Body servicing/cleaning

[onemanrace]

I have an old SRT101b that I really enjoy shooting with.
However, it's just been joined by an X-700, which is near mint.
So, now I have a new body to play with, I can think about getting the old one cleaned.It's terribly apparent just how dirty and fluff filled the optics on the SRT101b are!

It's mechanically fine, so I don't think anything needs replacing.

Can anybody recommend a firm that can undertake cleaning the camera body or possibly servicing it?

[Roger_Provins]

Well here's one I've used and been very happy with.

Ed Trzoska (0116 267 4247) will undoubtedly be able to do the job for you but it will take some time (he's a busy man) and will probably cost more than the camera is worth. Why not do the job yourself?

[onemanrace]

I've never attempted it before.
I guess I could do the job, if I knew how to correctly disassemble the camera and clean the internal optics, and possessed the correct cleaning items, and could source any possible items that would need replacing. Ideally, I'd like the body stripped, cleaned and reassembled.

Maybe I'm just feeling it's a little beyond my abilities at the moment!

How simple a job is it?

[RonM]

The company recommended by the Minolta Club is

Camera Repair Workshop
Unit 9,
Wharfside,
Bletchley,
Milton Keynes
MK2 2AZ

Tel 01908 378088
e-mail cameraworkshop [at] tiscali.co.uk (substitute @ for [at] and remove spaces)

They have handled these repairs for many years for many of the older Minolta film cameras and obtained many of the spare parts from Konica Minolta before it ceased to be.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

From what I've gleaned from the web, the difficult item in a CLA on the SRT 101 range is the thread which connects the lens aperture teller to the readout in the viewfinder.

However it's repaired - What will you do about the meter battery?
The original mercury cell is no longer available, and those which I bought in have lost their voltage. The Small Battery Company (LINK) have several solutions on offer. (I do find it amazing that mercury in batteries got banned just before we're all urged to go over to mercury containing low energy light bulbs of which many will get in to landfill.)

[onemanrace]

Thanks for the replies - I'll give the place in MK an email and see what's what.
Re. the battery in the SRT101b:
I actually replaced it about 18 months ago, and I didn't find any difficulty in finding a replacement. Is this something I should be worried about in the future? IIRC, I found a suitable battery on the high street.

Cheers!

[Malcolm_Stewart]

As I'm in Milton Keynes, I've used the Camera Repair Workshop several times with good results. (His last repair for me was to resurrect my Canon T90 which had suffered the well-known dead shutter problem.)

Good to hear that you've sourced adequate batteries for your SRT101b.