Nicotine-Scented Cameras

capitalK

capitalK

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Today I found a beautiful Olympus 35-SP at a thrift store for $10. Looks great, everything works and I thought I was getting a steal... until I put it up to my eye and smelled the nicotine.

I bought it anyway in the hopes I can get rid of the smell (or learn to live with it). If it didn't look as good as it does I would have just left it there. There doesn't appear to be any nicotine staining anywhere on the camera.

So considering it has probably smelled of smoke for 30+ years is there anything I can do with it? I'm a lifelong non-smoker so the smell does bother me.
 
Yep sent it to me, I am a life long smoker so I would not notice it. Sorry I can't give you any practical help though. Lots of luck, I'm sure someone here has a cure.

Bob
 
Well if I can't stand it I may sell it, want to at least put a roll through to ensure it's in working order.

It's a little better with the case off, it was probably stored in a smokers house so the case may have saved the camera from nicotine-staining.
 
you could try this:
put the camera and the case into seperate zip lock bags with a dryer sheet.
Not sure if that will completely get rid of the smoke smell but it should minimize it.
Bob's idea isn't really so silly; have you any smoking friends who would appreciate a nice camera?
Rob
 
Try cleaning the exterior with a gentle cleaner. I've had some luck with that. If there's significant stuff inside, you're hosed (until it's hosed out inside).
 
rbiemer said:
Bob's idea isn't really so silly; have you any smoking friends who would appreciate a nice camera?
Rob
Click to expand...
And if the smokers ever decide to quit smoking, they will not need any nicotine gum or patches. Just a whiff of the camera will do the same thing for much less money 😀
 
The smell you have identified is not nicotine, but rather the tars associated with cigarette smoke.

I have successfully used "Goo Gone" with a number of cameras with a similar problem. The formulation of GG is from the oils of citrus fruit rinds after juicing. It is benign and smells pretty good. The smell does not hang around very long.

Dessicants will do nothing to remove the tars from the vulcanite/leatherette and isopropyl alcohol is an aggressive drying agent.

In a very bad case, I had to use a fluorocarbon solvent, but you have to be very careful that it is compatible with any plastic parts it may contact.

Overall, GG is the best bet, effective and you can find it in any grocery/hardware store.
 
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned this.

Plain old baking soda is excellent for getting rid of stale smoke odor. Put your camera in a closed container of it for a few days. Chances are it will get rid of much of the yucky smell.
 
I have a worse experience, bought a beautiful mint OM-4 a year ago from a guy along with some nice lenses. *All* of them, including the camera bag that came with it smells nicotine.

After doing some readings, I put them in a cardboard, in a cool airy place, along with a bowl of baking soda that I replace every couple of days. I read that the nicotine residue is oily in nature and will eventually evaporate (made haste with the odor absorbing baking soda).

It took a couple of weeks, but eventually the odor dissapears completely, replaced with the usual old leatherette smell, which is not at all bad. The OM-4 is now my wife's favorite.

As for the bag? it's now slung over my shoulder everytime I go out 🙂

I'll keep using it until it goes or until a black Domke F2 falls in my lap 😀
 
rbiemer said:
Bob's idea isn't really so silly; have you any smoking friends who would appreciate a nice camera?
Rob
Click to expand...

I am pretty new to rangefinders, I only have a Yashica MG-1 which is full-time aperture priority. Finding this fully manual Olympus one was a thrill. I'd really like to get some use out of it.

Not many of my friends would understand. They see their low-end point and shoot digital cameras as being superior to my old "pieces of ----". Of course I see it the other way around 😀

Thank you all for the great suggestions. I think I will try baking soda and if that doesn't work then goo-gone. I want to try a "dry" solution before a wet one.
 
As a follow-up, a day later and I have put the first roll through. Camera works great. It has been separated from the leather for a day now and the smell is almost gone from the camera without me trying anything.

A smoker-friend of mine suggested wrapping it in newspaper, which should absorb the smell. Trying that for now before my trip to Toronto this weekend.

Here is the link to the pics from the first roll
 
Sure don't capitalK. I have read that the concentration of ozone necessary for smoke odor removal is at a higher level than the EPA permits for an occupied room. So I guess when you borrow your neighbors generator just put that smelly old Olympus in a garbage bag with the generator and let 'er rip! Good luck with your project. I have had some success with odor removal using windex or other glass cleaner.

I have learned from my radio restoration days that some of the citrus cleaners will etch some plastics.

Steve
 
how about charcoal chips wrapped in gauze and place it in a zip lock bag with the camera for a few days, change the charcoal if needed and same procedure

again, it is tar and other hazardous small particles, but not nicotine
smokers wants the nicotine, not wanting the tar just as you wouldn't ;-)
 
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