist for buying gear.
It’s a sad world we live in but I can now understand the value proposition of an analog Leica, as if I am not mistaken, you could probably send a Leica M3 from 1954 to Leica and they’d be able to repair it – at what price is a different matter!
I was lucky enough in Hamburg to have a local store run by former Minolta repair technicians. They fixed many cameras for me, including the Hexar (film scratching back door replaced). Unfortunately, the place is not there anymore and I couldn’t find anything comparable either in Hamburg or elsewhere close.
Sad news. I guess I can still send my GR1v in for a tune up before it’s too late.
Is there any hope for the gr21 repairs?
Hi. I thought the Epson RD repairs had finished in April 2013. Their website still says that and they say that. If you have any other info, would be very grateful to hear about it. Thanks.
Sad indeed.
But, when you ogle that M2/3/4/5/6/7 and you are taken aback by the price tag, try to remember that in your own lifetime at least, this sort of event is not likely to happen.
Sad news indeed – but not unexpected I guess.
Is the Contax G1/G2 still able to be repaired by Kyocera I wonder?
The G1, no. But the G2 is still being serviced. I believe 2015 is the end point for them.
Thanks Bellamy – that’s going to change things moving forward I guess with these classic cameras starting to fall off the radar if they can’t be repaired. I guess there are 100’s of thousands still floating around so maybe there will be enough good ones to last us film shooters for a while :)
take M6, bought my second one.
digital M makes more trouble than any film M has done.
will be repaired, when the last pocket film camera has been extinct.
Sad news… means my GR1s is now not coming back to life… Also my Hexar AF shutter button is a bit twitchy, I have too read it just needs a service but I far from have the skills to do so so just have to keep my fingers crossed it holds out.
Hi all
any suggestion where to fix my Hexar Rf. Whenever I try to make a photo the shutter button don’t respond and the top little window is indicating that I spent 10 shots
although I just started the new role. I tried to change the batteries or to restart the
electronics but all I could do is to have first shot loaded automatically and then the number 10 is blinking showing that I consumed 9 shots already.
My Hexar was moderatelly used and I took a great care about this camera.
Many thanks for any feedback
Nick, brisbane Australia