Overheard a guy at the repair shop say a CLA is a waste of money on old gear

Last week I was waiting at Bob's Camera Repair in Portland and this guy starts ranting to the tech that paying $150 for a clean and lube on his old Minolta was just throwing cash away. He said digital bodies are so cheap now you should just buy a new one instead. It really got me thinking how many people don't understand that a good CLA can make a mechanical camera last another 20 years. I've fixed up three old Nikon F2s myself and each one ran like new after a proper service. Has anyone else had customers argue that a CLA isn't worth the cost?

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.zara1mo ago

Wait, didn't someone online say a good CLA actually adds value to old gear?

the_tara1mo ago

The whole "just buy new" attitude is a bigger pattern in modern life, not just cameras. People apply it to boots, watches, even cast iron pans (I've heard someone say toss a rusty pan and get a nonstick, can you believe that?). My aunt tried to throw out her 1980s KitchenAid mixer because the motor was sluggish, one service call later and it's been chugging along for another five years. We've been trained to think everything is disposable, like fixing something is this weird, outdated hobby instead of just smart living.