Where should I start to learn how to do CLA?

berc

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Hello,

I've recently become very intrigued by how a film camera works. I'd like to delve deeper into the topic, however I don't know exactly where to start.

Any recommended books, websites, youtube channels?

berc
 
The original, single-volume guide by Thomas Tomosey is a good place to start. Later revised into a 2-volume set, that may also be worthy, but I haven't had the chance to examine it. Tomosey assumes no prior experience, and offers many tips on improvising one's own tools. Book contains both fundamental repair techniques as well as more camera-specific tips.
Camera Maintenance & Repair: Thomas Tomosy, Michael McBroom: 9780936262093: Amazon.com: Books

Let's Try! Repair and Maintenance of cameras by Michio Ozeki / Japan Hobby Tool, available in both English and Japanese. Still in print, so if you want a physical book, you don't have to pay a collector's premium for it.
Let's Try! - Repair and Maintenance of Cameras

Both Tomosey and Ozeki concentrate on older manual-focus cameras. While newer cameras can generally be serviced too, a broader range of skills and tools may be needed, and newer components and materials such as LCDs and 1980s synthetic materials don't always age well. Pentax ZX/MZ-series cameras would be a poster child for the latter, but online DIY guides for these cameras exist, and I've used them successfully.

Am also aware of Japanese-language guides for fixing "junk" cameras which can sometimes be had cheaply, but I have not examined these.

For your first repair attempts, I'd strongly suggest starting with a cheap camera that you're not afraid to damage at least a little bit. Because until your skill improves, you may find that your tools tend to slip and gouge stuff a lot. So set aside that beautiful but gummy old camera for later when you are more confident, and concentrate first on salvaging junk cameras.
 
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While newer cameras can generally be serviced too, a broader range of skills and tools may be needed, and newer components and materials such as LCDs and 1980s synthetic materials don't always age well.
I've been thinking to start learning on old soviet rangefinders, since I heard that they're prettly simple. Also, tons are available here, where I live.
 
I've been thinking to start learning on old soviet rangefinders, since I heard that they're prettly simple. Also, tons are available here, where I live.
Which reminds me, I've forgotten to mention Isaak Maizenberg's Soviet camera book! Seems to have been originally published in the USSR, but followed Maizenberg to the USA when he emigrated. Last time I checked, hard copies were available as Amazon print-on-demand, but the originals have been out of print for some time.
maizenberg-cameras : Isaak S. Maizenberg : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
There are a number of omissions: For example, no Zenit E coverage! But more often than not, related models were pretty similar.
 
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