CLA & Repairs Pricing

What a CLA is, examples & other repair pricing breakdown

Scope: This page applies to 35mm and medium format SLRs and TLRs only.

Polaroid cameras are an entirely different system — if you are looking for Polaroid repairs and restorations, please visit: Polaroid Restorations.

Most of our repairs are quote-based, with availability determined by our technicians’ expertise and the availability of necessary parts. In some cases, we may not be able to offer a repair due to various factors. When that happens, there is no charge, and we’ll do our best to suggest alternative options.

Our goal is to make camera repairs fair, affordable, and transparent. Every quote includes clear pricing, and we're always happy to provide guidance on whether a repair is worth pursuing. In some situations, the cost of repair may exceed the value of purchasing a comparable replacement—if that’s the case, we’ll let you know and recommend trusted alternatives.

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What Can We Service?

• We fully service nearly all lenses.
• We fully service nearly all 70s–90s SLR mechanical and electronic film cameras.
• We can replace light seals on nearly any camera.
• Exterior parts replacement on nearly any camera.
• Electrical issues are model-dependent; we are currently not offering full service repairs for TVS series, FUJI GA series, and other electronically complex cameras. This is case dependent—feel free to reach out at repairs@brooklynfilmcamera.com.

See the bottom of this page for a more comprehensive list.

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CLA Service (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust)

A CLA is one of the best ways to keep your camera running smoothly and extend its lifespan. While a CLA sometimes resolves specific issues, its primary purpose is preventative maintenance: restoring your camera to reliable working order and ensuring consistent performance for years to come.

Note: CLA services are separate for lenses and camera bodies.

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CLA for Cameras

Our CLA service includes:

• Light seal replacement to prevent light leaks and protect film
• Lubrication of moving parts including the mirror mechanism and other key areas prone to wear
• Shutter magnet evaluation and replacement if needed
• Shutter speed testing and fine-tuning for accuracy
• Light meter evaluation and calibration checks

During a CLA, our technicians carefully inspect your camera inside and out, cleaning away old lubricants, dust, and residue that can compromise performance. This process often improves the feel of winding and shutter release, reduces the likelihood of jams, and helps protect delicate components from premature wear.

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Camera Repair Pricing

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CLA for Lenses

A lens CLA starts with removing the mount and/or the front element(s). From there, grime and oil are removed from under the mount. As the work proceeds, each element is cleaned of fungus, haze, and any present dust (if possible). The helicoids are then cleaned of old grease and re-greased if necessary.

The aperture is checked for sluggishness; if it appears slow, each blade is removed and soaked to remove oils. As the lens is reassembled, the aperture is checked to ensure it fully opens and closes. Finally, focus is checked to make sure it hits infinity correctly.

A lens CLA typically includes:

• Removing the mount and/or front elements
• Cleaning grime and oil from under the mount
• Cleaning each accessible element of fungus, haze, and dust (if possible)
• Removing and re-greasing helicoids as needed
• Inspecting and restoring aperture performance (disassembling and cleaning blades if sluggish)
• Ensuring correct infinity focus after reassembly

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Lens Repair Pricing

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Comprehensive List of What We Service

We repair most cameras. If you have a special case, you should just email us at repairs@brooklynfilmcamera.com. To give you a better scope, here are some of the services and issues we handle:

• SLR jams
• Squeaks and lubrication issues
• Oil cleaning and removal
• Shutter speed adjustments
• Dial repairs and calibration
• Stuck shutters
• Broken external or internal pieces
• General cleanings
• Full CLA services
• Aperture smoothness adjustments
• Aperture oil cleaning
• Fungus and mold removal
• Wiring replacement
• Meter replacement and repair
• Re-soldering connections
• Electrical board repairs
• ...and more

We commonly service cameras from:

• Canon (AE-1, A-1, F-1, T-series, EOS film bodies)
• Nikon (FM/FE, FA, F2/F3, Nikkormat, AF film bodies)
• Mamiya (645, RB67, RZ67, C-series TLR)
• Pentax (K1000, Spotmatic, MX/LX, 67)
• Minolta (SRT-series, X-series, Maxxum/Alpha)
• Olympus (OM-series, Pen F, OM-2/OM-4)
• Yashica (Mat TLR, FX/FR SLR)
• Konica (Autoreflex, T-series)
• Ricoh (KR-series, XR-series)
• Topcon, Praktica, Exakta mechanical SLRs
• Rollei TLR (Rolleicord/Rolleiflex — limited scope)
• Bronica (SQ/ETR/GS — selected services)
• Voigtländer, Zeiss Ikon 35mm SLRs (case dependent)
• And many other classic Japanese and European cameras

Note: Some complicated and high-end cameras such as certain Leicas, some FUJI GA series, and the Contax series can only receive limited repairs — we do not currently offer full CLAs or certain repairs for these models. We are actively expanding our department to support a broader range of advanced cameras.

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Exclusions & Special Cases

Cameras affected by conditions such as:

• Impact damage
• Torn and ripped shutter curtains
• Moisture or extensive water damage
• Bent shutter blades
• Sand or fine dirt
• Any other major damage beyond normal wear and aging

…are not eligible for standard CLA service. These cases will be a normal repair quote.

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