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My long awaited parcel arrived from the States today.

The worst damage is the 190mm Wide Field Ektar. The 250mm has a stuck shutter and the camera body has been battered.





The shutter still works if you coax it gently. Is there any hope and if so how much would it cost roughly to bring it back to life.

Cheers.

So that's a no then?

Getting that Illex shutter repaired in the UK is difficult as they aren't common, and a part has been broken. A US repair shop might have the part from a scrap shutter, second-hand Illex shutters are sell for between about £80-£150 often more than a complete lens & shutter.

I hope you can claim against the carriers for the damage.

Ian

Thanks Ian, its quite good news really, I kind of guestimated about £150 based on time to repair (plus the fact the shutter still works) and wishful thinking I'll ask around a few American sites.
The seller wrapped the items appallingly, it could have been an absolute roadsmash... He's going to see if he can get any cash from US Postal but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.

Thanks for putting a smile back into my day!

I've had shutters repaired by Carol Miller at Flutots in the U.S. in the past and the prices and service is second to none. Brilliant company.
Vanman.

Thanks Vanman, I've heard good things about her and have sent off an email enquiry. I had the lenses looked over by a senior colleague today and he noticed that the lenses are out of alignment by a few degrees as well as the impact damage. I also have a 250mm Ektar damaged in the same package, that one will probably get by with a £50 service over here.

If its takes a standard size shutter you might be better off transplantingthe cells into another shutter, if you can find one cheap on a lens with knackered glass on ebay or whatever.

Good idea Dave, Its amazing how much I am learning about large format lenses now I've been forced into it through the tragic packaging episode..
I try to remain optimistic by reminding myself that the whole thing could have been so much worse....at least the seller is talking about paying the repairs and suggesting a replacement lens.

I have bought both photographic and other stuff from the States and have been clobbered on a few occasions with import duty and a handling charges so I think my days of buying from the US are over returns are another downer.

Cheers Dave

I've bought a fair number of items from the U.S and I agree that the Customs and VAT are evil but after being hit a couple of times I learned to take these costs into account. I've never paid any UK taxes on shutter repairs and just to save hassle I usually sent cash (in dollars) to companies providing a service rather than selling goods. Your local Post Office will provide you with dollars and send them off in a package that has to be signed for by the recipient. If you use reputable companies/people as I have done you should never encountered a problem.
Best of luck,
Vanman.

Psychic Vanman!! I was just about to search the site for ways to pay for repairs because Carol at Flutot's doesn't take credit cards or Paypal. So cash in the registered letter is ok you think?

That's what I've always done when dealing with Carol. Remember that she never asks for the cash up front, only when the job is done to her satisfaction and is ready for mailing. With old shutters the times sometimes vary from the times marked on the shutter but she always includes the results of a shutter test. The legendry Dagor77 of E-bay fame uses Flutots..........enough said.
Vanman.

That's that then, decision made. I'm really glad that she has said she has spares and is confident of sorting it out for me, even though I presented more images of the damage.


I am going to treasure the day I finally get out into the countryside and take my first picture

Stop worrying, you'll end up with high blood pressure. Mind you, if that happens I can sell you some of the pills that I take....................cheap(:-))
Vanman.

Kintokoba wrote:That's that then, decision made. I'm really glad that she has said she has spares and is confident of sorting it out for me, even though I presented more images of the damage.


I am going to treasure the day I finally get out into the countryside and take my first picture

It's your bad luck I'm not in the UK at the moment as I have 2 spare lenses in the right Ilex shutter sat idle, if one of my nieces happens to visit my mother's I'll see if she can find one for you to borrow while yours is being fixed, then you can start shooting.

Ian