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Ralph's Lens Repair Rates
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Single focal-length lens (28mm, 50mm, 135mm, 200mm, etc.)
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$48US *
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| Single focal-length 1:1 macro (90mm Vivitar, 105mm Kiron, etc.)
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$60US *
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| Zooms
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$72US *
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| * Plus return shipping to you.
Canada Post has been playing a game, adding their "Fuel Surcharge" to their rates. I used to include return shipping in the overall price, but found I was taking a bath for the postage. |
These prices are what you'd expect to pay for major surgery: intensive disassembly, cleaning, reassembly and adjustment.
If your repair is less intensive, expect to pay less.
No gain: No pain.
If your lens can't be repaired, because of unobtainable or missing parts, stripped threads, glass separation, etc., you can abandon the project and owe me nothing.
If you wish the body returned to you for burial, return shipping would be the only cost to you.
Don't be in a hurry to pay me.
If, after receiving the repaired lens, and shooting some film with it, you're happy with the results, you can pay me via PayPal, cash, personal check, empty soda cans...
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How to ship your lens to me.
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Email me for the address. (I'd publish it here for the world to see, but I already get enough junk mail.)
Use lots of packing material. Bubble-wrap is great.
If mailing from The U.S, enter the value on the Customs sticker as $12, and the "description" as "broken lens." Items under about $14US seem to enter Canada without taxes. (We don't want to put ourselves in the ridiculous position of paying duty & taxes on our own lens.)
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I can't fix EVERYTHING.
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Scratched Glass: I can't fix a scratch.
Fungus: My success rate with fungus is about 5%. (This would drop to about 0% upon microscopic examination.) I will TRY to rid your lens of fungus, though.
Lens Separation: A finicky procedure, involving melting or dissolving the cement between lens elements and re-cementing them. Specialty optical firms do this work. I don't. Try these guys: Focal Point Inc.
Some defy complete disassembly: Some lenses are assembled with a vengeance. Assemblies cemented in place or tightened beyond any reasonable limit. It's best to abandon the project, when you find yourself considering using power tools & explosives...
Autofocus Lenses: It's not that I won't fix AF lenses, but that I don't have a supply of AF bodies to verify their correct operation.
I've restored a variety of different lenses over the years, but not every lens model ever made. I'm confident in tackling any lens, as many lenses share construction similarities.
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