The Best of Friends, Vendors, and Photographers:
And the place you really need a friend is at that point in time when something breaks or has a malfunction. Now we all know that Canon and Nikon and others all have repair facilities and we also know that Camera Repairs are costly to say the least. Very costly sometimes, and in a sense they have you in tow because the equipment today is very proprietary, complex and takes a trained technician who knows what he is doing. Well more like he knows how to change a part, very little repairs are done, many parts get swapped.
Now, part of being in business is to make money before and after the sale. A profit maker after the sale is accessories and repairs. While you are in warranty, it's warm and fuzzy, but what happens after the one year grace period is over. I like alternatives to the manufacturers party line. We have saved many units by going to outside sources.
We use exclusively one particular vendor, Mr. Isaac Hamid at
SOUTHERN PHOTO TECHNICAL SERVICE with two locations in the South of Florida. Yes, you can mention my name.
Palm Beach County
Southern Photo Technical Service
2275 South Federal Hwy. #360
Delray Beach, Florida 33483
Phone: (561) 272-2306
Fax: (561) 272-9681
16781 North Miami Ave
North Miami Beach, Florida 33169
Phone: (305) 653-7355
Fax: (305) 653-7356
Southern Photo Technical Service - Ask for Isaac Hamid
EQUIPMENT SERVICED:
• Digital Cameras-Digital SLR Cameras
• Medium Format-35mm Film Cameras
• Lenses- TV Lenses
• Flash Units -
• VCRs - ID/Passport Cameras - Legacy Cameras.
BRANDS SERVICED:
CANON - CHINON - BRONICA - FUJI - HASSELBLAD - JVC - KODAK - KONICA - MINOLTA - NIKON - NORMAN - NOVATRON - OLYMPUS - PENTAX - PHOENIX- POLAROID - QUANTARAY - RICOH - SAMSUNG -SIGMA- SPEEDOTRON - TAMRON - TOKINA - VIVITAR - YASHICA
NOTE:
For links to majors in the photo industry go to LINK List. This page has links to manufacturers, resources, forums and groups. Bear in mind some require joining or registering. Winston Churchill once quoted Will Rogers and said: "He would never join a club if they would have me as a member". There are times I think the great leader and the great writer were totally correct. Since I opened the can of worms, lets spend a half second on "Opinions..." Take them with a grain of salt ...and two shots of Vodka!
OPINIONS:
Many forums, clubs, and organizations have a few folks who do more harm than good. That's just the nature of the beast in open forums and groups. Usually one question gets many diverse answers. Some honest, some for personal bravado, some are opinions without regard to personal use, kind of irks me the most. How can someone comment or make remarks about something they have never used. Even the judicial system has a code against 'hearsay". I guess verbal plagiarism might be the term.
There are links to other Photographers (lots of them are clients of mine, I don't pull punches) who I found we had something in common. Good work, good attitude and ethics. Many of whom think the same way I do on lighting and other subjects and a few who don't. But that's OK this is a diverse sport. Ask a group of golfers who makes the best clubs and you'll see few agree. Worse, after you watch them play you wonder if they were qualified to comment in the first place. After a few at the 19th hole the clubs probably get used for making a point or too. Just like the cavemen.
Lastly links to things I like in the industry: I once said I would never recommend something I wouldn't use or buy for my self. Obviously I don't have a closet as big as Texas and I couldn't afford everything I'd like to have either in financial terms, but I can wish...
Please Note:
Most Local, State and Federal consumer affairs organizations suggest using Authorized Service Centers (like Southern Photo) when seeking service, since they are Trained, Supported and Authorized by the equipment manufacturer to properly service their equipment. Always shop for service wisely. S.P.T.S. does do warranty work for the brands mentioned above. Camera repairs are not for Joe the Plumber. McCain found that out.