Pentax 645N Repair/Service

It's been a long time since I used a Pentax (Pentax SV in 1965) and I've just been given a really nice 645n but occasionally the camera jams when winding on film. Does anyone have a contact where these cameras can be repaired before I start trawling the 'net?

Thanks

Yorkie

Asahi Photo or Harrow Technical might be a good place to start.

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Best regards, John

See below , just done some great work for me, (4 repairs) at excellent pricing, ask for Pramath

Contact Details

Asahi Photo Technical  

6 Albany Parade, High Street, TW8 0JW Brentford

Email: [email protected]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=asahi+photo+technical&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-...

· CONTACT NAME; PRAMATH – 02082328111 - 02085606856

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Daronl

Thanks guys, I'll get in touch with them.

Having got rid of the original 546N (see above) my latest 645N has just thrown up the ERR error code. I contacted Asahi Photo Technical and they tell me that this is the only Pentax camera they don't service.

According to their website Harrow Technical ceased trading from their old address at the end of March 2018 but that there may be a postal service after that. I am still waiting for a reply on that.

If anyone knows of any other repair service for this camera I'd be most grateful.

Thanks

Perhaps source another dead one for parts? Or just get another good one (there's some on eBay which aren't overly expensive) and keep the one you have for spares.
I understand there's no longer a ready source of spare parts for these now but if you could supply what's required I'm sure there are other repair companies that specialise in working with old cameras and would look at it for you. A Google search for 'camera repairs' throws up quite a number of specialist repairers.
Might it not be cheaper to get a good replacement rather than pay for a repair when the outcome is that the part required is no longer available?

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John K

Without knowing what is causing the problem in the first place, buying another 'dead' one for spares is like playing Russian Roulette John - I could end up with two dead bodies so I'll just keep asking around and trawling the 'net for a repair guy and I may get lucky.

Have a look at this thread, recent posts from Feb 2018 seem to suggest there may be repairers in Switzerland & Norway (not ideal but something): link

This thread has a possible fix: link

This thread discusses the 'err' message: link

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PPG Flickr

The 'fix' link (Press the auto wind button on the bottom of the camera) worked for me John, brilliant - many thanks.

Does this model have the internal lithium battery that needs replacement after about five years?

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Best regards, John

I can't find any reference to an internal battery in the Service and Parts manual available from here: https://uscamera.com/ so I think it's saafe to assume that there isn't one.

Latest news I have posted on another forum also.

Since my original problem with the camera I shot a further five films - two of which jammed with the same error as before and which were cleared by the same method.

While sitting looking at my films and notes I realised that the two films that had jammed were both Fomapan 200 - then I had a light bulb moment and quick look through my neg file showed that the original film was also a Fomapan 200!!! I had one roll of this film left so I loaded it up and went out to shoot - which it did for five frames before the dreaded ERR was displayed.

I have no concrete explanation for this, the film and backing seem to be approximately the same thickness as FP4+ according to my primitive caliper gauge so I don't think that is the cause but one thing I have noticed is that this is probably the springiest film I have ever used - it would make good tank track suspension imho! Could this cause extra drag on the winding mechanism and perhaps trigger some sort of overload mechanism, I really don't know but for my camera and Fomapan film - never the twain shall meet again.

Robin at Harrow technical is still "working" but from home rather than as a business in Pentax House. Still the same great service though. His email address for contact is on the Harrow technical website.