devon_fox Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hello,I have just purchased an old Rolleiflex. I am an avid photography student andwould love to get this beautiful TLR up and running. The camera is being shippedto me at the moment but it came with some details..."Rolleiflex twin lens, 75mmf3.5 Xenar. In storage many years. Condition unknown. Advances and shutterfires. No guarantees, as is. Lens number is 32xxxxx, camera number 12xxxx. Thereare small rub marks on the lens but i see no fungus." assuming that the shutterdoes fire, but does not accurately match my sekonic light meter, nor is theaperture working properly, i was wondering if you could recomend a place toservice it. Also, some one that could inspect and possibly polish the lens forthese "rub marks".Being a student, I was wondering about how much it would cost(cost is an issuefor me at this time), and how long this process might take (would love to getshooting asap)? I jsut want to make sure that I go with someone that any of you has hadexperience using/ is legit. The people's sites that I found on google looked alittle sketchy but I sent emails asking how much and if they could help me outto the following... www.focalpointlens.com www.markhama.com www.rolleirepairs.com www.webercamera.com Also, have you had experience with the servicer?I live in the U.S. too... if that matters.Thank you so much, I am really glad there are still people out there that loveand respect the wonders of photography, as a new photo student. I will make sure to inform you all if it works or not upon receiving the camera.Along with my own experience with whomever you recommend the best, if i have toservice it :( THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwrtertbsratbs5 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I had Ross Yerkes CLA a Minolta Autocord a few years ago. He did nice work, but he distributes hate mail with each CLA. That bothered me so I've vowed to never give him any more of my business. Paul Ebel has a good reputation, though I haven't sent anything to him yet. http://homepage.mac.com/fwstutterheim/rolleigraphy/rolleiflex_service.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffrey goldberg Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Harry Fleenor has done work for me on two Rollei TLRs, wonderful. The work isn't the cheapest, but he knows these cameras very well. harry@rolleirepairs.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_gallagher2 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 www.krimarphoto.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_gallagher2 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 www.krimarphoto.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_donnelly Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I have always used Harry Fleenor at rolleirepairs.com - the best, but more expensive and always backlogged by a month or two. For more specialized work like having a lens re-polished and re-coated (which he has done for me on a cherished 2.8 E) I wouldn't want to use anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 www.camerarepair.com fixed my Rolleiflex fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chauncey_walden Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Devon, you are going to love that camera. You may not have to have anything done to it that you can't do yourself. The first would be a good overall cleaning including both ends of the lens and the focusing screen. Next, would be to exercise the shutter by firing it at each speed 10 times or so. Start at 500 and work down. It it runs smoothly at 1 second, you have it made. Of course, you may not use the slow speeds much anyway. You can be pretty sure that the speeds will be slower than marked. If you are shooting b+w or color negs just assume the speeds are half what they are marked and you should be OK. Or, once you have exercised the shutter, have someone check the actual speeds for you and write them down. As long as they are reasonably consistent and you know what they are, there won't be a problem. I wouldn't worry about having it serviced right away unless the shutter sticks part way open or closed. I've had about 7 used Rolleis and the only one that had a real problem was one that would not cock at full focusing extension. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS1664879711 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I've had good dealings in the past with Pro Camera Service, of Thousand Oaks CA, for vintage Rollei repair. They have a website you can search for. I wouldn't worry about "rub marks". ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toner Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I bought an MX that was described as "in good working condition" as a backup for my 2.8C. When I got it, the shutter speeds were very sluggish and exercising the shutter did not bring them back to life. Sometimes the shutter button got stuck in when it was pressed as well. After poking around on this site for recommendations, I sent it to Paul Ebel in Wisconsin. He brought it back to life, cleaned some fungus from the taking lens (that I thought was just dust), and even provided a sheet with the actual shutter speeds (only the 'after repair' numbers, not the 'before'). Total cost was something like $112 and turnaround was maybe a couple of weeks. Paul Ebel Lens Services 420 21st Street North Suite #2 PO Box 141 Menomonie WI 54751 Tel. (651) 335-8759 email paulebel44@yahoo.com I've used Harry Fleenor as well (for my 2.8C), and he does a great job but as others have noted, is usually backed up and more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas_yip1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Another nod to Harry Fleenor for Rollei work, though in my case for an SL66. But then he's literally four blocks away from me so it was also the most convenient choice for me.... j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devon_fox Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thank you so much guys... i was hesitant on posting this thread due to the quanintiy of same subject matter. I proceeded to do so because they all seemed to be impersonal and rather old. Chauncey Walden thank you so much for your post... i found this rather helpful (being a student money is tight, and i always love fixing my own equipment). To everyone else, thank you for the recommendations... i payed 130 for the camera, so paying the equivalent for service just seems silly... if need be i will, but i think that Mr. Fleenor (seems to be my best bet) is intended for a higher caliber Rollei... something with a Planar lens or something better then the Xenar. Thanks again guys, wish me luck :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_mcclain Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 If the camera functions well, you might be able to polish out the rub marks with a LensPen, which costs about 10 dollars. One Rollei name to consider for repairs is Mark Hansen. You can google his name and read his website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianS1664879711 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 "i payed 130 for the camera, so paying the equivalent for service just seems silly" Actually, ummm, it isn't such a silly idea. Think about how old the camera is. You can either use it as it currently is and maybe it'll serve you well for a while... or you can have it overhauled and have it serve you reliably for quite a long while. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subhash_tiwari Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I was in a similar quandary, not having tried any Rollei repair person. Then I sent my Rolleiflex 3.5 f to Paul Ebel. He did a complete CLA, and installed a Maxwell screen (that I paid for separately, and had sent to him by Bill Maxwell), and the cost including shipping was $148, and the turnaround time was 3 weeks. I am very satisfied. In addition, like Sherry K. and Bill Maxwell, Paul seems to love to talk, and one learns a lot dealing with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_donnelly Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Devon: If, as you say, you like to fix things yourself when possible, and you have some modest skills along those lines, you might want to consider ordering a reprint of the service manual for your camera from craigcamera.com. I have the complete Rollei reference manual(craigcamera #90043) for all the cameras they made up to the F, and it has saved me many times its cost ($50) in repairs to my Rolleis. The Rollei and Leica manuals are bi-lingual, so everything is explained in English, and they are very detailed - full of diagrams and parts explosions. A lot of stuff, like installing a maxwell screen or fixing a sticky shutter, is easier than most people think. You do need to be mechanically inclined, but fixing older cameras is not neurosurgery if you have the right reference data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devon_fox Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 IT WORKS!!! I am so shocked, and happy. Thanks to everyones posts, I am sure that this will be of use to someone else (or myself after extensive use of the camera). Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_biskupski Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Following an earlier recommendation on this forum, and as I live in Europe, I have just used Jurgen Kuschnik in Frankfurt, Germany, a Rolleiflex specialist, to service a sticky 3.5f. Professional service, fast turnaround, reasonable cost, I am very pleased about the way the camera handles now, and his sensible advice about what needing fixing. You can reach him via his website at www.jurgenkuschnik.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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