There have been several threads over the last few years where people have asked for a recommendation for camera repairers in the UK. So I thought I’d start a thread giving people the opportunity to post their experience of repairers. As some repairers seem to be particularly gifted at particular cameras I thought it would be a good idea if we listed the cameras that we have had repaired, by whom, and how good a job was done. In this way we should be able to build a decent list of repairs in the UK.

I’ll get the ball rolling…

Newton Ellis

WEB: - http://www.newton-ellis.co.uk/
Phone: - 0151 236 1391
Address: - 29 Cheapside Liverpool L2 2DY UK

Cameras repaired

Adox Golf 6 x 6 Folder

Work carried out: - Rangefinder cleaned and adjusted, compur shutter cleaned and serviced.

Notes: The viewfinder came back bright, clear and very accurate. The self timer works and all the speeds work perfectly. I’m extremely happy.


Canon A1, AE-1, AE-1 Program

I’ve had a really good experience here, I’ve had several cameras serviced and they come back feeling great, all the meters agree and the shutters are appear pretty consistent. If you get the seals & mirror buffer replaced the camera sounds so much better as they put in the new high density variety.


Malcolm Taylor

Phone: - 01568 770 542
Address: - Upper Lye Farm, Aymestrey, Hereford, HR6 9SZ

Cameras repaired

Leica M2

Work Carried Out: - Complete service and button rewind fix

Notes:

I originally sent Malcolm this camera as I was accidentally depressing the button rewind whilst winding on: this was resulting in overlapped frames. Whilst it was there I asked Malcolm to service the camera as well. This resulted in a new shutter blind, a new brake as well a complete strip down, clean and adjust. Malcolm said the button rewind was a known problem without a standard fix. However, he offered to engineer a collar to fit around the button. This he did and I’m very impressed as I no longer get overlapping frames and the collar does not look out of place. As to the service, what can I say my M3 will be on its way to Malcolm shortly.


Brian

A good idea! And pertinent for me at the moment- I have a Kodak Ektar lens in with Newton and Ellis at the moment, for an overhaul to the Prontor shutter its in. I've been using these chaps occasionally for the last twenty years (eek!), their first job for me was to overhaul my battered old Rollei 3.5f which I could barely afford as a teenager, but just loved the look of. They did a great job then, and I since put hundreds of rolls of film through it. They overhauled it a second time when I knocked over whilst it was mounted on a tripod and the shutter release button disappeared into the innards!

They've probably looked at every camera I have owned since, for some job or other, and I've always found them to be superb to deal with, and the quality of their work is excellent. I bought my first Leica from them (an M6 with 35mm Summicron) about 6 years ago, they often have some nice older stuff for sale there.

Two further Leicas have since arrived in my camera bag, and both have been sent to Malcolm Taylor- he cleaned and coated a 9cm Elmar for my Leica III, utterly transforming the performance of it: cleaned and was able to make the best of a worn focussing thread on the same camera's 5cm Elmar, to the point where it operates mechanically perfectly; and totally overhauled my M3 which I've used almost constantly ever since.

In twenty years of amateur photography these are the only repairers that I've needed to use and I've always been exteremely pleased with the cameras when they have been returned. And no, I have no vested interests, just satisfaction. These people are real experts, its nice to have the opportunity to give them the thumbs up in a public forum, after all the good work they have done for me.

Looking forward to hearing about other people's experiences!

Can give Malcolm Taylor a thumbs-up for classic Leicas, returned an old, neglected IIIc back to superb condition. What he doesn't know about these cameras isn't worth knowing.

I have had Olympus OM bodies serviced by Colchester Camera Repairs in the past and been happy with them.

A colleague had a minor niggle on her Canon G5 d***tal camera sorted efficiently and inexpensively by http://www.pjcamerarepairs.co.uk/ and recommended them.

Can highly recommend:

Black on White (http://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/) Bristol
The Photographic Repair Shop
105 Coldharbour Road
Westbury Park
Bristol
BS6 7SD

Tel: 0117 942 0434
Fax: 0117 907 1135

They offer a first class service and have recently serviced/repaired my -

165mm f8 Super Angulon shutter

Yashicamat 124

Rolleiflex 3.5E

Ian

I can also recommend Colchester Camera Repair Service (http://www.camera-repair.co.uk/aboutus.htm) who specialise in Canon and Olympus. They did a superb job when they CLA'd my OM-1. They have a very quick turnaround ime too.

Can highly recommend:

Black on White (http://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/) Bristol
The Photographic Repair Shop
105 Coldharbour Road
Westbury Park
Bristol
BS6 7SD

Tel: 0117 942 0434
Fax: 0117 907 1135

They offer a first class service and have recently serviced/repaired my -

165mm f8 Super Angulon shutter

Yashicamat 124

Rolleiflex 3.5E

Ian

I would second that. They are very good have repaired my Nikon FE2 for me and they also repaired a bowens flash head for a friend.

http://www.pjcamerarepairs.co.uk/

A very small outfit. My experience here is pretty much restricted to Nikon FM2 series cameras and Metz 60 CT1 Pro flash & battery packs, but they do MUCH more..
Suffice to say I've seen these people fix things that were broken by folk who should not be allowed to have ball bearings as their tools...
:D

We also have Lehmann here in Stoke-on-Trent, too...

Be very wary of using the large importer/repairer in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, the 3 times I've used them equipment has come back worse than it went.

Ian

Correction the importer/repairer is in Newcastle under Lyme, not Hanley. Thanks A.C. for correcting me.

Ian

Newton Ellis

WEB: - http://www.newton-ellis.co.uk/
Phone: - 0151 236 1391
Address: - 29 Cheapside Liverpool L2 2DY UK


Recommend also:

1 x Rolleicord Vb - service, slow speeds
1 x Rolleiflex 3.5f - service, slow speeds and small dent in base

Excellent work and fast turnaround

Can recommend SLR cameras repairs at Bletchley, especially for mechanical Minoltas like X-700

I'd recommend APM in Newcastle I've used them to sort out problems with Nikon FM and FM2s – good prices and some very interesting second-hand stock.

Here's a couple more from my Dad; the first is useful for Pentax owners, whilst the second useful if you want a lens re-coated:

Harrow Technical - Pentax
020 8938 4660
http://www.harrowtechnical.co.uk/

Does a decent job for a reasonable price [see website for details]
Can take from 10 days to 3 or 4 weeks depending on work load

Recommend? If you want a straight forward service - Yes.
Otherwise note carefully everything you want done and he will give an estimate.

Optical Instruments (Balham)
020 8664 9799
http://www.optil.co.uk/

Not had enough back from them to make a clear judgement.
Took in a 50mm f1.2 Canon ltm and a collapsible Summicron for re-coating, which also jammed when I tried to extend it.
The Canon is still there along with 2 Canonflex lenses in for a general service.
They also re-silver things like prisms and range finders and I think mirrors

Polishing and re-coating - excellent

These people are very busy so anything you send them will be gone for a loooong time.
Be aware that TLRs cost more [2 lenses] - new coating on 1 lens and old coating on the other looks very odd when the time comes to sell it.
They will do it though, if you want them to.

They don't take cards, so if you go in person take cash, or post a cheque.

Optical Instruments Balham are ok if you're prepared to wait several months to see your gear again. I sent them a Canon GIII QL17 to have the lens cleaned and recoated. It took nearly five months. I wouldn't mind if they said upfront how long it might take.