Custom Camera Service Policy

At Zerka Studio, every custom camera is treated as an individual project. Custom work is carried out by our studios in the United States and Japan. This policy explains our inspection process, design approval, cancellation terms, turnaround time, shipping, and after-sales support.

1. Incoming Inspection

When your camera arrives, we will perform a basic functional and visual inspection and document its condition before customization begins.

If the camera arrives damaged, non-functional, or with an issue that was not previously disclosed, we will pause the project and contact you before proceeding.

Please note that our incoming inspection is not a complete mechanical or electronic service. Hidden, intermittent, or age-related issues may not be detected during a basic inspection.

2. Scope of Customization

Our customization service is primarily cosmetic unless mechanical repair or servicing is specifically included in your quotation.

Vintage cameras may contain brittle components, worn screws, aged adhesives, degraded rubber, or other hidden issues. If we discover a condition that requires additional parts, labor, or a change in scope, we will contact you for approval before continuing.

3. Design and Color Approval

We encourage you to share your preferred colors, reference photographs, design ideas, and other details with us. Our goal is to create a finished camera that reflects your vision and that you will be happy to own.

Digital mockups, photographs, color codes, and samples are provided as visual references. Slight variations may occur because of lighting, screen settings, camera materials, surface texture, and the hand-finished nature of our work.

Once the design has been approved and work has started, additional changes may result in extra charges or a longer turnaround time. Some changes may no longer be possible after surface preparation or painting has begun.

4. Camera Sourcing and Full-Service Design

Zerka Studio can source a suitable camera and develop the complete design on your behalf. This is our recommended option because it allows us to evaluate compatibility, body materials, and condition before customization begins.

Before purchasing a camera for your project, we will confirm the model, estimated condition, sourcing cost, and proposed customization with you.

Sourced cameras are generally vintage or pre-owned and may show normal signs of age or previous use. Once a camera, special component, or material has been purchased specifically for an approved project, that cost is non-refundable.

5. Quotes and Payment

Each custom project is quoted individually based on the camera model, desired finish, design complexity, replacement components, and estimated labor.

Work will begin after we have received the camera, approved the design, and received the deposit or payment stated on the invoice.

Any remaining balance, additional approved charges, and return shipping costs must be paid before the completed camera is shipped.

6. Cancellations

If you cancel before customization work begins, payments may be refunded, excluding approved camera-sourcing costs, special-order materials, completed design work, and non-refundable shipping expenses.

If you request cancellation after customization has begun, Zerka Studio will retain or charge 50% of the total customization fee as compensation for labor, preparation, and materials already committed to the project.

Return shipping remains the customer’s responsibility. Once the original surface has been stripped, sanded, or otherwise prepared, restoring the camera to its original appearance may no longer be possible. We will explain the camera’s current condition before returning it.

7. Turnaround Time

Most custom camera projects take approximately 1.5 to 2.5 months. The estimated timeline begins after we have received the camera, confirmed its condition, approved the final design, and received the required payment.

Turnaround times are estimates and may be affected by design complexity, paint-curing time, parts availability, unexpected camera conditions, shipping delays, or changes requested by the customer.

If a significant delay occurs, we will contact you with an updated estimate.

8. Shipping and Insurance

Customers are responsible for safely packaging and shipping their cameras to Zerka Studio. We strongly recommend using a tracked and insured shipping service.

Zerka Studio is not responsible for loss or damage that occurs before a customer-supplied camera is delivered to our studio.

Completed orders will be returned using tracked shipping, with insurance where available. Customers are responsible for providing an accurate and secure delivery address.

If an order arrives damaged, please contact us promptly with photographs of the item, packaging, and shipping label so that we can assist with the carrier claim.

9. Custom Orders and Returns

Because every custom camera and personalized product is made specifically for an individual client, completed custom orders are final sale and cannot be returned because of a change of mind, subject to applicable law.

If you believe there is a problem with our workmanship, please contact us with clear photographs and a description of the issue. We will inspect the concern and, where appropriate, offer repair or correction.

Pre-owned cameras and lenses and standard, non-customized accessories are covered by section 14, Returns and Refunds.

10. Mechanical and Electronic Condition

Unless specifically included in the quotation, customization does not include mechanical repair, electronic repair, calibration, cleaning, or a complete camera service.

Zerka Studio is not responsible for pre-existing, hidden, intermittent, or age-related mechanical and electronic faults that are unrelated to our customization work.

If repair is necessary before customization can continue, we will discuss the available options and any additional cost with you.

11. Finish Care and Normal Wear

Custom finishes should be handled with care. Avoid abrasive materials, solvents, strong chemicals, prolonged moisture, and unnecessary impact.

Like the original finish on a vintage camera, a custom finish may develop natural wear over time, particularly around corners, controls, straps, and frequently handled areas. Normal wear is not considered a workmanship defect.

12. Customer Communication

Timely communication is important for design approval and project completion. If we are waiting for your approval, payment, shipping information, or another required response, the project may be placed on hold and its estimated completion date may change.

13. Pre-owned Cameras and Lenses: Shipping, Import Duties, Taxes and Cancellations

Zerka Studio has offices in China, Japan and the United States, and our pre-owned inventory is shared between them, so an item may ship from any of these locations. Most pre-owned items ship from China or Japan by express courier (DHL, FedEx or UPS), usually within 7–12 business days. Each product page states the country where the item was made. If you are not sure where an item will ship from, please contact us before ordering and we will confirm.

Our prices do not include US import duties or taxes, and they are not collected at checkout. When an item ships from outside the US, US Customs charges duty based on the country where the item was made; each product page shows the estimated rate at the time of listing. The courier will contact you to pay the duty, together with its customs clearance fee, before or at delivery. Rates are set by US Customs and can change, and the amount charged by Customs is final.

If you refuse the package, or cancel your order or ask for a refund after it has shipped but before it has been delivered (for example, because you do not want to pay the import duties), we deduct from your refund a restocking fee of 15% of the item price, the shipping costs for both the delivery and the return, and any duties and customs fees charged. Handling a refused or returned shipment through customs takes considerable extra work, which is why this fee is higher. The refund is issued once the package has been returned to us.

14. Pre-owned Cameras, Lenses and Accessories: Returns and Refunds

You can return a pre-owned camera, lens or standard accessory within 14 days of delivery. Please contact us before sending anything back and we will give you the return address. The item must come back in the same condition as you received it, with everything that was included. Refunds are issued once we have received and checked the item.

Change of mind: if there is nothing wrong with the item and you simply no longer want it, a restocking fee of 10% of the item price applies because these are high-value items, and the return shipping is paid by the buyer. Import duties and the courier’s customs clearance fees are paid to US Customs and the courier, so we cannot refund them.

Defects or items not as described: if the item has a defect or a quality problem, or is not what we described or showed in the listing, please contact us within 14 days of delivery with photos. There are no extra costs to you: we pay the return shipping and refund the full item price.