Topic: To repair or not to repair?

[Nigel]

I've have an XA2 which I used a lot, it's the camera that is always in my bag or in my pocket, it's in really good condition but it started underexposing. Which initially I started compensating for by adjusting the film speed a little, but it's now about a 1.5 stops out and it's become too unreliable to use.

So not wanting to get involved in the ebay lottery I bought one from a well known online camera store, when it arrived I was really disappointed it was in really bad condition, scratched up, someone had roughly scratched their postcode in the rear door and the plastic over the film counter was loose. I emailed and got a fairly terse reply - it's my own fault, I should have sent it back but basically I was really disappointed with the service from a company I'd used before and intended to use again.

I really look after my gear and I don't really enjoy using the scratched up XA2 ( I know it's silly but that's me). So what to do. I've investigated having my original XA2 repaired which would be £48 + vat + postage - roughly £70, for what is basically a £25 camera. I don't think the repair cost is unreasonable, it's probably a good couple of hours of a skilled persons time. If it were an OM1/2, which probably would take a similar time, I probably wouldn't think twice. I could risk buying another one on ebay and maybe waste another £25-30.

What would you do? 

[charles binns]

I think it would depend on how easy it is to get another decent XA2.  If you can get another one for a decent price that's the way to go.

If you can't or don't trust eBay then repair.

I'd certainly never buy form that store again - have they not heard of distance selling regulations?

[astrobeck]

If you would like, I will send you my XA 2 for the cost of shipping...
I don't use 35mm much anymore and would be thrilled for it to have a happy home.
Beck

[Nigel]

Becky - that's really kind, but I certainly couldn't take it for nothing. If you genuinely don't need it I'm happy to pay the going rate. I have to go offline shortly - I'll PM you later.

I'd still be interested what others think.

Charles - the problem is, you can pick one up on the 'bay easily enough. But as these cameras get older more and more are getting unreliable and with something like the XA2 there's no manual option.

[LEAFotography]

They're definitely good lookers, I see your quandry...and the economics, and value to you are tricky.  If the one you bought takes good photographs, I'd pimp it up (garish spray paint etc) to the point where I was proud to hold it, and use it out lots. Getting your old one repaired when funds permit is probably only worthwhile if you like that particular individual camera? Taking up astrobeck's offer makes good sense. I know how it makes me feel when something I've given away really helps someone.

I really like my ESPIO Mini, but when it breaks, I'll probably just look for an alternative, like the XA2, as it's not that special to me. I keep avoiding naming my cameras to prevent that sort of attachment

I hope that helps.

[Greg Bartley]

cameras are like cars sometimes and the mot is reliability .  A repair just zero's the unknown if it makes the unit reliable!
having said all that we can't be emotional about our gear because its about the images.

[Late Developer]

If you'd have asked me a year ago, I'd probably have said "bin it and buy a new(er) one". However, I'm rapidly changing my philosophy to paying the going rate to repair kit - so long as it's not going to bankrupt me. Why? Well, film cameras - especially the more esoteric ones - aren't being made any more and while film is still readily available, it'd be a shame to allow any more than absolutely necessary to go to the scrap heap.

Peter Robinson does a fine job in restoring relatively modern Contax SLRs, Sandeha's a dab hand with field cameras and their bellows and there's a good number of others on FW who have constructed the most amazing photographic equipment from all manner of things.

That said, the XA2 isn't exactly in short supply and giving a new lease of life to Becky's redundant XA2 is a very useful thing to do as they are fine little cameras.

[charles binns]

Charles - the problem is, you can pick one up on the 'bay easily enough. But as these cameras get older more and more are getting unreliable and with something like the XA2 there's no manual option.

In that case repair it.  It's not that much money.

[Phil Bebbington]

Nigel, I have one here that you can have. As far as I know it works fine and it is in good condition.

[mcduff]

Nigel I love the XA series and am quite the OM fanboi, however at this point in time (unless it is a camera I am nostalgic about) I would rather do the eBay crap shoot than get repaired. I have been pretty happy with eBay actually. I almost never buy from someone that does not allow returns and I ask a lot of stupid questions. I am also of the 'ride it like you stole/hate it' school of thought so I really do not care too much about how it looks. But I expect it to work fine so I make sure in that. I still see a lot of xa2 cameras for sale for a lot less than your repair.

I have a pen EE halfframe that I bought for $15. I love it but it has a stuck shutter for the slow speed. I decided to put it under the knife. I could not justify getting it repaired. I got it apart fine (I found a good instructibles on it) and hope a little lighter fluid will do the trick. If nothing else I understand how the shutter/aperture setting works on those guys!
--- note: if you have a weak stomach you may not wish to look ---

[jojonas~]

here's how I think:
1. the most proper way of going about it is to send it out to repair (keep film cameras alive!!)
2. as long as cameras of the same model can still be found cheaply, I don't worry as much about 1.

XA cameras though, lovely things~ I still don't understand how I could go from having one XA and one XA3 to NONE last autumn. desperation ain't pretty

I have a pen EE halfframe that I bought for $15. I love it but it has a stuck shutter for the slow speed. I decided to put it under the knife. I could not justify getting it repaired. I got it apart fine (I found a good instructibles on it) and hope a little lighter fluid will do the trick. If nothing else I understand how the shutter/aperture setting works on those guys!
--- note: if you have a weak stomach you may not wish to look ---

have I already asked for that link? thinking of making an attempt on mine too :O

[mcduff]

I agree with you Jojonas. I usually keep my dead cameras in case repairing becomes cheaper than replacing, and for parts (whether I am trying to repair it or a technician is).

Re: repairing the Pen, the link is http://m.instructables.com/id/Olympus-Pen-EE-Shutter-Repair-and-Overhaul/

The instructions are pretty good. A few things were a bit different (I guess they changed a few things over the life of it) but easy to figure out. You will either need a "lens spanner" (which I bought on eBay for cheap - I figure I will use it over the years) or jury rig something to get the frame counter off (step 11). I did not disassemble the aperture/lens as it is OK. My prob is the shutter does not close at 1/30. Taking it apart looks gnarly so I am going to try to wash in lighter fluid approach first. I might need to lightly relube some pivot points after with some light oil (need to hit a model train shop apparently). I am pretty confident I can get it back together, it is whether I can fix it or not haha.

[jojonas~]

thanks, duffy!
I'll be holding a thumb for you

....wait, you don't say it like that in english. fingers crossed? haha I should stop "working" and just go home

[mcduff]

Hahaha. I was thinking for a minute that you were swearing at me jojonas

I will keep people informed of whether it makes it off the operating room table in once piece!

[Nigel]

Phil - thanks for the very kind offer, but Becky's kindly offered me hers.

It's interesting to hear everyone's views. I'm certainly become much more inclined to have things repaired than I was, it has to be the way to go as our film cameras gradually get older.

[Phil Bebbington]

No worries, Nigel.

That will encourage me to read the whole thread in the future

[Pete_R]

To add another issue into the equation. It depends if you can find a repairer who is willing and able to do the repair. Many won't work on old cameras. Those that do may not have spare parts. And, unfortunatley, some will say they can when they can't and I've seen first hand evidence of that in cameras that have come to me after being serviced or repaired by others.

Just one example. I had a camera sent to me that had been sent to someone to be serviced and then, when it went wrong soon afterwards, was sent to someone else to be repaired. The first person hadn't reassembled the camera correctly which is why it subsequently went wrong and the second person said they couldn't repair it as they had no parts when, in fact, it didn't need any parts to repair it. Also, there was no evidence at all that the first repairer had actually done anything in terms of servicing the camera.

So getting repairs done can be a lottery as well. If you are going to get a camera repaired and find someone willing to do it, I would suggest asking if they have experience on that type of camera and try to get some idea what it is they are going to do.