In-house service
Lens and camera service, right here in Chicago.
The same tech team that preps every rental can take care of your gear. Led by our Lead Lens Technician, Nate Wilke, we handle lens evaluations, cleaning and servicing, troubleshooting, and custom fixes from our lens room at CineCity Studios.
Lens technician
Meet Nate.
Nate got his start at Panavision, where he began his lens training, and he's never stopped building on it. He attends the Lens Summit every year and is always working to expand his expertise.
Here, he keeps every lens in our inventory in check. He's also the person to talk to when you can describe the look you want but not the lens that gets you there. He'll sit down with you and work backward until you find it.
Want to see what's going on inside a lens? Come by the lens room and he'll put it on the projector with you.
Follow him on IG @natewilke.ir
In the lens room
- Chrosziel lens projectorDedicated projection room
- MYT Works Reticle System20 ft rail + projector mount
- Prêt à Tourner chartIn the lens room
- Every lens in our inventoryServiced regularly, tested daily
Off the clock
Nate is quietly famous around here for making genuinely outstanding drinks, and every so often for being the reason a night ended one drink further along than anybody had planned. Worth it every single time. It turns out the instincts that make someone great at evaluating glass (the patience, the fussing over tiny variables, the flat refusal to call something finished when it's only close) make them very good at building a cocktail too.
Services
What we can help with.
Projection checks and written condition reports, whether you're chasing down a soft lens or buying and selling glass.
Internal cleaning, dust removal, and general servicing for cinema and stills lenses.
Bench diagnostics for cameras, monitors, wireless video, and power. If a part has to go back to the manufacturer, we'll handle that for you.
Matte box adapter rings for lenses with odd front diameters, slim side mounts for wireless transmitters, and other one-off parts, designed and printed in-house.
Calibration for on-set and client monitors, so the image you're judging on set is the one you actually shot.
If something's off with your gear, send Nate a note. If it's not something we can fix, we'll point you to who can.
How service works
Starting a service request.
How do I start a service request?
Email nate@cameraambassador.com with what the gear is, what's going on, and any photos or test footage you have. Nate will follow up with next steps and when to bring it in.
Is there an evaluation fee?
Service starts with a $75 minimum charge for us to evaluate the gear and determine whether service is viable. We'll talk through the findings and the cost with you before any further work begins.
What if it needs to go back to the manufacturer?
Some repairs need factory parts or a manufacturer's service center. When that's the case, we'll let you know and can help coordinate it.
Get in touch
Gear acting up?
Tell Nate what's going on and he'll take it from there.