psul_aul Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 Well, I got the repair estimate on my F1N, (see my earlier post), and it was not pretty. $370 to replace the advance mechanism, and the electronic control for the shutter (he used a technical name for this part and I don't remember it). He also said that the price would include a CLA, and that they were doing the work in house, not sending it out. He said parts were the biggest expense as Canon no longer supplies them. They have to be got from 3rd parties who bought them when Canon cleared their warehouse. Anyway, does this sound like a reasonable price for this kind of work? Their repair tech. does have a good reputation, but it is still a lot of money. As always, any input is appreciated! Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_s Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 (i) Sell your existing F-1N for parts. Maybe get $100. (ii) Put that together with the $370 you save by not getting it fixed. Now you have $470. This should buy a very good second-hand F-1N body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome b Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 It seems expensive indeed. I had a similar problem with my F1N last year. I took it to the Canon Service Center in Jamesburg NJ. They have a maintenance package for the F1N (which they still service and will continue to serve for "some more years" according to the technician) that runs for about $220. It includes a CLA. They did a very good and clean job. And it's Canon. Although they might not supply F1N parts to other repair shops, they are apparently keeping them for themselves. Anyway my recommendation is get them to fix your camera. Even if you buy another one (whichever price you pay for it) you'll probably want to do a CLA on it, which will cost you the same price than this repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pensacolaphoto Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 I have used Harvey's Camera Repair (HCR) in Georgia to overhaul my F1N. They charged me $125 upfront, guaranteeing any fault to be repaired. They did a great job. Sometimes, they advertise in Shutterbug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 In your previous post about your camera, someone recommended you send your camera to Canon. It seems you did not do that. Who is the "he" you sent your camera to? How did you choose him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted April 14, 2004 Author Share Posted April 14, 2004 I chose not to send the camera to Canon because the general consensus is that Canon no longer services this camera. I went to a local camera shop, Benner's Camera in Brockton Mass, and had them look at it. They have a decent repair man working for them and that was the estimate they gave me for repairs. I guess I am a bit uncomfortable with the number being so high. I am trying to determine if $370 is at least close to the going rate for this type of repair. The camera is worth more than this, that I know, so the repair is worth it in terms of the value of the camera. I just want to know I am paying a fair price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted April 14, 2004 Author Share Posted April 14, 2004 Jerome, Do you have an address or phone number for the Canon repair center you mentioned? I guess, I should hear it straight from them if they don't service the F1N anymore. And, if they do in fact still work on them, maybe I can save $100. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuart_richardson Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 370 seems like a lot, but I would not expect it to be less than 100 dollars. Repairing is a fairly intense task. The repair guy I use (Geoff Keller in Santa Barbara -- he's great) said that most technicians who have been working awhile are very familiar with the F1 -- it was one of THE standards, and it is almost entirely mechanical, so it will never be impossible to repair (unlike the T90). He has charged me about 60 dollars for minor repairs (hammering out a dented part that was crimping the frame counter and fixing a weak contact). CLA is something like 125. I would send it to Canon...370 seems a bit pricey, but with parts and more intensive labor I suppose it could be accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 I spent less than US $60 apiece for CLAs on my A-1 and AT-1. $370 sounds too high for a repair -- it sounds as if the guy just doesn't want to do the work and is pricing the job too high so he doesn't have to turn you down. You should look around for a recommended Canon tech, not just some local guy. The archives here have discussions about people who do CLAs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome b Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Paul, Here's the contact for Canon: Canon U.S.A., Inc. New Jersey Factory Service Center 100 Jamesburg Road Jamesburg, NJ 08831 (732) 521-7007 They'll definitely tell you first hand whether they still do this or not. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted April 15, 2004 Author Share Posted April 15, 2004 I just called Canon at the number Jerome gave me, and the customer service rep. told me that Canon no longer services the F1N. She did say that parts should still be readily available from Canon or other sources, but I would have to take the camera to an independant shop for repair. So, that leaves me back where I am. $370 from my local guy. I may talk to him today and see if there is any flexibility in that price. I don't mind paying if it is a fair price for the work. I just want to make sure I can't get it done for less somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_goldfarb Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 If I were to have my F1N repaired locally here in New York, the first place I'd stop would be Nippon Camera, which is pretty good at handling modern Japanese cameras. If they didn't think they could do it, I'd send it to Frank Marshman at CameraWiz in Harrisonburg, VA, 1-800-471-8133. His turnaround time can be kind of long during busy times of the year, but he always does fine work at a fair price and can handle a wide range of problems and equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14mm 2.8l Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 You have repair issues and you are throwing on a CLA too. Thats why its 370 estimate. I would skip the repair and get another body instead, one that needs no damage repaired. Get an AE finder model if yours FN finder. I agree your broken body is worth at least $100. More if its AE finder outfitted. Unless its a brassy and well used body, then a bit less in value. Lindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_cerbone1 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I don't know if you're still checking for answers, but... $370 sounds incredibly high for repair (as others have noted, you can buy another F-1N in good working condition for less than that). As evidence, Abilene Camera Repair, which I've never used but has merited only good comments on this site, offers a "complete refurbishment" (dismantling, inspection, replacement of any worn or problematic parts) of the F-1N, for $350 (and their "gold" and "silver" services are lower than that). Also, I've had minor repairs done on my F-1N at my local place, Morgantown Camera Repair. Both times, the repair was under a $100. They do a mail-order repair business as well, and are on the web at http://www.mcvr.com. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome b Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 Paul, I was surprised by the result of your inquiry. I called Canon (the number I gave you) and after a little while they told me that there are still servicing the F1N. You have to be clear about the 'N' part, usually they know work by the max film speed, which is different between F1N and F1n. The price is $206 for std repair/CLA. I'd try again! Sometime the person who answers unfortunately doesn't know much about these older cameras (she thought it was a Powershot at first...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted April 22, 2004 Author Share Posted April 22, 2004 Jerome, Thanks for calling Canon and digging into it a litte. The rep I talked to was pretty abrubt and certain that they did not work on the F1N any more. I decided to leave the camera at the shop I took it to. I feel a little frustrated with the high price but I called a few places I found on the net and the average seemed to be $200 for a CLA and then more for any replaced parts. The shop told me that the linkage between the film advance lever and the shutter cocking mechanism is broken. So, for the $370 they will replace the part and do a CLA. Again, I am not happy with the price, but I was into these guys for $50 for their initial diagnosis anyway, and they are local so if I have problems I can go right back to them. Thanks for all the input guys. -Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted May 21, 2004 Author Share Posted May 21, 2004 For anyone interested, I have the camera back and it is perfect working order. They did as promised, a complete CLA and replacement of the broken part. It is cleaner than it has been in years. It was a frustrating experience, taking two weeks longer than promised to get the job done. They said they had a hard time locating the part for it ... Anyway, it is done and I enjoy using the camera, but I am beginning to wonder if it is time to move to some more modern gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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