West Coast Camera Repair Shops

Christopher Murakami · February 17, 2011

Any recommendations for camera repair shops on the west coast?

I'll have a Canon Scoopic 16M that'll need the basics - cleaning, lube, etc. and markings on the ground glass for a 16:9 ratio.

Raul C Palma · February 17, 2011

Spectra Film and Video in North Hollywood, CA do a good job but I am not sure if they handle the markings on the ground glass...

Bruce Taylor · February 19, 2011

You might ask Paul Korver at Cinelicious.tv where he gets his Scoopics serviced. Last time I spoke to him he had several, so he must have them serviced somewhere. Bernie O'Doherty of Super16 Inc. in NY works on a lot of them, he'd be able to tell you about the difficulty of marking the groundglass. I recall he did his LaserBrighten groundglass process to someone's Scoopic on this list and vowed he'd never do it again. The Scoopic is more like a giant S8 camera than the other pro 16mm cameras of the day, and that can lead to some service issues, especially when things are this old. Fun and easy camera to use though, my only complaint was the wide end of the lens wasn't very wide.

Dom Jaeger · February 19, 2011

Yes, up there with the Bolex EL in terms of pain-in-the-arseness to service.

Years ago when I was just starting as a tech in the Sydney Panavision service department the service manager gave me a Scoopic to work on. In hindsight I'm sure it was one of those jokes people play on the newbie.