lf-photo.org.uk

Does any one know if there is somebody who will repair lens separation in the UK? Also I've got some shutter which should be repaired too.
Thanks, Frankie.

Balham Optical, London, not sore of their address.

But the guy in Ukraine is probably far better, his company rebuilds new Kievs etc and is highly reputable, he can also repolish and multicoat lenses. He appears to be highly recommended.

But it depends what lens it is the cost may be more than a good one on Ebay.

Ian

IanG wrote:Balham Optical, London, not sore of their address.

But the guy in Ukraine is probably far better, his company rebuilds new Kievs etc and is highly reputable, he can also repolish and multicoat lenses. He appears to be highly recommended.

But it depends what lens it is the cost may be more than a good one on Ebay.

Ian

It's a very rare and compact 28" Turner-Reich series II no5 for 8x10 but cover up to 11x14.
I assume it's very expencive if it's coming up. Actually I never seen one.

Any addresses?

Could it be this http://www.optil.co.uk/ you were taking about?

For shutters and maybe lenses try...

http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com/


They are in the USA but...

I have a UK based colleague who says they do a superb job. He has had no problems getting a quick turn around back to the UK.

Barry

BarryWilkinson wrote:For shutters and maybe lenses try...

http://www.flutotscamerarepair.com/


They are in the USA but...

I have a UK based colleague who says they do a superb job. He has had no problems getting a quick turn around back to the UK.

Barry

Thanks Barry I will ask them about my shutters, but I thought of the UK because its closer and shipping is expencive nowadays.
But you know one tip is better than no tip at all.

For shutters in the UK try Black on White in Bristol; John Quantick did a first class job for me on a 00 shutter - from a wreck to good as new. Can take some time though as parts can be rare for older shutters.

Black on White:

http://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/


Steve

My choice of repairer would be the same as Steve's, Black on White in Bristol. They've repaired for me a sticking 00 shutter on a Super Angulon 65mm F8, and a MF Mamiya Sekor TLR 55mm lens that developed a jammed shutter. Reasonably priced and a very good job.

I'd agree about Black on White, I'd far prefer to use them than Flutots. Fast efficient and very reasonable prices.

Yes that's the right company in Balham, I had a quote for a Ross AM lens f16 153mm WA it covers 10x8 and the price was extremely uneconomic.

Arax in the Ukraine has been highly recommended. A number of people have commented that lens collimation is often poor with Gundlach lenses, which includes their Turner Reich series, and that after Arax have repolished and coated and re-collimated the lens cells their lenses have been far sharper than when new.

I can't see a link on the Arax site for lens repolishing and coating, but there used to be one, I think they prefer to be sent just the lens cells rather than the complete lens.

Ian

Arax are very reasonable as they charge in USD. They prefer only the glass to be sent and the average price is $30 per element for repolishing and coating.

Guys, thanks!

I'm pretty sure about Black on White thanks for a tip and I have already written to them describing my problem and what kind of shutters I have. You know much of it hangs on spare parts so let's se what they say.

But, recently had been reading a lot on Balham and let me tell you not much of the positive things. Also wrote to them and I must say don't like the tone they using in their answer either.

So, the problem with the Ukrainians is that they just re polish coat and they prefer to have the glass only.

This turner is difficult to open as there is no ring on it you can attach any tools. It’s simply folded on the back.
So as I see there are many elements (probably 4) and need to be re-cementing (glued or what ever) because of the separation between the elements. Now how they going to do it with out the barrel?
Of course I’m going to send an e-mail to them and ask.

You may of course ask why I’m doing this and here is the answer. This is a telephoto lens 28” which is over 700mm with 30 degree cover 8x10 and only weights 500g with the shutter.
It happens many times that I need a longer lens on my 8x10 as not always possible to get that close to the motive.

I don’t know any other lens with these specifications, but I do not know all the lenses either. If you guys know something it would be a time to share your secret.

IanG wrote:A number of people have commented that lens collimation is often poor with Gundlach lenses, which includes their Turner Reich series, and that after Arax have repolished and coated and re-collimated the lens cells their lenses have been far sharper than when new.

IIan

Yes Ian, that’s the sickness of the Gundlach/Turner Reich, but they are very old. I wonder what they used to cement and how they did it as I have seen old lenses as they are with out problems.

Arax does not answer to my mail. Does any of you have been contact with them lately? Or simply, they just don't bother with any repair any longer.

By the way I got a letter from Roy at the Balham optics and he told me that the repair would cost me from £45 up to 145 in the worse scenario.
Now, it's a hundred pound difference a bit expencive but reading stuff about them in another sites makes me wonder. Can I thrust them with my lens? What do you think? The tone the letter is written says, send it if you want it to.

Of course VAT and shipping is extra!

http://www.advancedcameraservices.co.uk/

Very good and very helpful, I hvae used them for large format shutters before.

I would second the advice to send the shutter to Flutots. The service is second to none and the communications are brilliant.
Vanman