| Germany
Foto Merten
I have just (31st March
2020) received a recommendation for a repairer
in Germany who was previously unknown to me:
|
“In recent days, I sent two
PENTACON six TL cameras to the "FOTO
MERTEN" photo repair laboratory in
Ilmenau (Germany):
So I would
like to recommend this excellent
repairman of photographic
equipment from the former-DDR who
has proven to know the PENTACON
six very thoroughly.”
I
see that on their website FOTO
MERTEN state: (see English
translation below)
“Mittelformat-Kameras der Kamera-
und Kinowerke Dresden, später
Pentacon Dresden, sind die ältere
Praktisix mit Variationen und die
spätere Pentacon six, inclusive des
TTL-Prismenaufsatzes.
Auch hier können wir bei der
Reparatur auf ein umfangreiches
Sortiment von Originalersatzteilen
zurückgreifen.”
English translation:
“Medium
Format cameras from the manufacturer
Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden [KW],
later Pentacon Dresden, are the
older Praktisix cameras and
variations of it and the later
Pentacon six, including the
TTL-Metering Prism.
Also with these items we have access
to a comprehensive stock of original
spare parts.”
Foto Merten
Güldene Pforte 7
98693 Ilmenau
Tel.: 0 36 77 / 89 44 64
E-Mail: info@foto-merten.de
Internet: http://www.foto-merten.de/reparatur/kameras/mittelformat/index.php
What excellent news! Thank
you, Alessandro!
|
Pentacon Service in
Dresden
| Resumption of Pentacon Six and
Exakta 66 repairs and servicing by
Pentacon Service, Dresden
I am pleased to be able to report
that Pentacon Service in Dresden have
reached agreement with a local
repairer to undertake the repair,
service and upgrade of Pentacon Six
and Exakta 66 cameras. He has
years of experience, going back to GDR
times, of repairing and servicing
Pentacon Six cameras. Pentacon
Service will make available to him
spares as required.
As well as providing servicing and
repairs, he will also be able to offer
the upgrade of Pentacon Six (TL) and
Exakta 66 Mk I cameras to the Rollei
focussing screen that was supplied
with the Exakta 66 Mk II and Mk III,
but he will not undertake the MLU
(mirror pre-release) modification, as
this requires technical modifications
within the camera and Herr Frenzel was
the only person with the knowledge
required to do this.
If you wish to use this service
facility, I suggest that in the first
instance you contact Pentacon Service
in Dresden (address below), and they
will advise you whether to send your
camera to them or directly to the
repairer whom they have contracted.
Pentacon Service continues to offer
full servicing for lenses for the
Pentacon Six and Exakta 66, as well as
for their ranges of 35mm cameras and
lenses, including the L and B series.
15th October 2012
|
Suspension of Pentacon Six &
Exakta 66 Servicing and repairs by
Pentacon Dresden
It is with the greatest regret and sadness
that I have to report that late yesterday
I received the fully unexpected news that
Jürgen Frenzel, the Pentacon Six and
Exakta 66 specialist at Pentacon Service
in Dresden has without advance warning
suddenly died. He was the one person
on their staff who serviced and upgraded
these cameras.
They are therefore having to suspend
repairs and service for these cameras at
the present time. They still offer
a repair service for the lenses and also
for other Pentacon cameras such as the
Praktica series.
They are trying to find another
specialst workshop that they can
recommend. As soon as I receive
any further information on this, I will
post it here.
Jürgen Frenzel had worked at Pentacon
in Dresden for at least 30 years.
I extend my deepest sympathy to his
colleagues, friends and family.
TRA 25.9.12.
|
Jürgen Frenzel in Dresden, April 2012
Picture taken by me on a Pentacon Six TL
that had been serviced and upgraded by
him
|
Pentacon in Dresden still offer full service
and upgrade facilities on Pentacon and Exakta
35mm cameras. [See above
paragraphs - 25.9.12.]
Pentacon GmbH
Enderstrasse 92
D-01277 Dresden
Germany
Telephone: International + 49 351 2589 213
Fax: International + 49 351 2589 303
Note new e-mail address 23.6.2010:
e-mail: info@pentacon.de or service@praktica.de
Baierfoto
Another repairer and upgrader in Germany is
Rolf-Dieter Baier. http://www.baierfoto.de
He
speaks excellent English. Click on the
link to go to his website. However,
in November 2020 he closed down his
business, although at the time leaving his
website up for information purposes only.
Foto-Service Olbrich,
Görlitz
A German visitor to this website sent me an
e-mail in which he said:
“BTW, there is a repairman in Germany who
totally rebuilds Pentacon lenses for a very
reasonable price:
Foto-Service Olbrich
Emmerichstraße 17
02826 Görlitz
Germany
Tel.: International + 49 3581 40 12 41
Fax: International + 49 3581 40 12 68
New website in June 2023:
http://www.fotoservice-olbrich.de/
Telephone number as before. Note new
fax number now given above.
E-mail address:
foto-olbrich@gmx.de
“I paid around 35 Euro + VAT + shipping for a
total dissassembly, cleaning of all elements,
lubricating, adjusting for each lens (the 120
lens had fungus, the 300 lens needed repair to
the aperture).”
In December 2005 Pentacon
Dresden recommended Foto-Service Olbrich for
more complicated lens repairs requiring an
optical bench. I telephoned them, and
they definitely have the equipment necessary
to do this. They sound very helpful,
and in February 2006 I sent them two lenses,
one for repair and the other for a
service. The lenses came back promptly
and Herr Olbrich had done an excellent job
on them for 40 Euros each + VAT + a very
modest charge for shipping (a lot less than
it cost me to send the lenses to
them!). To see more details on one of
the lenses repaired, click here and
scroll down to near the bottom of the
page. I have subsequently sent Olbrich
other lenses, on which he has done excellent
work.
January 2014 I
have just spoken to Herr Olbrich. He and
his daughter, Andrea Schönfelder, continue to
offer servicing of Pentacon Six cameras and
lenses, as well as for many other models and
makes of cameras and lenses.
March 2020 I
believe that Foto-Service Olbrich now has
limited spare parts for the Pentacon Six, so
it is best to contact them before sending
equipment to them. They do of course
also service and repair camera lenses from
various manufacturers.
Kameraservice Ostkreuz,
Berlin
In July 2007 I received a recommendation from
Tobias in Germany for another repairer in
Berlin. Here are the details:
Kameraservice Ostkreuz
Gunter Prügel
Neue Bahnhofstraße 6
10245 Berlin
Tel.: 030 / 291 36 26
Tobias says: “I got my Pentacon six fixed.
I am really pleased with the result. They
seem to have specialised in all kind of Eastern
Germany Cameras especially the Pentacon and
Praktica series.”
A list of other repairers in Germany can be
found at http://mitglied.lycos.de/kamerageschichte/and
click
on the Service link.
The
United Kingdom
Tom Page has asked me to remove him from this
website, as it is generating too much work for
him! Thank you, Tom, for your decades of
service to users of the Pentacon Six and other
classic cameras!
I recommend to visitors to this website who are
looking for a repairer within Europe (including
the UK) to contact Pentacon Service in Dresden
(details above) or one of the other European
repairers named on this page.
In February 2021 a repairer in
Scotland
was recommended to me: Cameratiks of
Edinburgh. On 12th February 2021 their
repairs page can be found here: https://www.cameratiks.co.uk/repairs
. They recently repaired a Pentacon Six
for someone who lives in Edinburgh and their
services will be of particular interest to
residents of the U.K., as well as to people
from some other countries.
Poland
In February 2001 I
received information on a recommended repairer
in Poland. A visitor to this website
writes:
“in Poland we have at least two or three repair
shops which are able more or less to do
something with the Pentacon Six ... - I'm
personally using services of one in Lodz -
Fotonaprawa
Piotrkowska Street 85
- they do everything rather slowly (well - they
are specialising in old stuff ... so they are
almost constantly occupied) - but the engineer
working with Sixes is very reliable and I can
recommend him ... - he was once a worker at Jena
- and (received) some training in Dresden - so
he always know what he is doing.”
Additional information:
Telephone number: +48 42 639 92 89
“They should be able to communicate in Polish
and English (probably a bit of Russian or German
too but I’m not sure). I forgot to add
that they have very reasonable prices -
but they don’t do Kievs (any kind), but they
should be able to repair Exaktas.”
Repairer in Warsaw
In March 2014 I received information on a
recommended repairer in Warsaw. Here
is what Piotr writes:
"here is another reliable place to service your
Pentacon six TL:
http://www.aparatfoto.com.pl/index.php?cPath=172&osCsid=cfd0a20e1cfb05de6d0f058407e783c3
I take all my analog Asashi Spotmatic/Pentax
cameras for cleaning and service to this place
and was never disapointed.
The chief-in-charge of the place is Mr Tadeusz -
one of the nicest and most charming men I've
ever met.
Prices are reasonable - as for what we earn
here."
Aparatfoto's website states: "Checking of the
correct operation of the equipment is performed
on the spot free of charge."
Here is a link to the front page of Aparatfoto's
website: http://www.aparatfoto.com.pl/
(A knowledge of Polish will be helpful to
navigate the website.)
Thank you, Piotr!
It is always good to know of other reparairs who
can service these cameras.
Spain
In May 2012 I received a
recommendation for a repairer in Barcelona,
Spain. A Spanish visitor to this website
wrote:
“My Psix with MLU works
like a "Swiss Watch". In Spanish this is
the "best working category". The 80mm lens had
a problem with oil on the blades, and a fungus
inside. These problems were resolved by
the repairman. My 80mm lens is with the
diaphragm ring in aluminium, I think 50
years old? Age´s problems.” [TRA:
without knowing the serial number, I think
that you have got the age of the lens about
right.]
The repairer is:
Joaquin Laborda Daura
The company is
Casa Sánchez
C/ Entenza no 133
Bajos Interior
Barcelona
Spain
Tfno. 93 226 71
16.
See also:
Web: www.reparaciondecamaras.es
E-mail :
joaquintaller@yahoo.es |
23 December 2012:
I have just received the
news that unfortunately this repairer
can no longer service the Pentacon
Six, because of lack of spare parts.
However, the person who
e-mailed me from Spain recommended
Kameraservice Ostkreuz in Berlin
(details higher up in this
column). He said that the repair
was speedy and the camera now
functions “marvellously well”.
He tells me that the repair price was
also appropriate. |
Ukraine
Gevorg Vartanyan of Arax Foto in
Kiev offers extensive repair facilities for Kiev
cameras. However, I have just
learnt (December 2010) that Arax does not
repair or service Pentacon Six cameras.
If you have a Kiev camera that needs repairing,
don’t be put off by his location. Ukraine
is proud to be part of the new, free
Europe. I have had good experience in
buying from him, and reports that I have seen of
his service and his products have been extremely
positive. Recommended.
Canada
I have also never sent
equipment to Canada for repair, but one
Canadian Pentacon Six user wrote the following
to me in September 2004:
“Personally, I have had
many of my cameras serviced in Toronto at
Commercial Camera Repair Limited,
5311 Young Street,
Willowdale,
Ontario
M2N 5R4
Tel 416-223-2257 [if the
internet hides part of this number, move the
mouse over it and the number should appear:
416 223 2257]
Fax 416-223-5715”
|
USA
I have no personal experience of Pentacon Six
repairers in the USA. However, below I
give information on some repairers who have been
recommended to me.
Lower down
this column: see December 2018 update on Leonid Treskunov
Stanislav Studzinskiy - Petersburg, NY
On the Kiev Report photographic forum in March
2011 a contributor gave the website of a
repairer in Petersburg, NY. Here it is: http://www.mechanicalcamerarepair.com/Home_Page.php
This repairer obviously specialises in cameras
and lenses from the former Soviet Union,
including the Kiev 60 and the Kiev 88. He
says that he repairs some “Pentakon” lenses (he
is clearly more familiar with the Russian
spelling), but he lists 80mm, 120mm and 250mm
and there is no Pentacon 250mm lens –
although there are of course 250mm lenses with
the Pentacon Six mount.
In April 2011 I saw very positive feedback on
Stanislav’s work.
“I sent four
lenses to Stanislav for a variety of
repair and internal cleaning
needs. I am happy to report that
his work was outstanding, and I am
completely satisfied and pleased with
the results. In one case he even
made an older first-series Biometar look
like new, which I was not
expecting. I could not be happier
with his work.
...
I would highly recommend Stanislav for
anyone looking for repair work on their
Kiev or Pentacon camera or other
equipment. ...
Incidentally, Stanislav’s English is
excellent, so for those of us who are
only able to communicate in English,
it is very easy to communicate with
Stanislav and describe exactly what
you would like done with your
equipment. He also completed the
work very quickly and I received the
lenses back very, very quickly.
Highly recommended!”
|
In July 2012 I received the following
extremely-favourable report on this
repairer’s work:
| “I would like to recommend
the following repairman in the United
States:
Stanislav Studzinskiy
12 Olneys Road
Petersburg, NY 12138
USA
info@mechanicalcamerarepair.com
I sent my MC Arsat
30mm f/3.5 lens to him for
replacement of iris diaphragm lever
and for CLA. The service was
completed within three weeks,
including shipping time. There are
booksellers who cannot fulfill an
order in this short space of a time.
Stanislav specializes
in cameras and lenses from the
Arsenal factory in Kiev, Ukraine. He
tells me that he is able to CLA
Zeiss lenses for the Pentacon Six
such as Biometars, Flektogons, and
Sonnars.
I found his name on
the TRA website on the repair
service page. This note is to
confirm and update your data
files. Please note the
spelling of Stanislav
Studzinskiy. Your website may
have transposed the last two letters
of his name.
Stanislav recommends
that my lens be stored with
diaphragm set at f/22, apparently to
relax the aperture spring.
Thank you for the
Pentaconsix.com website!
Michael”
|
Thank you, Michael, for the information and the
correction! - TRA
_____________________
Gary Camera Repair - Staten Island
Nathan Dayton (website: www.commiecameras.com)
gives the following details on repairers in the
USA:
Gary Camera Repair
228 Hett Avenue
Staten Island
NY 10306
718-987-0278
“Gary does good work and is inexpensive.”
_____________________
Leonid Treskunov - New Jersey
9A Poplar La.
Old
Bridge See new
contact details, below!
New Jersey 08857
trescam@hotmail.com
732-679-5805
“Leonid is a little more expensive but does
exquisite work. He repaired 2 Pentacons for me
and they are better than the new cameras that I
have. I can not say too much good about his
work.”
1st January 2008. Trescam
now has a website: http://trescam.com/index.htm
His address and telephone number have also
changed to:
Trescam, Inc
131 Community Circle
Old Bridge, NJ 08857
732-762-6038
The e-mail address remains as above.
In December 2018
I was delighted to receive the excellent
news that Leonid Treskunov is still
carrying out excellent repairs.
|
“I would
like to provide a reference to
Leonid Treskunov - he had helped
me two times already and I am very
pleased with his quality of work,
communication and speed.
A year ago he had replaced a mirror
on my Exakta 66 and recently he
performed CLA and some repair on my
another Exakta 66.” |
Feedback on the repairers listed here (and
any others!) is always welcome, as it helps
other users. Thank you!
_____________________
Fema Binder - New York
26th June 2007. I have just
received a further recommendation for a
repairer in New York City. Noel writes
as follows:
“I wish to submit to you another repairman in
NYC besides Mr. Smolov and Gary Camera Repair.
He is gentleman by the name of Fema Binder from
Kiev and he does excellent work. When I was
looking for help I consulted your site and tried
to communicate with Mr. Smolov at the time, but
I understand he was taken ill. This was on the
grapevine in NYC among the small tight circle of
repairmen who handle Pentacon and Kiev cameras.
Finding Mr. Fema Binder was a Godsend, and I
recommend him to you and all the folks who
frequent your site for any information you have
to offer. These are his vitals:
Panorama Camera Center
124 West 30th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-563-1651
He is located on the third floor of the building
after having moved his operation from the store
that fronted on the street.”
Thank you Noel for this recommendation!
_____________________
Ross Yerkes - Los Angeles
For repairs in Los Angeles, you can call Ross
Yerkes.
342 Kirby St
Los Angeles
California
90042-2108
Telephone: (international access +) 1 323 256
1018
He specialises in Noritas but I have heard that
he services and repairs Pentacon Sixes. He
is an excellent camera repairer and a good man.
– recommendation by TRA
In April 2006 I also received an e-mail about
Ross from a user in Iowa. He wrote:
| “I had a shutter speed problem with
one of my Pentacon Six bodies and sent
it off to Ross Yerkes in LA for service,
he did a great job of getting the camera
back to like new condition. Thank
you for listing him in the service area
of your site. Thought you might like
some feedback on the people who repair
these wonderful cameras.” |
Eddie Smolov - Brooklyn
“Eddie CLAed my Pentacon Six after I first
obtained it and repaired it again after my
tripod fell over. His work is very good,
relatively inexpensive, anf fast – what more
could you ask for? He also repaired the
diaphragm mechanism on ny 120 mm Vega and did an
internal cleaning of a cloudy Schneider Componon
enlarging lens for me for only $15.
Eddie’s business is located within the
Photofaction camera store at 7th Avenue between
President and Carroll Streets in Park Slope,
Brooklyn.
Bob Marvin” [September 2004]
On 14 May 2007, Sam Sherman reported “Eddy is
now working from home and you can call him on
his cell phone - 718-541-0952 Eddy can
work on almost anything ... the work is good and
the prices low.”
Update February 2011
A reliable source has provided a new address and
contact details for Eddie Smolov:
EDWARD SMOLOV <123camerarepair@gmail.com>
1660 E. 21 str. #3D
Brooklyn, NY 11210
718 541-0952
347 922-7275
Update October 2011
On 7th October 2011 I received the
following e-mail from a visitor to this
website:
'I emailed Eddy about a broken
Pentacon Six and unfortunately he's no
longer doing repairs. Just thought
you'd like to update your website.
"At this time I am no longer taking
any repairs because of my impaired
health and am currently seeking
treatment. As an alternative to me, I
recommend you get in touch with a
colleague of mine, Jerry Sorin,
an experienced camera technician
with nearly 30 years experience.
He will provide the same service as I
do. Sorry for the
inconvenience." '
My thanks to the visitor who
sent me this information.
We naturally extend our best
wishes to Eddy for speedy and
successful treatment.
Update 28th February
2012
I have today been informed that Jerry
Sorin has passed away. I extend
my condolences to his family and other
loved ones.
|
July
2012
Eddy continues to seek
suitable treatment and so is still not
accepting equipment for repair. We
extend to him our best wishes for speedy
recovery.
|