Anybody used Harrow Technical for repair?

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1,174 posts

11 years
Bradford

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 00:12

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...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/

Last Edited by DaveHolmes on 25/01/2013 - 00:12

steven9761

Member

1,232 posts

11 years
Glasgow

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:09

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!!

Last Edited by steven9761 on 25/01/2013 - 08:17

DaveHolmes

Member

1,174 posts

11 years
Bradford

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:17

Thanks for that Steven!

Algernon

Member

8,880 posts

12 years
Lancashire

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:22

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

Member

1,702 posts

12 years
Northumberland

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:30

This guy could be usefull
http://www.alan49.x10.mx/index.htm

Mike-P

Member

13,530 posts

14 years
Hythe, Hampshire UK

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:33

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.

. My Flickr

Algernon

Member

8,880 posts

12 years
Lancashire

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 08:37

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

Last Edited by Algernon on 25/01/2013 - 08:38

stub

Member

1,950 posts

12 years
Manchester

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 09:45

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

Member

1,386 posts

10 years
Richmond/Denbigh

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 13:23

Asahi Photo in Brentford are good too. He's serviced my Z-1s...

AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff

steven9761

Member

1,232 posts

11 years
Glasgow

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 14:06

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

Member

977 posts

15 years
Cornwall, UK

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 15:44

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

Member

1,174 posts

11 years
Bradford

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 17:55

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.

How does one remove this 'beauty ring' without damaging the glass then?

DaveHolmes

Member

1,174 posts

11 years
Bradford

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 17:57

Nevermind... Link shows me!!! Sorry!!

Thank you all!!

Yecora99

Member

58 posts

14 years
Manchester

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 22:12

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

Member

58 posts

14 years
Manchester

Link Posted 25/01/2013 - 22:18

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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