My black MX, fresh from a CLA...with a hearty recommendation

Finn · 01-30-2008, 10:58 AM

I just received my MX in the mail today, after it went in for a CLA with Eric Hendrickson. If you don't know who he is, you need to. The man is a friggin' genius:

Home

I sent it off to him after I bought it on eBay for sixty bucks (there were only a couple of blurry P&S pics on the listing, so I knew I was taking a chance). It was in dire need of help, so off it went. Eric informed me it had been dropped pretty hard at some point, so he replaced the prism, focusing screen, light seals, mirror foam, you name it. He also took the ENTIRE thing apart to clean and lube everything, and recalibrated the meter and shutter.

All for $93. A damn good deal if you ask me.

It came back to me a week or so ago but had a metering problem, so I sent it back and he checked and resoldered all the wiring for no extra charge. Eric is a great guy, and I can't recommend him highly enough to anyone with a camera body in need of a little love (or a complete overhaul).

And now I have the camera of my dreams, or at least I will when its new skin arrives from cameraleather...

Attached Images

Finn · 01-30-2008, 11:02 AM

Oh yeah, this baby'll be covered in this:

Cameraleather - Colors and materials Griptac black and medium grey

And since I'm recovering that one, I figured I'd recover my K1000 in green kid leather:

Cameraleather - Colors and materials

I'll definitely post a photo of that one when I'm done.

dwhopson · 01-30-2008, 11:26 AM

$93?.....for all that?...That is a deal. When I had my mint Spotmatic SP CLA'd by CRJ outside of Atlanta, GA (Camera Repair Japan) back in early 2001 it was $100 not including parts or extra labor if they found problems once they got inside.

Does he do any work on vintage lenses?

Definitely a link to file away!

Tom M · 01-30-2008, 04:57 PM

I'd love to see a tricked out K1000...

woof · 01-30-2008, 05:03 PM

Yep. 93.00 is exactly what he charged me for a CLA on a Spotmatic SP... plus replacement of the top plate which was badly dinged and fixing a sticky meter button. Overall I was very happy with his work and sent him a Spotmatic F for CLA and meter adjustment; I think that job cost me $75.00.

woof

**ChrisPlatt** · 01-30-2008, 05:50 PM

I just got my LX back from Eric.
He did his usual terrific job.
Eric gets all my Pentax work...

Chris

J.Scott · 01-30-2008, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by Finn

Oh yeah, this baby'll be covered in this:

Cameraleather - Colors and materials Griptac black and medium grey

And since I'm recovering that one, I figured I'd recover my K1000 in green kid leather:

Cameraleather - Colors and materials

I'll definitely post a photo of that one when I'm done.

I covered my little Canonet in 'Camera Leathers' too. It looks awesome, if I do say so myself! If you have never done a re-skin job my only advise is to go slow; just follow the instructions.

I would like to see the finished job on yours since you are using Griptac.

Last edited by J.Scott; 03-30-2009 at 03:28 AM.

DAP · 01-30-2008, 06:42 PM

I can heartily recommend the Griptac covering - way more user friendly than the factory leatherette. I re-skinned one of my LXes in it and it made a BIG difference in the handling of the camera. Pretty cheap too - bonus!

Finn · 01-30-2008, 07:08 PM

Yeah, I've heard it really improves camera handling. The Canonet looks great. I've also ordered some blue leather for my little Olympus RC, which cost as much as the camera!

ChrisM · 01-31-2008, 09:02 PM

That's funny. I just got back my MX from Eric today. $70 (including shipping) for a basic CLA and to fix the inconsistent meter. Works like a charm now.

loafer · 01-31-2008, 10:42 PM

and I've sent in my MX today to eric, based on this thread!

Having some shutter troubles at higher speeds, as well as the mirror foam needing replacment.

**ChrisPlatt** · 02-02-2008, 03:01 PM

Eric did the same for my beautiful black MX, too!

Chris

barbosas · 02-03-2008, 01:57 PM

My MX is coming, but it's not black

BTW there's no problem in using FA lenses with it right?

Finn · 02-03-2008, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by Pornflake

My MX is coming, but it's not black

BTW there's no problem in using FA lenses with it right?

No problem at all, except, of course for the autofocus...

Asahiflex · 02-04-2008, 07:43 AM

Great to see that there are still people loving their MX cameras!

This reminds me that I still have a new cover set for the black MX consisting of a top plate, mirror box and bottom plate, all brand new in box... I'll probably put these on eBay because I do not have a MX anymore.

01-30-2008, 10:58 AM	#1
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	My black MX, fresh from a CLA...with a hearty recommendation I just received my MX in the mail today, after it went in for a CLA with Eric Hendrickson. If you don't know who he is, you need to. The man is a friggin' genius: Home I sent it off to him after I bought it on eBay for sixty bucks (there were only a couple of blurry P&S pics on the listing, so I knew I was taking a chance). It was in dire need of help, so off it went. Eric informed me it had been dropped pretty hard at some point, so he replaced the prism, focusing screen, light seals, mirror foam, you name it. He also took the ENTIRE thing apart to clean and lube everything, and recalibrated the meter and shutter. All for $93. A damn good deal if you ask me. It came back to me a week or so ago but had a metering problem, so I sent it back and he checked and resoldered all the wiring for no extra charge. Eric is a great guy, and I can't recommend him highly enough to anyone with a camera body in need of a little love (or a complete overhaul). And now I have the camera of my dreams, or at least I will when its new skin arrives from cameraleather... Attached Images

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01-30-2008, 11:02 AM	#2
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056 Original Poster	Oh yeah, this baby'll be covered in this: Cameraleather - Colors and materials Griptac black and medium grey And since I'm recovering that one, I figured I'd recover my K1000 in green kid leather: Cameraleather - Colors and materials I'll definitely post a photo of that one when I'm done.

01-30-2008, 11:26 AM	#3
dwhopson Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 76	$93?.....for all that?...That is a deal. When I had my mint Spotmatic SP CLA'd by CRJ outside of Atlanta, GA (Camera Repair Japan) back in early 2001 it was $100 not including parts or extra labor if they found problems once they got inside. Does he do any work on vintage lenses? Definitely a link to file away!

01-30-2008, 04:57 PM	#4
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	I'd love to see a tricked out K1000...

01-30-2008, 05:03 PM	#5
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Yep. 93.00 is exactly what he charged me for a CLA on a Spotmatic SP... plus replacement of the top plate which was badly dinged and fixing a sticky meter button. Overall I was very happy with his work and sent him a Spotmatic F for CLA and meter adjustment; I think that job cost me $75.00. woof

01-30-2008, 05:50 PM	#6
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	I just got my LX back from Eric. He did his usual terrific job. Eric gets all my Pentax work... Chris

01-30-2008, 06:23 PM	#7
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by Finn Oh yeah, this baby'll be covered in this: Cameraleather - Colors and materials Griptac black and medium grey And since I'm recovering that one, I figured I'd recover my K1000 in green kid leather: Cameraleather - Colors and materials I'll definitely post a photo of that one when I'm done. I covered my little Canonet in 'Camera Leathers' too. It looks awesome, if I do say so myself! If you have never done a re-skin job my only advise is to go slow; just follow the instructions. I would like to see the finished job on yours since you are using Griptac. Last edited by J.Scott; 03-30-2009 at 03:28 AM.

01-30-2008, 06:42 PM	#8
DAP Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151	I can heartily recommend the Griptac covering - way more user friendly than the factory leatherette. I re-skinned one of my LXes in it and it made a BIG difference in the handling of the camera. Pretty cheap too - bonus!

01-30-2008, 07:08 PM	#9
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056 Original Poster	Yeah, I've heard it really improves camera handling. The Canonet looks great. I've also ordered some blue leather for my little Olympus RC, which cost as much as the camera!

01-31-2008, 09:02 PM	#10
ChrisM Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 45	That's funny. I just got back my MX from Eric today. $70 (including shipping) for a basic CLA and to fix the inconsistent meter. Works like a charm now.

01-31-2008, 10:42 PM	#11
loafer Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Victoria/Waterloo Posts: 82	and I've sent in my MX today to eric, based on this thread! Having some shutter troubles at higher speeds, as well as the mirror foam needing replacment.

02-02-2008, 03:01 PM	#12
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Eric did the same for my beautiful black MX, too! Chris

02-03-2008, 01:57 PM	#13
barbosas Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lisbon Photos: Gallery Posts: 683	My MX is coming, but it's not black BTW there's no problem in using FA lenses with it right?

02-03-2008, 06:45 PM	#14
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pornflake My MX is coming, but it's not black BTW there's no problem in using FA lenses with it right? No problem at all, except, of course for the autofocus...

02-04-2008, 07:43 AM	#15
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Great to see that there are still people loving their MX cameras! This reminds me that I still have a new cover set for the black MX consisting of a top plate, mirror box and bottom plate, all brand new in box... I'll probably put these on eBay because I do not have a MX anymore.