Anthony Allison

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Specialized Film Camera Repair Shops - Mamiya, Contax, Pentax, Ricoh, and more (2023)

Anthony Allison

As I photograph predominantly with film and have an unfortunate affection for old electronic cameras and 35mm point and shoots, I’m well aware that many of these cameras can’t be repaired, or at least repairs are hard to come by. Many of these sorts of cameras, like the Ricoh GR1, Contax G2, Pentax 67ii, and others, are frequently referred to as ticking time bombs — where at some point they’ll die and become nothing more than an unrepairable paperweight.

But in recent years I’ve noticed, and appreciated, the rise of small independent camera repair people and small shops who have started offering specialized repair services for these types of cameras that have historically been unrepairable.

There is a fantastic directory of Worldwide camera repair shops available at https://mikeeckman.com/2023/03/camera-repair-worldwide-directory/, but my aim here is to list places that work on those hard to repair electronic film cameras, such as the Ricoh GR1/s/v, Pentax 67ii, Mamiya 6, 7 and 7ii, Contax cameras like the T2 and G2, Hasselblad X-pan/Fuji TX-1, and other point and shoots.

While I love the renaissance of film camera repairs these folks are able to offer, one major issue is that information is hard to find. Bits and pieces are either scattered through internet forums, Reddit threads, or on social media, and as we’ve seen with Reddit blackouts and forum shutdowns, this information could be gone in a flash.

In this post, I will aim to gather as much of this information as possible on one single page and update it periodically so it can serve as a starting point for film photographers looking for specialized camera repairs.

Before I get to listing what I’ve gathered, I want to caveat a few key things:

  1. No guarantees: The majority of specialized film camera repair shops here I have not personally worked with (but I’ll note the ones that I have). These shops may start up and shut down at any moment, and their reputation could change at any point. Working with individuals is not without its risk. I’ve personally had a camera repair take months longer than expected due to an individual’s personal life and overbooking of other repairs come into play.

  2. Do your research: There always the question of legitimacy and quality. I’ve tried to list folks who, based on research on their social channels or reputation among forum/Reddit posts, I would personally feel comfortable sending my own cameras to - but this is in no way a warranty of their services and you should certainly perform your own research to validate.

  3. Be prepared to ship: Typically these folks will not have a physical storefront presence, and may even be in a far-off country. You should consider whether or not you feel comfortable shipping your camera to-and-from overseas, and account for high shipping costs and insurance if so.

List of film camera repair services focusing on hard-to-repair cameras

Red Dot Repairs

Red Dot is a camera repair shop specializing in Leica, Pentax, Hasselblad cameras. I’ve personally worked with them to repair my Leica M6’s broken frame counter, upgrade the viewfinder to an MP flare-free finder, and perform a CLA in 2021. I had a great experience and I’m happy that they’ve since grown from a one-man operation.

Matt Day also did a video on working with them in 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HOwYK7-2ko

Interesting cameras they repair:

  • Leica Minilux

  • Leica Lens CLA for select few

  • Pentax 6x7 (not 67ii) and lens repairs

Fototech Serwis

Fototech was the reason I wanted to start gathering this information, as when I came across them, it was a holy grail. They are one of the only services that I’ve found who repair the Ricoh GR1/s/v and similar cameras. The Ricoh GR1v was a camera I’d wanted for more than a decade, but I was always put off by the fact that the LCD will eventually die, followed by the camera itself. I didn’t send for a repair, but instead bought a repaired/upgraded Ricoh GR1v from them. Fototech actually had manufactured ribbon cables for the Ricoh GR1 cameras that are more resilient and offered a warranty on purchase making it a no-brainer. Shipping from Poland to California was reasonable and fast.

In addition to Ricoh GR camera repairs, they offer a wide variety of specialized film camera repairs that are hard to come by, including:

  • Repairs for Fujifilm TX-1 / Hasselblad X-Pan

  • Repairs for Pentax 67II

  • Repairs for Fuji GA645Zi

  • I’ve also seen them offer repairs for the Contax T2s, G2s, TVS, Yashica T4s, other Ricoh point and shoots, Olympus mji ii/ Stylus Epic, Leicas, including the Leica CM, and digital cameras.

Suffice to say, Fototech is doing an amazing service for film shooters with this extensive list of repair capabilities that others haven’t touched. Keep an eye on their Instagram and stories for more insights on what they repair.

PPP Cameras (formerly PPP Repairs)

PPP Cameras is probably the most well-known of Instagram-based repair shops, most likely because of their ability to repair the Contax T2 (and similar) cameras at a time when these repairs were nonexistent. Over time they’ve included specialized parts manufacturing, such as Contax G2 eyepieces and built an impressive reputation for repair work.

Their Instagram is a great, curated list of all the repairs they do, but a few standouts in the hard-to-repair space include:

  • Contax cameras - Repairs for the Contax T2, T3, G2, etc

  • Repairs for the Olympus XA, Yashica T4, and just about every SLR under the sun.

Away Repairs

Away Repairs popped up on Instagram as also offering some specialized film camera repairs. He keeps an active blog where he details his experience with camera repairs, often step by step. It’s a very fascinating insight. A number of Reddit posts have indicated successful GR1 repairs for a couple of years.

As of October 2023, he lists his repair capabilites as:

For now I repair: contax tvs, tvs ii, t2, t3, g1, g2 (and all lenses), contax tla200, leica minilux, minilux zoom, leica cm, minolta tc-1, ricoh gr1/s/v, gr10 and gr21, konica hexar rf, mamiya 7 (and all lenses), hasselblad xpan and fuji tx-1 (and all lenses) and fuji ga645, ga645w, ga645zi.

It’s great to see that the Contax TLA-200 flash can be repaired, as well as the other film cameras that can be tough to find repairs for.

Pentaxs.com

Any time you search up Pentax 67 repairs, Eric Hendrickson is always mentioned by name. He seems to be the authority, as he has been servicing Pentax 67s since 1969. I’ve been shooting my Pentax 67 too much to be able to temporarily part with it, but when I can find a break it’s certainly going his way for a CLA and meter chain repair.

However, he only services MLU Pentax 67s, and not Pentax 67ii cameras.

Other repairs listed include: Pentax K Series (K1000, KX, KM), M Series (MX, ME, ME Super), and Spotmatics.

Nippon Photo Clinic

Nippon Photo Clinic has long been known as the place to get Contax cameras repaired, including the T2, T3, and G2 cameras in the US. Reddit posts mention they’re expensive but generally fast. A couple posts indicated they may not be able to make certain types of repairs to these cameras and were recommended to send to https://www.sendeancameras.co.uk/, though information is sparse.

Precision Camera Works

PCW is the official repair shop for “Mamiya 6, 6MF, 7, 7II, the TLR C2, C220, C3, C330 models, and the Mamiya Press / Universal cameras, lenses, and accessories.” Mamiya 6 cameras may be less popular than their counterpart 7/7ii’s, but even still I don’t find a lot of Mamiya 6 repair shops - so were mine to need service, it would be headed here. One thing to keep in mind is that as the official repair shop for these Mamiya cameras, they have an intense backlog - some have reported many months. Check their website updates for more information - and to see if they are even accepting repairs - and prepare accordingly.

MamiyaRepair.com

For Mamiya 7/7ii repairs, Mamiya Repair is another great option. Owner Bill Rogers has been servicing these since 1978 and keeps a detailed journal on Instagram. His Instagram shows repairs being done to a Mamiya 6, but noted that parts are limited for some services.

Other repairs include:

  • Mamiya lens repair

  • Mamiya 645, RB, and RZ cameras

  • Mamiya 35mm cameras

Advance Camera Repair

Advance Camera Repair came up a couple times in searches as one of the only places that would touch a Pentax 67ii camera repair. There isn’t a ton of information, but a few folks around various forums have had success. Among many camera makes, they also have listed on their site that they work on Mamiya 6, 7, and 7ii repairs, as well as some Olympus point and shoots like the XA. It’s certainly worth reaching out as Mamiya, and especially Pentax 67ii repairs are getting difficult to come by.

Asahi Photo

This is a UK-based repair shop specializing in “Pentax 6×7, 67 67ii including associated lenses.” One Redditor mentioned they had repaired a Pentax 67ii as recently as 2022, but I can’t find much more information than that.

Where to start looking based on camera type

Where to send a Contax T/T2/T3, G1/G2, etc. for repair? If in the USA, Nippon Photo Clinic would be a good start, though they do not repair TVS I/II/II or RTS I. In Europe, PPP Camera, Fototech Serwis, Away Repairs, and possibly Sendean Cameras. Though not listed in detail, Amsterdam Camera Repairs came up a couple of times also.

Where to send a Pentax 6x7 (MLU) for repair? If in the USA, Pentaxs.com (Eric Hendrickson) is the de facto expert. Red Dot Repairs and Advance Camera Repair are also an option. In Europe, PPP Camera, Asahi Photo, and Fototech Serwis are great options.

Where to send a Pentax 67ii for repair? Options here seem very limited. If in the USA, Advance Camera Repair is worth reaching out to, but also consider UK-based Asahi Photo with overseas shipping.

Where to send a Ricoh GR1/s/v, GR10, R1/R1s, etc. for repair? Unfortunately there are not any US-based options here. Globally, the best option is probably Fototech Serwis in Poland, followed by Away Repairs. Insured shipping from Poland to California was about $70. You can also look into a Taiwan-based repair shop, Shangpin Fine Camera Studio (SPCRS), that’s come up a number of times on Reddit.

Where to send a Mamiya 6, 7, or 7ii for repair? US-based Precision Camera Works seems to be the standard, but repair times can be long and they may not be accepting repairs. Mamiya Repair (Bill Rogers) is another great option. In Europe, it is worth checking with PPP Camera, Fototech Serwis, and Away Repair.

Where to send a Hasselblad X-Pan / Fuji TX-1 for repair? I haven’t found any US-based repair options here, so Fototech Serwis and Away Repair are the best bet. Though not listed, I have also seen mention of Les Victor in France (http://www.lesvictor.com/) as a repair option mentioned in this blog and forum post.

Where to send other point and shoot film cameras, such as Yashica T4, Stylus Epic, Minolta TC-1, etc. for repair? Advance Camera Repair is worth reaching out to, but it seems all the best options are in Europe, with PPP Camera, Fototech Serwis, and Away Repair. There is also mention of Amsterdam Camera Repairs being able to work on some point and shoots, and SPCRS also seems to work on a number of point and shoots.



Hopefully all of this information helps you get started finding repairs for these old but awesome cameras, or, if like in my situation with the GR1v, gives you push to purchase one without the fear of it turning into a brick. Please feel free to comment or reach out to me with any more information or your own experiences.



Last update: 10/2023