cyberjunkie
10-May-2010, 10:51
Hi everybody!
I see that this forum is very USA centric, probably it's just because most LF non-professional users are located across the Atlantic, but here and there i find posts made by members living elsewhere, some of them very active.
Sadly most of the references posted on the forum refer to US shops/companies.
I undertsand that S.K. Grimes and LensN2Shutters.com do a wonderful job, but shipments to/from USA, at least by italian/european standards, are awfully expensive, and the total expense would be so high, to make it convenient only for high-cost equipments, or rare collectibles.
Even for more mundane necessities, like finding a hose and a rubber pump for a pneumatic shutter, i could find only US addresses.
A few posts ago there was a very interesting thread about were would be possible to find spare parts for a Packard shutter. I don't own one, but i have a large circular front shutter, with a flange and 3 screws, allowing the use with lenses of different front size.
Unfortunately it didn't come with the rubber hose and the hand-pump. I tried to find an old blood pressure instrument from which to steal the needed parts, but i couldn't find one.
It would be very nice to get at least one EU address to ask from.
I have some other small problems to be solved, some are very simple, most photo repairer could do them. Other works are not so simple, and i would like to have them made by a trustworthy one. For example i have to make a custom tube to fit the rear group of a 300mm CZJ Tessar behind the shutter, but most of the photo repair shops in my area are either not willing to take the job, or too expensive (and most of the times they specialize in totally different equipments, so i hardly trust them).
I think that a dedicated thread, with references to people/shops with a strong experience in LF equipments, residing in EU countries, would be welcomed by the many forum members living this side of the Atlantic.
Personally i wouldn't care if they have a true shop or simply do it as a part-time job, as long as they're truly experienced and know what they are doing.
I knew a very nice man, he was an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable user/collector of old stereo cameras, and he was a very good photo repairer/mechanic too.
With an old russian lathe, located in his basement, he used to make any kind of parts. Hewas just a retired man, already quite old, doing a part-time job, but i remember that all the works he has done for me at the time were very professional and very satisfying. Unfortunately he is too old now, and he quit working. That's why i am looking for somebody who could do the same things with the same passion and professionality. I don't mind if i have to send away my lenses/shutters/etc. as far as the time and cost involved are reasonable.
I didn't see any spamming on this forum, and US companies are reported very often, so i think it shouldn't be any problem having some infos posted for us poor EU users.
Whoever is taking care of this forum, please give us a green light or post your objections.
have fun
CJ
I see that this forum is very USA centric, probably it's just because most LF non-professional users are located across the Atlantic, but here and there i find posts made by members living elsewhere, some of them very active.
Sadly most of the references posted on the forum refer to US shops/companies.
I undertsand that S.K. Grimes and LensN2Shutters.com do a wonderful job, but shipments to/from USA, at least by italian/european standards, are awfully expensive, and the total expense would be so high, to make it convenient only for high-cost equipments, or rare collectibles.
Even for more mundane necessities, like finding a hose and a rubber pump for a pneumatic shutter, i could find only US addresses.
A few posts ago there was a very interesting thread about were would be possible to find spare parts for a Packard shutter. I don't own one, but i have a large circular front shutter, with a flange and 3 screws, allowing the use with lenses of different front size.
Unfortunately it didn't come with the rubber hose and the hand-pump. I tried to find an old blood pressure instrument from which to steal the needed parts, but i couldn't find one.
It would be very nice to get at least one EU address to ask from.
I have some other small problems to be solved, some are very simple, most photo repairer could do them. Other works are not so simple, and i would like to have them made by a trustworthy one. For example i have to make a custom tube to fit the rear group of a 300mm CZJ Tessar behind the shutter, but most of the photo repair shops in my area are either not willing to take the job, or too expensive (and most of the times they specialize in totally different equipments, so i hardly trust them).
I think that a dedicated thread, with references to people/shops with a strong experience in LF equipments, residing in EU countries, would be welcomed by the many forum members living this side of the Atlantic.
Personally i wouldn't care if they have a true shop or simply do it as a part-time job, as long as they're truly experienced and know what they are doing.
I knew a very nice man, he was an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable user/collector of old stereo cameras, and he was a very good photo repairer/mechanic too.
With an old russian lathe, located in his basement, he used to make any kind of parts. Hewas just a retired man, already quite old, doing a part-time job, but i remember that all the works he has done for me at the time were very professional and very satisfying. Unfortunately he is too old now, and he quit working. That's why i am looking for somebody who could do the same things with the same passion and professionality. I don't mind if i have to send away my lenses/shutters/etc. as far as the time and cost involved are reasonable.
I didn't see any spamming on this forum, and US companies are reported very often, so i think it shouldn't be any problem having some infos posted for us poor EU users.
Whoever is taking care of this forum, please give us a green light or post your objections.
have fun
CJ