Who can do a Copal Shutter CLA in 2024?

[konakoa]

There are old threads on CLAs. I'd like to ask folks here for current repair shops they've recently used still open and doing good work.

I keep getting referred to and I’ve been trying for over a year and a half to contact Precision Camera Works for a Copal shutter CLA. My messages to them have continuously gone ignored and unanswered the entire time. Similarly for two years I’ve been trying to reach them about working on a Mamiya RZ lens to the same result. I give up.

The Mamiya aside, I have a Copal shutter that is sluggish, sticking and needing a CLA. Lubricants have dried and gotten gummy inside I’m sure. Who here in 2024 still does a good quality job with Copal CLAs? Is anyone left at all? It seems that most of the repair places have faded away, closed up or retired. I'm about to write her, is Carol Flutot the only one left?

[Oren Grad]

Another place to try:

https://www.cameradoctornyc.com/page2

[BrianShaw]

Now only open a few days per week, but I believe still open. They did great work for me in the past.

https://www.stevecamera.com/

After a lot less time than you have waited, I would have given up on Precision Camera Repair and never looked back.

[David Lindquist]

I have sent shutters to Jim Holman at:https://ictcamera.com/about/

And most recently to Michael Zacks: https://zackscamerarepair.com

They are in, respectively, California and Rhode Island.

David

[Oren Grad]

And most recently to Michael Zacks: https://zackscamerarepair.com

Michael overhauled a Yashica TLR for me including CLA on the shutter, which was an early-'60s vintage Copal.

[David Lindquist]

And for me he CLA'd a Supermatic, a dial-set Compur and more than one rim-set Compur.

David

[konakoa]

Oren, Brian, David, thank you!

[jnantz]

konakoa

you might also look into midstate camera repair, they are also in RI and they, like Mike, do a great job.

good luck !
John

[muskedear]

I certainly recommend avoiding Precision Camera Works.

https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/lakeway/profile/photography-equipment/precision-camera-works-0825-1000225619/complaints

[alohacowboy]

Another vote for ZacksCameraRepair.

Michael fixed a Copal 0 for me 2 months ago.

[bmikiten]

Are there any DYI guides for doing it? I thought I remembered seeing one posted here but can't find it.

[Dan Fromm]

https://learncamerarepair.com/productlist.php?category=2&secondary=35
Downloadable repair manuals for Copal #0, Copal #1, Prontor Press and more. Not archived.

The files are still there, aren't free.

By the way, the above is a cut-and-paste from "the list." You've been here long enough to be aware of the list. It has quite a lot, should be consulted before starting to fight with a search engine.

[phdgent]

For the forum members who might be looking for an address in Europe: https://www.optomeca.fr

[Joshua Dunn]

I have used Carol Miller at www.flutotscamerarepair.com and Bob Watkins at www.precisioncameraworks.com, both with great results. I'm not sure if Carol is still in business, I thought I read in the forum that she was not. S.K. Grimes used to do shutter repairs but no longer does.

-Joshua