We bring vintage film cameras back to life — every gear recalibrated, every lens polished, every shutter tensioned by hand. Leica, Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, and the icons of analog photography deserve more than a shelf.
Founded in 1986 in a converted darkroom in Berlin, Argentum was born from a simple conviction: the cameras that captured the 20th century's most iconic images deserve a 21st century future.
Our master technicians — trained at the original factories in Wetzlar, Gothenburg, and Braunschweig — work with original service manuals, period-correct lubricants, and hand-machined replacement parts. Every camera we restore is returned to its maker's specifications, calibrated to function exactly as it did the day it left the assembly line.
We don't repair. We resurrect.
Every camera that enters our workshop follows the same meticulous path — from initial assessment through final calibration. No shortcuts.
Full disassembly and photodocumented assessment. We catalog every component, measure tolerances, and produce a detailed condition report with restoration recommendations and accurate cost estimate.
Ultrasonic cleaning of all mechanical assemblies. Lens elements are separated, cleaned individually with optical-grade solvents, and inspected for coating integrity. Light seals and mirror foam are fully replaced.
Shutter curtains measured and tensioned. Gear trains lubricated with period-correct oils. Springs replaced. Rangefinder or mirror mechanism recalibrated to factory tolerances. Every moving part verified.
Three-round film test with lab analysis. Focus accuracy verified at multiple distances. Exposure metering calibrated against reference standards. Cosmetic finishing and protective treatment applied.
Drag the slider to reveal the transformation. Every camera undergoes hundreds of precision operations — see the results for yourself.
Complete photomicrography-grade overhaul. Original titanium curtains restored, meter head recalibrated.
Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm dismantled, cleaned, and recoated. Focusing screen replaced with modern split-prism.
Mirror mechanism rebuilt, film advance gears replaced. Zeiss Distagon 50mm serviced to clinical sharpness.
