Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Should I learn to repair cameras?
Page <<first <prev 6 of 8 next> last>>
Feb 20, 2021 00:43:46   #
RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri
 
fotoman150 wrote:
No I plan on getting educated first of course.


Where?

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 00:56:12   #
hrblaine
 
chgcanon answers a question: "You're asking a business question. Apply your business sense to this: if a shutter costs between $300 and $500 to replace from say Canon, how does that repair cost compare to buying a replacement to the broken camera? How much equipment do you need to purchase to be able to replace a shutter, including being able to purchase standalone the replacement shutter? Could you do one cheaper than Canon? How many repairs is your breakeven? What level of warranty will you provide? Nikon doesn't sell parts to independent shops, so you won't be able to work on their equipment."

I have a much briefer answer - NO!

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 04:00:11   #
hrblaine
 
fotoman150 wrote:
What’s your opinion? Is there money to be made in this? Or are people throwing cameras away and getting new ones when they malfunction?

I think I would enjoy repairing cameras and learning exactly how they work and everything about them. But I don’t wanna waste my money on a course only to find out no one pays to have cameras repaired.

Do most professional photographers replace their shutters? Or do they just buy another camera?


I think you've joined a good idea and a bad idea. Good - "learning exactly how they work and everything about them." Bad - trying to make a living from what should be a hobby. You can try it but don't quit your day job! Harry

Reply
 
 
Feb 20, 2021 08:50:54   #
BebuLamar
 
As I said earlier I do not think camera repair is going to be a good career. I do think learning camera repair is a good thing if you don't intend to make money with it. Now if I want to learn camera repair where do I start? Is there such a school?

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 17:50:20   #
RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri
 
With a question such as yours, folks are often caught between 1. encouraging people to pursue their dreams, shoot for the stars and 2, giving an honest assessment of the pitfalls ahead in an attempt to head off future disappointment. In this matter, I am with the second group:

There are easier and less expensive ways to fail at your intent and to go broke.

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 18:47:00   #
RRiggins Loc: Colorado Springs
 
fotoman150 wrote:
What’s your opinion? Is there money to be made in this? Or are people throwing cameras away and getting new ones when they malfunction?

I think I would enjoy repairing cameras and learning exactly how they work and everything about them. But I don’t wanna waste my money on a course only to find out no one pays to have cameras repaired.

Do most professional photographers replace their shutters? Or do they just buy another camera?


I've been repairing camera equipment for over 30 years now and, while you won't get rich doing so, it does pay the bills. It's also very complicated. You need to be comfortable working with micro electronics and miniaturized mechanical parts. The initial investment in test equipment and specialized tools is steep and then there's the cost of learning how to use them. When I first got into camera repair there was a college course with a degree in photographic equipment technology as well as a National Camera course but those days are long gone and it will probably be a trial and error process to learn what you need to know. That gets expensive too.

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 19:56:39   #
BebuLamar
 
RRiggins wrote:
I've been repairing camera equipment for over 30 years now and, while you won't get rich doing so, it does pay the bills. It's also very complicated. You need to be comfortable working with micro electronics and miniaturized mechanical parts. The initial investment in test equipment and specialized tools is steep and then there's the cost of learning how to use them. When I first got into camera repair there was a college course with a degree in photographic equipment technology as well as a National Camera course but those days are long gone and it will probably be a trial and error process to learn what you need to know. That gets expensive too.
I've been repairing camera equipment for over 30 y... (show quote)


So may I ask you. For a CLA job how long does it take you to do it? Let say it's an old mechanical 35mm camera with little electronics like a Nikon FM or Pentax K1000 etc...

Reply
 
 
Feb 20, 2021 21:24:09   #
fotoman150
 
BebuLamar wrote:
As I said earlier I do not think camera repair is going to be a good career. I do think learning camera repair is a good thing if you don't intend to make money with it. Now if I want to learn camera repair where do I start? Is there such a school?


I saw one school that charges $99 each for 20 lessons on DVD and business support to help find customers and learn the business of camera repair.

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 21:25:35   #
fotoman150
 
RRiggins wrote:
I've been repairing camera equipment for over 30 years now and, while you won't get rich doing so, it does pay the bills. It's also very complicated. You need to be comfortable working with micro electronics and miniaturized mechanical parts. The initial investment in test equipment and specialized tools is steep and then there's the cost of learning how to use them. When I first got into camera repair there was a college course with a degree in photographic equipment technology as well as a National Camera course but those days are long gone and it will probably be a trial and error process to learn what you need to know. That gets expensive too.
I've been repairing camera equipment for over 30 y... (show quote)


Thanks. It’s nice to hear from someone who is actually doing it.

Reply
Feb 20, 2021 21:29:03   #
fotoman150
 
GEngel-usmc wrote:
Would you be willing to buy your customer a new replacement Camera if you screwed up your repair? Legally you might have no choice. Practically, your business name would suffer if you did not.
Speaking from experience, I had to replace a $900 circuit board when my micro-tip soldering iron overheated a board lead junction, and I had a college degree in Electronic Engineering! All profit from 10 previous repairs went out the window. Serious Electronic micro-circuitry courses are recommended for today’s cameras. Then there’s your electronic tools, and analyzers; not cheap.
Would you be willing to buy your customer a new re... (show quote)


I have a two year degree in electronic engineering. But I forgot most of what I learned. It had to do with memory chips and microprocessors.

Reply
Feb 21, 2021 09:17:36   #
martin muller
 
I would think a camera repair technician of the future would also have to be a smart phone repair technician as well...................

Reply
 
 
Feb 21, 2021 21:52:42   #
RRiggins Loc: Colorado Springs
 
BebuLamar wrote:
So may I ask you. For a CLA job how long does it take you to do it? Let say it's an old mechanical 35mm camera with little electronics like a Nikon FM or Pentax K1000 etc...


Believe it or not, I still rebuild a lot of K1000's. Many schools still teach film photography and the K1000 has been the standard for the last 30 years. The going rate for a CLA on one is about $120. It will vary from one location to another and it's really up to you as to what you charge. I offer the group on the UHH a good discount for their repairs so it varies from location to location and sometimes from camera to camera. I like flat rate pricing. One price covers a range of cameras and so on. I've been doing this for over 30 years and have had the privilege's of working in many shops across the country. It's a shame most of them have gone out of business now and the camera repairman has become an endangered species. It's a craft that takes years to learn and most independent techs spend most of their time either drumming up new business or doing actual repairs. It takes a real commitment.

Reply
Feb 22, 2021 05:23:07   #
BebuLamar
 
RRiggins wrote:
Believe it or not, I still rebuild a lot of K1000's. Many schools still teach film photography and the K1000 has been the standard for the last 30 years. The going rate for a CLA on one is about $120. It will vary from one location to another and it's really up to you as to what you charge. I offer the group on the UHH a good discount for their repairs so it varies from location to location and sometimes from camera to camera. I like flat rate pricing. One price covers a range of cameras and so on. I've been doing this for over 30 years and have had the privilege's of working in many shops across the country. It's a shame most of them have gone out of business now and the camera repairman has become an endangered species. It's a craft that takes years to learn and most independent techs spend most of their time either drumming up new business or doing actual repairs. It takes a real commitment.
Believe it or not, I still rebuild a lot of K1000'... (show quote)


I am sorry but how long does it take to CLA one of the K1000's? If you charge $120 it can't be longer than 1.5 hrs of your time.

Reply
Feb 22, 2021 06:13:40   #
chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY
 
I think it's a bad idea fraught with pitfalls (to repair for a living). You will need access to parts and getting used parts off of dead cameras on ebay may not be the best option even if the only option (especially for shutters). You will need specialized tools and test jigs (to calibrate exposure, AF, e.g.) and a clean work area.. The screws on many cameras are tiny like those in watches and have to be tracked where they came from. Shutter repairs are the deepest on any camera requiring complete disassembly. You will have to be upfront with customers that the parts are not factory new. I think the risk/reward here is too high. Maybe try repairing for yourself - get a couple of "for repair or parts" cameras on ebay that you would like to keep and see how that goes. Ask the seller if they know what the issues are so if it is a stuck shutter you will need another exact model with a working shutter.

Reply
Feb 22, 2021 10:17:51   #
RRiggins Loc: Colorado Springs
 
I got into the repair business as a younger man and actually made a career out of it. But, to make a living at it you need to do about 15 repairs a week. Every week. Week after week, year after year. (I've been at this too long ...).

Reply
Page <<first <prev 6 of 8 next> last>>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.