View Full Version : who best to work on a cle?
back alley
08-26-2007, 16:23
like the title says, who is the one to send a cle to for all things electronic and a general cla?
joe
sepiareverb
08-26-2007, 16:27
Not ever having had one my bet would be Sherry- she knows the M5 inside out and I believe they share some of the same 'technology'. Been watching some of these on ebay lately, but probably won't bite.
CameraQuest
08-26-2007, 16:32
many CLE problems end up being the circuit board, and there seems to be no replacements available.
Stephen
sepiareverb
08-26-2007, 16:56
Will the shutter still work without the electronics?
Revolucion Artistico
08-26-2007, 16:57
Sherry told me herself that the CL is her speciality, I think she said she's one of 3 or 4 factory trained techs for it. I would go to her first and she if is as good with the CLE but Stephen is right most cases the board is fried and not fixable. Worth a shot with such a great little camera.
back alley
08-26-2007, 17:25
Will the shutter still work without the electronics?
i don't think so.
I remember reading on RFF or some other forum a year ago that there was someone in the US fixing CLE's by buying broken cameras and cannabilising what he could from them. He had a limited stock of curcuit boards and saw that problem as eventually causing the total demise of a fine camera .... sorry Joe I can't remember for the life of me who it was! :confused:
back alley
08-26-2007, 20:24
no worries keith!
tomorrow i will email a few of the bigger names in repairdom and also ask locally.
i've heard differing thoughts on cle repairs, most talk about the circuit boards and others about how many of the parts being basic electronic bits that still can be purchased seperately.
time will tell if this one can be fixed.
joe
Joe, this comes out of the recesses of an aged memory and I've never used them, but my rolodex has a note that says possible CLE repairs.
Camera Wiz
169B Pleasant Hill Rd.
Harrisonberg, VA 22801
800-471-8133
back alley
08-26-2007, 21:42
thanks gerry!
joe
Somebody on rff mentioned somewhere recently (specific, eh?) having a CLE fixed in Germany by an ex-Minolta tech. The poster offered to give out this techi's info to the poster, who had a cle to fix. Check the archives?
I sent mine to Steve's Camera Service Center in Culver City, CA (www.stevecamera.com)
Steve is a great guy and is totally willing to work on CLEs. However, my problem was the circuit board and he didn't have any of them. Argh.
back alley
08-28-2007, 19:52
i sent an email to both bald mountain and essex camera repair, on monday, but no replies so far.
amateriat
08-28-2007, 20:35
On the off-chance that a few people don't know this:
One broght spot of news on the CLE repair front is in regard to the shutter: the CLE shares the shutter used in Minolta's XG-1 SLR. Since Minolta likely made one hell of lot more of the latter than the former, Heavy CLE users hopefully have availed themselves of at least one XG-1 "donor" body to salt away. (Yes, I know of someone who blew out a CLE shutter – twice – during the late 80s/early 90s). The circuit board, of course, remains a problem, bit I'd be curious to know the failure rate regarding those.
Will the shutter still work without the electronics?
I rather doubt it...
- Barrett
photogdave
08-28-2007, 20:49
Joe, did you try Gerry Smith at Kindermann?
back alley
08-28-2007, 21:23
Joe, did you try Gerry Smith at Kindermann?
not yet but i was thinking/wondering if he worked on minolta gear.
back alley
08-29-2007, 09:47
heard from essex and they do work on the cle.
joe
Joe, I found another CLE repairer and this is labeled as such:
Terry's Camera Repair
9092 Talbert Ave. #2
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
7114-964-7633
I had a bad experience with Essex this summer even though I know everyone raves about them. After vassuring me on the phone that they could repair two cameras they kept a Voigtlander VF101 for six months and then sent it back with my check with no real explanation. And then they returned my Contax T with the rewind knob from a Nikon mounted on it. If you're at all familiar with the T you know how ludicrous that must have looked. They did return my money and replace the Contax parts but not repair the camera.
I think that they'll try anything once.
back alley
09-09-2007, 11:28
thanks gerry.
the cle is on it's way to me but i haven't done much else as far as research on the repairs. i still want to see what might be available locally and need to ask around the local pro shops as well as ask kinderman.
joe
sepiareverb
09-09-2007, 12:08
Joe, you might give Matt at call or email at 'Authorized Camera Repair' They are in PA/USA, but he worked on my F4's when they were in daily use. He may have some further suggestions if he doesn't work on CLE's or you need someone in Canada. (don't know how the customs works on repair stuff)
http://www.authorizedcamerarepair.com/services.html
back alley
09-09-2007, 12:40
thanks bob.
i have had gear repaired in the states before without any hassle but it would be nice to keep it in country.
joe
sepiareverb
09-09-2007, 13:05
For the occasional extra time in shipping I completely agree- I've had things going up to or coming down from Montreal (2.5 hours by car) take a few days or a few weeks through the mail.
back alley
09-09-2007, 13:39
oh yeah, shipping is usually way quicker in country.
between here and the states, i have had stuff show up in less than a week and others more than a month.
it would be easier if it were more consistent.
back alley
09-18-2007, 12:01
the cle arrived today. in pretty good shape. shutter speeds are inconsistent and the diodes jumped around a bit.
but then it seems to work ok.
i'm hoping it only needs a cleaning...
joe
Joe Brugger
09-18-2007, 14:22
shutter speeds are inconsistent and the diodes jumped around a bit.
joe
The old 'dancing diodes' behavior, cured in most cases by cleaning the contacts under the shutter speed dial. Film speeds will seem erratic unless there is a roll of film in the camera, because the meter reads off the film plane. I had mine cleaned and refoamed about 10 years ago for less than US$100. Been fine ever since. Mine was done by Advance Camera in Portland, Ore., local to me. The head tech says it's pretty straightforward.
Ha ! Finally. Congrats. Now you need a Luigi case for it :)
back alley
09-18-2007, 15:07
i'm sending mine to gerry smith at kinderman, in toronta...quicker shipping back & forth.
rollie, the case would cost more than i paid for the camera...but ya never know!!
if it can be cleaned up and set to work properly i'm thinking it would be a great backup to either kit or just a cool carry 'round camera in my new domke 5xa bag.
an embarrasment of riches...
joe
back alley
09-18-2007, 15:30
The old 'dancing diodes' behavior, cured in most cases by cleaning the contacts under the shutter speed dial. Film speeds will seem erratic unless there is a roll of film in the camera, because the meter reads off the film plane. I had mine cleaned and refoamed about 10 years ago for less than US$100. Been fine ever since. Mine was done by Advance Camera in Portland, Ore., local to me. The head tech says it's pretty straightforward.
the former owner reports erratic shutter speeds with film in the camera as well.
i'm betting on a good cla being the answer, if not this could turn out to be a not very good purchase.
ah well, ya pays ya money...
joe
back alley
09-18-2007, 15:49
this just in from sherry k.
Sorry. I no longer work on CLE cameras. There are no parts. Thanks for the inquiry! I do not know who does. Best regards, Sherry
Someone must still have a pile of boards somewhere I reckon...
Where are they?
Would be a real shame to me to not be able to use my CLE any more. Have considered buying a Hexar RF (to match my lenses), but this only brings along the exact same trouble: parts hard to come by, Sony rumoured to perfom very sadly on repairs)...
The Leica M7 is out of my league so far. Epson: discontinued and not full frame. Leica M8: too expensive and not full frame.
The Zeiss Ikon RF might be the best choice for a Aperture Priority junkie like me, but not sure on service and repairs there!? Anyone on that?
Cheers,
Johan
amateriat
09-25-2007, 16:03
Someone must still have a pile of boards somewhere I reckon...
Where are they?
Would be a real shame to me to not be able to use my CLE any more. Have considered buying a Hexar RF (to match my lenses), but this only brings along the exact same trouble: parts hard to come by, Sony rumoured to perfom very sadly on repairs)...
The Leica M7 is out of my league so far. Epson: discontinued and not full frame. Leica M8: too expensive and not full frame.
The Zeiss Ikon RF might be the best choice for a Aperture Priority junkie like me, but not sure on service and repairs there!? Anyone on that?
Cheers,
Johan Indeed, a problem. On Planet Hexar, the problem isn't whether spares exist, but where in Hades they are (someone here made an analogy between Sony's warehouse and the last scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark). Ironically, if Minolta indeed had a few extra boards tucked away, they're likely in the same place! :bang:
The ZI's a current item, so I think you're safe for at least the next handful of years, unless the Zeiss/Cosina consortium flames out and also winds up in Sony's hands...
- Barrett
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