The best place to get your analogue camera repaired in Portugal (and possibly the world)
Its not easy to find, but the good things never are.
Hidden in Baixa-Chiado lies one the best camera repairers I’ve found called J.C. Coelho Da Silva, yet you wouldn’t know it if you weren’t a local Lisboetta.
Dressed in white coats, heads adorned with magnifying glass headsets, Led Zeppelin loaded in the CD player and cigarette ash trays looking full — these these lads are the real deal.
The store is located in floor above the more easily found Vinil Experience store. Gil and Jose’s son speak fluent English so there are no issues with Portuguese language barriers.
Stepping inside the workshop is like stepping back in time. The workshop is adorned with every type of camera ranging from archaic large format beasts the latest digital offering. The workshop features literally everything required to CLA or perform major surgery on highly complex and frequently antique film cameras. And most importantly everything is highly organised and categorised, typifying the level of attention to detail required to service complex mechanical cameras. Opposed to many backstreet camera repairers, this place oozes an efficient time forged quality.
The family business has been operating since 1953 now by Jose C. Coelho Da Silva. Jose’s great great grandfather was one of the first photographers in Portugal and somewhat of a gold digger. The story goes that he happened to fall in love with Portuguese royalty. Marrying a Dutchess, Jose’s great great grandfather was lucky enough to own one of the first cameras to land in Portugal.
Jose’s great grandfather was also a photographer as one of the first forensic crime photographers in the Lisbon police force and finally Jose’s father, Jose A. Coelho Da Silva was the reason for the family business, launching it in 1953. Before launching the business Jose’s father travelled to Germany and worked within the Leica, Zeiss and Rollei factories learning his trade. Upon his return to Portugal he became the official technician for these venerable brands, as well as the newly arriving Japanese brands such as Olympus, Minolta and Nikon.
Jose and Gil are now the chief repairers in the business. Best mates, they grew up on the same street as kids before working within family business together.
Inside the packed workshop the only piece that stands out of place is a vertical CD rack packed with classic rock albums adjacent to a classic silver-faced CD player. You can see the sparkle in his eye as Jose admits that Barbara Streisand was his first real love.
Gil tells me that the workshop is mostly filled with the sounds of Led Zeppelin, Jethrow Tull and Keith Emerson with Zeppelin’s Song Remains the Same being the most played album. Gil also likes to rock out to Dream Theatre if he feels like something more modern.
I have had my Olympus 35sp fully serviced here for €100 and they calibrated the rangefinder on my QL17 G-III for €5. They’ve done a great job and I’ve been super happy with their service. Almost more importantly I also like that the boys have told me when I shouldn’t proceed with a service as they don’t think its worth it.
They haven’t paid me to write this article but were kind enough to let me in to their workshop to write this article. If they suck I would call them out. From my experience they’re simply the best camera repairers I’ve found in terms of quality and price, and great guys to boot. Highly recommended.
