lf-photo.org.uk

Anyone know who services Arca Swiss cameras in the UK ? I tracked an F Classic down in the US (very pleased) but need a service on the micrometric orbix and probably need a repair ! Can live without it but I fear it will be the perfect LF camera with it working to spec.

Have contacted Arca but await a reply and would prefer not to send the camera back to Switzerland.

Many thanks

Dave

Fortunately now fixed... strip down, clean and lube has done the job.

It took me quite a long time to find the email addresses for Arca. Here they are:

arca-swiss@swissonline.ch
arca-swiss@wanadoo.fr

Many thanks

davejt3 wrote:Fortunately now fixed... strip down, clean and lube has done the job.

Doesn't it make you kind of glad it wasn't a problem with a digital camera?

davejt3 wrote:Fortunately now fixed... strip down, clean and lube has done the job.

It took me quite a long time to find the email addresses for Arca. Here they are:

arca-swiss@swissonline.ch
arca-swiss@wanadoo.fr

Many thanks

Arca make excellent and Precise cameras, unfortunatley their lack of web Presence and direct support function, lets them down.Robert White is the norm for support.
I have the F-Metric and very delighted with it.

not to send the camera back to Switzerland.

Hello from Arca-City, France !

ARCA - SWISS International
29, Quartier de l' Europe, Espace Valentin,
F-25048 Besançon, FRANCE

Telephone : (33) 3 81 85 40 60 Man spricht Schwitzertütsch, Hochdeutsch, Fransözich, und Englisch, natürlich !
Fax : (33) 3 81 85 40 69

You can "reassure yourself" as Joanna says : for servicing an Arca -Swiss camera, no need to leave the EU, no hassles with the customs, since the factory service (if really needed, in case of a delicate repair) for European customers is done in Besançon, France and not in Switzerland, a country where the citizen, by two referendums, have refused to join the EU.
Exacty the contrary of what happen to the UK in the past : the legend I was told in my childhood was that all Britain languished for joining the EU, but Le Père de Gaulle refused

And congratulations for your F-classic with micrometric orbix, feel free to ask here all questions you would have regarding the cameras and the system, the Arca Swiss Fan Club is quite active.
The micrometric orbix is the perfect device for combined focusing-(at rear) + tilting( in front) in winter with mittens

Humble apology for moving the border in such a cavalier manner....

Being an Ebony man through and through.... I have to say that the Arca to date has endeared itself with its sheer quality (even old & s/h cf the new Ebony). I was going to write up a '1st week with the AS' blog early next week and do a comparison to my SV45Te. The Arca wins hands down at the moment but want to make sure its not just a spike of honeymoon joy. The movements are like a glass of warm smooth red wine - just so satisfying to operate. I keep finding innovations in the outfit I bought and think wow, thats good. Set up time is on par with a non folder and much quicker than my SV45Te. The outfit came with 2 separate 15cm rails and the 30cm tripod unit with the 2 locks so... it stores with both stds on the front 15cm rail and the rest stays on the tripod or in the bag - less than 10 secs to start focussing. Fantsastic. The only slight annoyance is that I can only just focus the 110mm lens on the 15cm rail so an ultra lightweight kit with the smaller tripod base would need a 20cm rail I think.
Could be an sv45te for sale soon I think !

davejt3 wrote:Humble apology for moving the border in such a cavalier manner....

Being an Ebony man through and through.... I have to say that the Arca to date has endeared itself with its sheer quality (even old & s/h cf the new Ebony). I was going to write up a '1st week with the AS' blog early next week and do a comparison to my SV45Te. The Arca wins hands down at the moment but want to make sure its not just a spike of honeymoon joy. The movements are like a glass of warm smooth red wine - just so satisfying to operate. I keep finding innovations in the outfit I bought and think wow, thats good. Set up time is on par with a non folder and much quicker than my SV45Te. The outfit came with 2 separate 15cm rails and the 30cm tripod unit with the 2 locks so... it stores with both stds on the front 15cm rail and the rest stays on the tripod or in the bag - less than 10 secs to start focussing. Fantsastic. The only slight annoyance is that I can only just focus the 110mm lens on the 15cm rail so an ultra lightweight kit with the smaller tripod base would need a 20cm rail I think.
Could be an sv45te for sale soon I think !

May be you need the folding rail, you can focus from 58 to 210 - the advantage it folds down to 15 cm with the camera for easy storage in bag, the downside for longer lenses you need an extension rail.

Humble apology for moving the border in such a cavalier manner....

Hi, Dave.

Arca (short for 'All-Round CAmera', apparently) started life in Zurich and then moved down the lake to Horgen. Three or four years ago they transferred the bulk of their operations to Besançon because of the added costs of doing business with the EU when your based outside it. I think they still have an office in Horgen - presumably they're obliged to or they'd have to drop the 'Swiss' part of their name...

So, they are based in Switzerland. Theoretically, at any rate....

Emmanuel Bigler wrote:You can "reassure yourself" as Joanna says

Now Emmanuel, you know that the only thing that can reassure is an Ebony, not some cheap Swiss imitation

Three or four years ago..
in fact Arca Swiss International in Besançon, France was established in 1999. It is a small family-owned company like many Swiss companies manufacturing top-class precision mechanics at a small scale for a world-wide market. Most of those Swiss companies are totally unknown to the public although some, for example, work on contract for NASA for very special projects.

Actually there are 3 Arca Swiss companies :
- Arca-Swiss Phototechnik AG, Einsiedlerstrasse 535
CH-8810 Horgen Switzerland

- Arca Swiss International in Besançon, France (see above) since 1999

- ARCA Swiss Inc., 532 West Grant Place, Chicago, IL 60614 USA
The latter is mostly a one-person company managing the distribution in Northern America.

Read more about the company here (in English)
http://www.galerie-photo.com/a-visit-to-arca-swiss.html (a visit made to A/S International in 2004)
(ahem : I'm not affilated whatsoever, I'm simply a satisfied customer, but, unfortunately, I live only 15 minutes drive from A/S International... hence the temptation for new A/S products is almost permanent ; I'm one of the few A/S customers who will never need an official A/S web site )

----------------------------

Now Emmanuel, you know that the only thing that can reassure is an Ebony, not some cheap Swiss imitation

Yes, Joanna ! Since I have recently tested an Ebony owned by a good friend (J.C. Mougin), I am proud to say that I actually succeded in setting the proper sharpness on the Ebony, including a small front tilt !
Imagine ! this was far from granted for an Arca-Man !
However I have to admit that true Ebony wood and true Titanium cannot be imitated by blackened or whitened el' cheapo' aluminium alloys...

Mmmm not working again today so a service is needed I think. There isnt enough friction in the knob to turn the drive although everything else is free and easy to move. I contacted RW and they can take it and deal with Arca in France and suggested that would be more expedient than me trying to deal with them directly. Anyone with experience ?

Thanks

You can first place a phone call to A/S in Besançon, Ask for Martin Vogt. he speaks English fluently.
Probably you'll just have to send one function carriers or both. I would recommend to have the orbix checked as well.
When I first bought a second hand A/S camera, I directly went to the office in Besançon and was friendly welcome. The camera was expertised by Mr. Philippe Vogt himself, Martin's father and associate in the business.
It is a rare privilege that we have in LF photography, most camera manufacturers are small companies and for them it does make sense to keep a direct contact with customers.

Good luck !

Emannuel, many thanks for the tip. I called Martin and he was very helpful. Camera now on its way to France.

Best regards

Dave