Topic: a CLA worth it?

[Benjamin J]

Sometimes it is worth it to be "that guy".

After a while of talking up film to my digital compatriots, I've started to reap the benefits of being that weird guy who loves old cameras.  Two of my coworkers have recently donated a Pentax MX and a Spotomatic to my growing collection of cameras, both in really good condition save the lightmeters.  The shutters seem to work fine, hardly a scratch on the bodies, but they both could use some new foam and I haven't found an excuse to run a roll through them (not while my pristine FTb and Electro are hanging around).

It's paining me to leave these guys sitting on my desk---I was given a couple lenses for the Spotomatic, and the compactness of the MX is really appealing to me.  What's more is that I can't stand that these wonderful cameras are begging for use.  Would it be worth it to send them out to have their meters repaired?  If I were to do that, would a full CLA be worth it?  I mostly shoot 35, but was thinking of picking up another 120 camera this year, and two CLAs would eat into my budget a bit.  TTL metering works better for me than running with an external meter, and the ability to shoot multiple stocks is always a plus.

[Late Developer]

There are two answers I can think of - but which you go for depends on which "camp" you belong to:

1) Yes - but only if the CLA costs less than buying an equivalent in an already CLA'd / better working condition

2) Yes - because, however much it costs, it's worth having film cameras restored to enable people to shoot film and help keep film manufacturing and use viable.

Ultimately, it's your choice but, IMO, it's a shame to let cameras become paperweights / dust gatherers for the lack of a bit of TLC. It's notoriously difficult to get on-board meters working (unless it's just a duff battery / battery connection) but there's a good supply of hand-held meters out there - or use "sunny 16" if you're up for it.

If you're not going to use them, you could always have them adopted via the "Feel the love" thread or the "Swap / Trade" board on here. I'd swap you the Spotmatic kit for a CLA'd and fully functional Voigtlander Perkeo 1 (120 folder - 75mm/f3.5/Synchro-Compur version) if you decided you wanted rid.....

[kenny]

It seems to be a common dilemma for a lot of old film camera user: "To CLA or not to CLA?"  

Perhaps you should at least put a roll in to each camera, and see if you like them enough to justify the service cost?

[Pete_R]

It seems to be a common dilemma for a lot of old film camera user: "To CLA or not to CLA?"  

Perhaps you should at least put a roll in to each camera, and see if you like them enough to justify the service cost?

I agree. It would also find any other problems that exist.

There is also the problem of finding someone to do it. Worth calling around some repairers to see if they will and get an approximate cost. It's a fact that it usually costs more than the camera is worth to get it fixed so it comes down to how much you want to use them and whether the it's worth it to you to get it fixed.

The alternative is to sell them as 'spares or repair' and let someone who fixes cameras for fun have them.

[DS]

Yes, if you can find someone who'll do the meters and the price is right. A replacement spotmatic are probably cheaper than the repair bill, but the mx is definitely worth getting fixed. It's worth checking for and cleaning off any corrosion in the battery compartment as this seems a fairly common fault.

(BTW- both excellent cameras- I've got two spotmatics (the only SLRs I've owned that have never done broke on me) and an MX. Haven't put a battery in either of the spotmatics for ages and the meter on the MX is kaput. Doesn't bother me. Look for a Pentax M42 > K mount adaptor to use the lenses on the MX. Mmmmmm, Takumars......)

[sapata]

I bought a spotmatic with an apparently non working meter, I bought it because I don't bother with the metering since I can use the sunny 16 rule outdoor, or my hand held light meter in a special situation.

Anyways... I gave a good clean inside the battery compartment, there was a green stuff that acumulated between the battery and the connections over the years, got a new battery and now is working as a treat!

[Benjamin J]

okay, i found a good site for MX meter repair, and plan to open her up tomorrow to see if the contacts are the issue: http://no-exif.com/2011/07/24/pentax-mx-meter-fix/

I think i'll open up the Spotomatic too, see if it may just be corrosion (if so, baking soda and water might clear it up?), but if not, I think I'll offer her up for trade.  I've never had to sure up or restore a camera before, and maybe that's the next step down a dangerous path of buying "for parts" cameras.

If anybody has a good repair guy in the Boston area I would love to know about them, and I think I'll at least get the MX back in working order.  Compared to what I usually shoot on IT'S SO TINY I really can't resist.

[Sandeha Lynch]

The MX is a truly beautiful piece of design work, and irrespective of the cost of the camera, if you want a camera that will run for twenty years then the CLA is worth every penny.  I think that page is based on one that used to be hosted elsewhere, though that also included info on the finger-nail flick MX mirror lock up, so I'm glad to see it up again.

I have an MX meter webbing sitting in a box which I think is functional.  If you want it, you just have to good with soldering ...

[DS]

I think i'll open up the Spotomatic too, see if it may just be corrosion (if so, baking soda and water might clear it up?)

Try a cotton bud / q tip and a tiny (you don't want this getting anywhere else) amount of white distilled vinegar (or other fairly pure weak acid) for the corrosion. Follow up with one of those slightly abrasive erasers for ink and repeat as required.

The MX is a truly beautiful piece of design work, and irrespective of the cost of the camera, if you want a camera that will run for twenty years then the CLA is worth every penny

Yes.

[Alan]

I have an old Canon AE-1 in black that was my brothers.
There is a lot of fungus in the prism.

It wasnt/isnt worth sending it off for a CLA @ over €100.00
so I bought a repair manual for around €25.00 and im gonna go
at it myself - big learning curve ahead.

maybe if you got your hands on a manual you could try it yourself?

it is a shame to see oldies fall into disrepair and eventually the bin.
I wonder how many film cameras were thrown out when D*g*t*l
became as popular as it did?

pity

[Aki]

+1 for what kenny said.  

I have two Spotmatic SP's - a black one and a silver one, and enjoy using them with my M42's.    I got the black one CLA'ed, and while I think it was worth it, I still also shoot with the silver one which hasn't had any CLA.   While the silver one can use new foam, my shots from one body isn't any better than (or just as bad) from the other body.

Working TTL meter is great to have, but having collected a pile of film bodies, I've found all these film bodies to have some quirk to them.  These are things like meter low light sensitivity or the way shutter speeds are slightly off, or how the frame overlaps only on your best shots.  You might as well shoot a couple of rolls and get an idea on all that before you invest much money in it.