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Anybody used Harrow Technical for repair?

DaveHolmes
Posted 25/01/2013 - 00:12 Link
I have a Pentax-A 35mm 2.8 lens...
The glass is nice and clean... No fungus... Aperture is snappy... But it won't focus... At all...
Feels like the focus ring is un-connected... Loose.. Slack... Not right...
Thinking Harrow Technical are my best bet... Hopefully won't cost more than £50 to repair...
Anybody used them on a similar repair?
Is it even worth it, or should I just bin the lens?
Is there another lens repair place I should check out?

Advance thanks
Dave
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
Edited by DaveHolmes: 25/01/2013 - 00:12
steven9761
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:09 Link
Dave - there is a thread here (somewhere) about a guy in the Teddington area that does camera repairs. I think he also fixes opticals too. I'll try to find a link for you...

UPDATE..

I couldn't find the specific article here, but thankfully I (sorta) remembered this guy's location (one of my drivers lives not far from the repairer) and done a web search. Try this link

Best of luck!!
Edited by steven9761: 25/01/2013 - 08:17
DaveHolmes
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:17 Link
Thanks for that Steven!
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
Algernon
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:22 Link
I've never taken a Pentax-A 35mm 2.8 lens apart, but normally
when you remove the front, there are 3 small grubcrews that grip
the focusing ring. It sounds like they have worked loose and
just need tightening...... should only take about 10 mins.

-
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi
geordie01
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:30 Link
This guy could be usefull
http://www.alan49.x10.mx/index.htm
Mike-P
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:33 Link
geordie01 wrote:
This guy could be usefull
http://www.alan49.x10.mx/index.htm

Very useful, have used him quite a few times ... decent prices and excellent service.
Algernon
Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:37 Link
This is a Takumar, but you can see the 3 screws. On this
lens just the beauty ring needs removing to access them.
The A Series doesn't have a beauty ring so the front
might be held by grubsrews into the body.

http://retinarescue.com/pentax50mmf1.4.html

-
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi
Edited by Algernon: 25/01/2013 - 08:38
stub
Posted 25/01/2013 - 09:45 Link
I have also used A M Technical to repair my 55-300. Good efficient and cost wffective. Give alan a call and discuss your lens problem.
K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..
ilovesaabs
Posted 25/01/2013 - 13:23 Link
Asahi Photo in Brentford are good too. He's serviced my Z-1s...
AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff
steven9761
Posted 25/01/2013 - 14:06 Link
ilovesaabs wrote:
Asahi Photo in Brentford are good too. He's serviced my Z-1s...

I never even knew this place existed!

It's not too far from where I live too!!
stevejcoe
Posted 25/01/2013 - 15:44 Link
Algernon wrote:
This is a Takumar, but you can see the 3 screws. On this
lens just the beauty ring needs removing to access them.
The A Series doesn't have a beauty ring so the front
might be held by grubsrews into the body.

http://retinarescue.com/pentax50mmf1.4.html

-

I think the A35 F2.8 is similar to the A50 F1.7. The plain plastic ring that sits between the front element and the filter ring can be removed to reveal the three screws that have most likely worked loose.


Regards - Steve
DaveHolmes
Posted 25/01/2013 - 17:55 Link
stevejcoe wrote:
The plain plastic ring that sits between the front element and the filter ring can be removed to reveal the three screws that have most likely worked loose.

Algernon wrote:
This is a Takumar, but you can see the 3 screws. On this
lens just the beauty ring needs removing to access them.
The A Series doesn't have a beauty ring so the front
might be held by grubsrews into the body.

http://retinarescue.com/pentax50mmf1.4.html

-

How does one remove this 'beauty ring' without damaging the glass then?
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
DaveHolmes
Posted 25/01/2013 - 17:57 Link
Nevermind... Link shows me!!! Sorry!!

Thank you all!!
........................................................................
Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/
Yecora99
Posted 25/01/2013 - 22:12 Link
DaveHolmes wrote:
Nevermind... Link shows me!!! Sorry!!

Thank you all!!

Quote:
Pentax K5D, Pentax 16-45mm f4 DA ED AL, Pentax 55-300mm ED, Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 D-FA, Tamron 28-200mm, Sigma 170-500mm.

Yecora99
Posted 25/01/2013 - 22:18 Link
Hello,

I have just rejoined after a short period offline.

As regards Harrow Technical I have used them twice and i have been very impressed with their service.

I have sent two lens for repair, the first was my Pentax 100mm f3.5 AF Macro lens when the aperture got stuck somehow. I think something happened when I tried attaching it to a cheap set of manual extension rings. Anyway they managed to sort the problem and I have not had anything happen to the lens since.

The other lens i had repaired was my 400mm MF Sigma lens. One of the internal elements was totally covered in little tiny dots (a fungus) so every photo i took with it appeared blurred. they stripped it down chemically cleaned the lens element and now its fully functional.

So I have no hesitation in recommending them myself. I have not used anyone else so can't comment for other companies.
Quote:
Pentax K5D, Pentax 16-45mm f4 DA ED AL, Pentax 55-300mm ED, Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 D-FA, Tamron 28-200mm, Sigma 170-500mm.

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