Before posting this I did my searches on the internet to answer the question myself. But most of the threads date back a few years. This is 2025. I have 2 Nikon F bodies in excellent condition and both work. My new shutter tester shows the slow speeds to be excellent. But beginning at 1/60 I'm seeing a dropoff in speed that gets progressively worse as it goes up. Obviously CLA time. What do you suppose I should expect to pay and where to send it that's trustworthy? Thank you.
Nikon F Repair Places and Costs?
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Dean's Camera Repair
https://g.co/kgs/2ebPYHm
ictcamera.com
There have been reports that these guys know Nikons.
https://g.co/kgs/2ebPYHm
ICT Camera and Lens Repair, San Diego
ICT Camera and Lens repair, now in San Diego, CA. We specialize in vintage film cameras and lens.
ictcamera.com
There have been reports that these guys know Nikons.
Thank you. I wonder what the prevailing prices are for this one should expect to pay on an F? I also have an F2, but not looking to have that one done. If I did, I bet it would be a year waiting list and 1/2 the national debt to have Wong do it.
Precision Camera in Austin ...great brick & mortar store with top customer service...!
Thanks @GregY and @BrianShaw; I've added both to the shops thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/repair-shops-in-and-out-of-business.210509
I can recommend Zack’s in Providence RI (a Photrio sponsor) or Vermont Camera repair. I have an F2 that was refurbished by Vermont Camera, it works well.
I would budget $300-$400 USD
I would budget $300-$400 USD
I had one of my FEs serviced by ICT a few years ago and as I recall the total bill was about $150.
These guys are Nikon specialists and service both film and digital stuff, as well as Nikon lenses:
www.nikoncamerarepair.com
Professional Nikon Service & Repair - Authorized Photo Service, Inc.
Industry leaders in Nikon, Canon, and Sony Camera and Lens Service & Repair, complete to factory specifications. Free estimates and fast, friendly service.
www.nikoncamerarepair.com
Dean's Camera Repair
https://g.co/kgs/2ebPYHm
ICT Camera and Lens Repair, San Diego
ICT Camera and Lens repair, now in San Diego, CA. We specialize in vintage film cameras and lens.
There have been reports that these guys know Nikons.
Finally heard back from the one in San Diego. They cannot take my F at this time as they have a backlog. They say say hey MIGHT re-establish contact in 4=6 weeks. Not sure I cared for their method of sending it across the country and paying a $50 evaluation fee and all that/ It's just a 1961 F body in excellent condition. Works perfectly. But the speeds are slow. Needs a simple CLA and shutter calibration. Can somebody not simply quote a price and do the job?
Delays in getting repairs appears to be increasingly common. Higher demand than time allows, it seems.
But “works perfectly “ and “speeds are slow” seems a bit contradictory. Maybe all it needs is calibration but to me that really implies a full overhaul. I don’t blame repair shops for wanting to do an assessment before agreeing to a fixed price contract.
But “works perfectly “ and “speeds are slow” seems a bit contradictory. Maybe all it needs is calibration but to me that really implies a full overhaul. I don’t blame repair shops for wanting to do an assessment before agreeing to a fixed price contract.
I’ve personally had good experiences with ICT. Jim has worked on several items for me in the past few years. Yes, he’s buried in work. The $50 assessment fee, credited against the final bill, tends to minimize the tire-kickers.
No competent tech is likely to quote a firm price to work on a 50+ year old camera without first examining it in detail to understand the time, effort, and parts that will be required. There are too few techs and too many cameras needing repair, nobody wants to undertake something that could turn into a real hassle. That’s just how the repair market is today.
No competent tech is likely to quote a firm price to work on a 50+ year old camera without first examining it in detail to understand the time, effort, and parts that will be required. There are too few techs and too many cameras needing repair, nobody wants to undertake something that could turn into a real hassle. That’s just how the repair market is today.
F, given that cameras of that era (Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic) are relatively straightforward mechanically....(and currently inexpensive...compared to Leica for example) why not call someone in Florida? I don't know these folks but they've been in busness 50 yrs....
Blue Moon recently did a CLA and seals / pads replacement on an F body for $265. plus return shipping; turnaround was about four months (a bit longer than originally stated). Maybe not the cheapest or fastest option, but I feel safe dealing with them.
I have no problem with the fee. My comment was based on the fact that I was told twice that they would get back to me when they were able to work on my camera but never did. That was a few years ago now. They must really be backed up
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I've also had great luck with ICT. Jim overhauled a Nikon F body for me, fixed a faulty meter-mode-selection switch on an F100, and overhauled a couple of lenses. I would not hesitate to use his services, again.
I have no relationship with ICT, other than being a satisfied customer.
F, given that cameras of that era (Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic) are relatively straightforward mechanically....(and currently inexpensive...compared to Leica for example) why not call someone in Florida? I don't know these folks but they've been in busness 50 yrs....
A Spotmatic I bought about six years ago has a sticker inside it indicating it was serviced by this company in (if memory serves) 1989. They must have done something right as that camera is still working well. The meter does not work, but I suspect it's because the battery is dead and I can't get the battery cover off to replace it.
FYI On the Pentaxes, the a stuck battery cover will come off with the camera bottom, which is very easy to remove. Remove the screws and take off the bottom cover and see if corrosion has caused the battery cap to stick. From there some vinegar or WD40 or something will likely free it. Continually trying with a coin will just chew up the slot. When removing the bottom cover screws, buy a set of cheap JIS screwdrivers. Do NOT use phillips. Use ONLY JIS.
Thanks for the tips!
That's a no on my 1961 F at Camera Clinic. Talked with the guy who kept going on about not being able to get parts. It doesn't need parts. He says if it's from 1961 he won't even touch it. I could open that camera up myself and have it working just dandy, by simply cleaning it and retiming the shutter. But I don't want to.
What would the difference between a 1961 F and a 1971 F, I thought the internals were the same? If you dont have parts for a 61 why would have parts for a later year? I have a 1973 F, non metered viewfinder, I inherited it from a long time friend who had passed away. Although pretty battered film advance and shutter seem to work just fine. I had planned on sending it to Blue Moon for a CLA, I can wait until they get to it.
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