Lens Repair Co. run by Retired Pentax Engineers

JPT · 08-30-2018, 06:39 AM - **5 Likes**

Looking through the Japanese camera magazines this month I found an interesting article about a company called NSB Tekunos (NBSテクノス). This is a repair company that specializes in repair and overhaul of Pentax lenses, and Pentax lenses only.

The five employees of the company are all retired Pentax employees with experience spanning 40 years. If I read it correctly, they were production engineers and repair specialists. There are photos of them surrounded by computers, testing devices and lens charts. I don’t want to reproduce the page, because it is after all copyright of the magazine publisher.

It seems they have the knowhow to fix any lens from Takumars to digital era AF lenses. The website says they will repair lenses that the maker will not and they handle 400-500 lenses a month.

Their website is here, and I’m afraid it does not come out very well through Google Translate, so I’ll just link to the Japanese site. ?????????????????NSB?????

I was wondering where this company was located and when I checked the map, it is just a stone’s throw away from an old Pentax site (now Pentax-Hoya medical). I thought that was pretty neat that they have set up their company just a stone’s throw from Pentax’s old home.

I don’t know how they would respond to any requests from overseas. Their application form does seem to require an address in Japan. I mainly posted this as a bit of Pentax trivia and for the few forum members in Japan. If I ever need my FA 77 Ltd serviced, I might give them a try.

GinaC · 08-30-2018, 06:45 AM

Thanks for posting this.

normhead · 08-30-2018, 06:50 AM

Awesome.

The Squirrel Mafia · 08-30-2018, 06:55 AM

Nice. Ricoh should hire them!

normhead · 08-30-2018, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia

Nice. Ricoh should hire them!

Our Canadian Pentax repair centre has two former repair technicians. They are however constrained by their relationship with Pentax,

aurele · 08-30-2018, 07:20 AM

Very nice ! Good to know some place like this exists !

johnkrumm · 08-30-2018, 07:22 AM

Hmmm, I have the 20mm f4 K lens, super sharp but horribly soft on the left side ( decentered I suppose). I wonder if I could just pack it up, send it, and hope for the best...

**RobA_Oz** · 08-30-2018, 07:31 AM

Interesting. I wonder whether they manufacture new parts when they can no longer get them from the factory, and if they do, what parts are involved. I shouldn’t think for example that they’d be producing new front elements, but you never know.

pathdoc · 08-30-2018, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Our Canadian Pentax repair centre has two former repair technicians. They are however constrained by their relationship with Pentax,

Constrained in what fashion?

GinaC · 08-30-2018, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by pathdoc

Constrained in what fashion?

Yes, I was wondering the same thing.

DeadJohn · 08-30-2018, 07:48 AM

I wonder if Ricoh Japan will give them access to any parts.

In USA, my understanding is that only Precision can get parts, even for simple things like a broken tripod foot. Maybe Japan has different consumer protection laws.

The Squirrel Mafia · 08-30-2018, 07:49 AM

If anyone is planning to visit Japan & would like to make a stop there, here's their location on Google Maps. It's a bit out of the way, though.

normhead · 08-30-2018, 08:00 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pathdoc

Constrained in what fashion?

I was sending in my DA*60-250 for repair and cleaning, I asked if I got a baffle to make the lens more FF compatible they would install it during the cleaning and repair. They replied they weren't authorized to do that. Since i was authorizing them to do that and offered to sign a waiver, I assume the other possible authorizing party involved would be Pentax.

This lens has been out of warranty for over 4 years. That wasn't the issue. When I ask tradesmen to do something, I could do myself but would like the job to be handled by more experienced people during routine maintenance, that is not an answer I'm comfortable with. When I'm paying for the repair, they work for me and me alone. If Pentax wants to pay for the repair and cleaning, I could care less what they will and won't do.

**clickclick** · 08-30-2018, 08:06 AM

Neat stuff. Surprised by the volume they do. It would seem to be an indicator of continued popularity, which is really nice to see.

pathdoc · 08-30-2018, 08:16 AM

Originally posted by normhead

I asked if I got a baffle to make the lens more FF compatible they would install it during the cleaning and repair. They replied they weren't authorized to do that.

My guess is they wouldn't disable the SDM drive for you either, if you asked.

Fair enough - they're licensed to do all repairs, but not to modify from factory spec. I guess if something went badly wrong, there would be the possibility of some vexatious twit smearing Pentax for it and they want to avoid that.

Originally posted by normhead

If Pentax wants to pay for the repair and cleaning, I could care less what they will and won't do.

Couldn't care less.

08-30-2018, 06:39 AM - 5 Likes	#1
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	Lens Repair Co. run by Retired Pentax Engineers Looking through the Japanese camera magazines this month I found an interesting article about a company called NSB Tekunos (NBSテクノス). This is a repair company that specializes in repair and overhaul of Pentax lenses, and Pentax lenses only. The five employees of the company are all retired Pentax employees with experience spanning 40 years. If I read it correctly, they were production engineers and repair specialists. There are photos of them surrounded by computers, testing devices and lens charts. I don’t want to reproduce the page, because it is after all copyright of the magazine publisher. It seems they have the knowhow to fix any lens from Takumars to digital era AF lenses. The website says they will repair lenses that the maker will not and they handle 400-500 lenses a month. Their website is here, and I’m afraid it does not come out very well through Google Translate, so I’ll just link to the Japanese site. ?????????????????NSB????? I was wondering where this company was located and when I checked the map, it is just a stone’s throw away from an old Pentax site (now Pentax-Hoya medical). I thought that was pretty neat that they have set up their company just a stone’s throw from Pentax’s old home. I don’t know how they would respond to any requests from overseas. Their application form does seem to require an address in Japan. I mainly posted this as a bit of Pentax trivia and for the few forum members in Japan. If I ever need my FA 77 Ltd serviced, I might give them a try.

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08-30-2018, 06:45 AM	#2
GinaC Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Brunswick, GA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 440	Thanks for posting this.

08-30-2018, 06:50 AM	#3
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Awesome.

08-30-2018, 06:55 AM	#4
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,054	Nice. Ricoh should hire them!

08-30-2018, 07:01 AM	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by The Squirrel Mafia Nice. Ricoh should hire them! Our Canadian Pentax repair centre has two former repair technicians. They are however constrained by their relationship with Pentax,

08-30-2018, 07:20 AM	#6
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	Very nice ! Good to know some place like this exists !

08-30-2018, 07:22 AM	#7
johnkrumm Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 141	Hmmm, I have the 20mm f4 K lens, super sharp but horribly soft on the left side ( decentered I suppose). I wonder if I could just pack it up, send it, and hope for the best...

08-30-2018, 07:31 AM	#8
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Interesting. I wonder whether they manufacture new parts when they can no longer get them from the factory, and if they do, what parts are involved. I shouldn’t think for example that they’d be producing new front elements, but you never know.

08-30-2018, 07:47 AM	#9
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by normhead Our Canadian Pentax repair centre has two former repair technicians. They are however constrained by their relationship with Pentax, Constrained in what fashion?

08-30-2018, 07:48 AM	#10
GinaC Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Brunswick, GA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 440	Originally posted by pathdoc Constrained in what fashion? Yes, I was wondering the same thing.

08-30-2018, 07:48 AM	#11
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	I wonder if Ricoh Japan will give them access to any parts. In USA, my understanding is that only Precision can get parts, even for simple things like a broken tripod foot. Maybe Japan has different consumer protection laws.

08-30-2018, 07:49 AM	#12
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,054	If anyone is planning to visit Japan & would like to make a stop there, here's their location on Google Maps. It's a bit out of the way, though.

08-30-2018, 08:00 AM - 1 Like	#13
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by pathdoc Constrained in what fashion? I was sending in my DA*60-250 for repair and cleaning, I asked if I got a baffle to make the lens more FF compatible they would install it during the cleaning and repair. They replied they weren't authorized to do that. Since i was authorizing them to do that and offered to sign a waiver, I assume the other possible authorizing party involved would be Pentax. This lens has been out of warranty for over 4 years. That wasn't the issue. When I ask tradesmen to do something, I could do myself but would like the job to be handled by more experienced people during routine maintenance, that is not an answer I'm comfortable with. When I'm paying for the repair, they work for me and me alone. If Pentax wants to pay for the repair and cleaning, I could care less what they will and won't do.

08-30-2018, 08:06 AM	#14
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Neat stuff. Surprised by the volume they do. It would seem to be an indicator of continued popularity, which is really nice to see.

08-30-2018, 08:16 AM	#15
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by normhead I asked if I got a baffle to make the lens more FF compatible they would install it during the cleaning and repair. They replied they weren't authorized to do that. My guess is they wouldn't disable the SDM drive for you either, if you asked. Fair enough - they're licensed to do all repairs, but not to modify from factory spec. I guess if something went badly wrong, there would be the possibility of some vexatious twit smearing Pentax for it and they want to avoid that. Originally posted by normhead If Pentax wants to pay for the repair and cleaning, I could care less what they will and won't do. Couldn't care less.