Getting a Spotmatic CLA'ed?

Finn · 03-04-2007, 10:26 PM

I was on eBay testing the limits of LBA and put down an impulse bid of 25 bucks for a Asahi Spotmatic and Super-Takumar 50/1.4. To my very great surprise, I won the auction. But the thing is, the mirror apparently sticks at slow shutter speeds (I haven't received it yet to test). Thanks to "the google" it seems this is a common occurrence on old cameras, and necessitates a "clean, lube, and adjust" (which of course, in true photo-geek fashion, is acronym-ized to CLA).

Here is my question: Where can I get this done, and how much should I expect to spend?

I figure I'll just go ahead and sell the lens, since I already own one (or keep the new one if it's in better shape than mine), which ideally will give me a $30 or so head start. I guess in a way I will have gotten the Spotmatic body for free...

I'm sort of afraid that I've opened a financial black hole here...but it's just that I know I won't be able to let a beautiful old camera like that languish in a drawer someplace.

So who's reliable? Who should I avoid? How much of my hard-earned grad student stipend will I be parting with?

Last edited by Finn; 03-04-2007 at 10:29 PM. Reason: oops...misspelled Asahi

Nando · 03-07-2007, 05:18 PM

Eric Hendrickson is THE MAN! He CLA'd my Pentax MX and its like a new camera aside from a few brightmarks here and there. Probably better than new, in fact. The CLA was actually done by the previous owner of my camera but Eric still helped me out with a little issue with the light-meter. Turned out the problem was due to my own stupidity (accidentally bought incompatible batteries) but I was still impressed that he took some time to help me out.

Here is his website:
Home

Mike Cash · 04-21-2007, 02:48 AM

If all you want for the lens is 30 bucks, consider it sold. (You know it won't be sitting on a shelf unloved).

Finn · 04-21-2007, 06:31 AM

Should've check the marketplace forum a couple of weeks ago...sold it already!

03-04-2007, 10:26 PM	#1
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	Getting a Spotmatic CLA'ed? I was on eBay testing the limits of LBA and put down an impulse bid of 25 bucks for a Asahi Spotmatic and Super-Takumar 50/1.4. To my very great surprise, I won the auction. But the thing is, the mirror apparently sticks at slow shutter speeds (I haven't received it yet to test). Thanks to "the google" it seems this is a common occurrence on old cameras, and necessitates a "clean, lube, and adjust" (which of course, in true photo-geek fashion, is acronym-ized to CLA). Here is my question: Where can I get this done, and how much should I expect to spend? I figure I'll just go ahead and sell the lens, since I already own one (or keep the new one if it's in better shape than mine), which ideally will give me a $30 or so head start. I guess in a way I will have gotten the Spotmatic body for free... I'm sort of afraid that I've opened a financial black hole here...but it's just that I know I won't be able to let a beautiful old camera like that languish in a drawer someplace. So who's reliable? Who should I avoid? How much of my hard-earned grad student stipend will I be parting with? Last edited by Finn; 03-04-2007 at 10:29 PM. Reason: oops...misspelled Asahi

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03-07-2007, 05:18 PM	#2
Nando Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Canada & Coimbra, Portugal Posts: 82	Eric Hendrickson is THE MAN! He CLA'd my Pentax MX and its like a new camera aside from a few brightmarks here and there. Probably better than new, in fact. The CLA was actually done by the previous owner of my camera but Eric still helped me out with a little issue with the light-meter. Turned out the problem was due to my own stupidity (accidentally bought incompatible batteries) but I was still impressed that he took some time to help me out. Here is his website: Home

04-21-2007, 02:48 AM	#3
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,952	If all you want for the lens is 30 bucks, consider it sold. (You know it won't be sitting on a shelf unloved).

04-21-2007, 06:31 AM	#4
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056 Original Poster	Should've check the marketplace forum a couple of weeks ago...sold it already!