About

People regularly ask how I got started in camera restoration. Sometimes they ask out of plain interest; other times, out of concern for their cameras. Either way, here's some history behind Factory Cameras, and how I work.  ↓ 

Who

I'm a lifelong, formerly professional photographer. I have backgrounds in multiple fields, including journalism, where I got some formal photography and darkroom training.

 

I've always run my own businesses, including a web & application development outfit for nearly 15 years. 

Today, I photograph in both digital and film and work primarily on personal photography projects when I have the time. 

What

After a long break from shooting with film in the 1990s, I took a stab in trying to restore my late father’s broken Olympus OM-1—the same camera he taught me to use when I was a kid in the ‘70s. It was daunting, but with persistence I managed to restore it to working condition. Then I tried restoring a another camera he had. A Minolta. I totally ruined that one. 

Despite the mixed results, my career in camera repair had begun. In the following months, I bought cheap cameras (“for parts/repair” as advertised), restored them, and sold them. People who bought them would sometimes ask if I also offered repair services. My replies were always dismissive—I just couldn't imagine a demand for it. 

When

During Covid in 2020, I dove deeper into camera repair and carried on. I read a dozen books on camera maintenance. I studied troves of repair resources. Over weeks and months, I worked on dozens of cameras. We learn through mistakes, they say. I learned a lot. 

Eventually, though, I became curious about the viability of offering restoration services. I created a website, stole the name of a business I owned years earlier, and launched the business on a bit of a whim. 

It started fairly quietly (I didn't advertise), but people started inquiring. The first weeks and months brought a small number of clients. That slowly becoming a few per week. Today, when I open applications for new work, my slate fills up in a matter of hours. I repair hundreds of cameras a year, and help almost as many photographers. 

How 

I have no accreditation, just years of hard-won experience. Becoming proficient in camera repair is a steep curve.

While the craft makes me happy, it's also frustrating because, by nature, it's slow work. That means I can't always service people’s cameras as quickly as I’d like. I work at a measured pace to ensure it's done to the highest standard I can offer. 

Despite the business name, there is no “factory.” There isn't even a kiosk. I'm one guy in a well-equipped attic workshop who loves cameras, photography, and helping people.

I have an Instagram account with a measly following, but it's really just a reference for people to see some of the cameras I've worked on. It represents a very small percentage of the repairs and restorations I've done. 

I meet my clients by appointment on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. 

I hope I can help you. Please get in touch if you have questions. Or just to say "Hello." I always enjoy that. 

Best,
Kevin