UKC Forums - Camera Repair

Camera Repair

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Andrew W 14 Nov 2013

Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get an old camera repaired as I have a Minolta x-500 that seems to jam when winding the film on.

Thanks
Andrew

imkevinmc 14 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W: You can pay someone an engineer a non-refundable £30 to lok at it for you.

Or go on ebay a buy another one for the same amount - or less

OP Andrew W 14 Nov 2013

In reply to imkevinmc: I would prefer to get the one I have working again and most of the functioning ones on eBay seem to go for quite a bit.

Has anyone used http://camerarepairworkshop.co.uk/ as they seem to be able to repair similar cameras.

dek 14 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:
Considering how the simplest repair to a camera seems to averages around £60+... You could have a mintsh, used, X700 body, for only 59 quid, from Ffordes of Beauly?

http://www.ffordes.com/search/Minolta%20x700

morticiaskeeper 14 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W: always had excellent service here:
http://www.bonwcameras.co.uk/

Rob Parsons 14 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:

http://www.ajjohnstone.co.uk/ are a serious operation.

Richard Carter 15 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:

http://www.cam-rep.co.uk/ < Another good one

keith-ratcliffe 16 Nov 2013

In reply to Rob Parsons: Have you used AJJohnstone recently? I had a Nikon D80 repaired there a couple of years ago and was well pleased with the work. I need my Canon G11 repairing and went on Google to find them which I did. However I also found some very poor Google reviews so I am not sure what to do. Advice from a recent user would help.

Rob Parsons 16 Nov 2013

In reply to keith-ratcliffe:

Fair question. I had a Canon repaired there in May 2011, and was pleased both by the way the way the work was dealt with, and with the end result. But I have no experience more recent than that.

Blue Straggler 16 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:

> most of the functioning ones on eBay seem to go for quite a bit.

I think that is because the X-500 is quite an unusual entry in the Minolta X-series and has earned a cult collector status. Some fiddly-diddly tech discussion here explains why:
http://www.rokkorfiles.com/X-570.htm

I salute you for wanting to keep yours going btw. Just thought it worth mentioning why possibly the prices seem high. I've never had one, I am happy with the X-700 and-7.

OP Andrew W 17 Nov 2013

In reply to Blue Straggler: Its a nice camera I've done all my film stuff on it and was my dads since new so would seem a bit wrong to throw it away after 30 years. Especially as when I lasted used it I was still getting crisp well exposed photos.

frqnt 17 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:
I've always been impressed with Aperture; http://www.apertureuk.com/camera_repairs.html if they can't service your camera they have a specialist who will

Blue Straggler 17 Nov 2013

In reply to Andrew W:

What is the film jamming symptom? I've had a few X-series camera and never encountered this one (had other issues but not this). Have you made a good attempt at fettling it e.g. with a duff test roll of film with the camera back open - might help you see something "obvious" going on in there...

OP Andrew W 17 Nov 2013

In reply to Blue Straggler: The leaver physically jammed and felt like it was getting stuck on something just past where there is free play, I've already sent it off so will see what they say. Got a quote of £30 for a standard repair which seemed reasonable so went with that.

Would you know roughly how much a 'minolta mc fish-eye rokkor ok f=16mm 1:2.8' lens would be worth