Camera hacks

[colyn]

Or why you should not work on a classic camera unless you know what the @&*^%@$ you are doing.

I picked up a Kodak Retina IIIc recently that was going cheap and based on the description I suspected the cocking rack was the problem. Sure enough that was the issue but I could tell from damage not only to the straight slot screws but also to the pin screws someone who didn't have a clue had worked on it. I had to replace the 3 screws that hold the top cover on since they were beyond saving and I was able to replace the rewind pin screw from my parts box.

While this camera was now working the meter was off by more than a stop and since the needle would travel the entire scale I suspected the hack had screwed up calibration when he/she had loosened the pin screw on top of the meter so through trial and error I was able to get it back to where it is supposed to be so now the meter is working as it should and is accurate.

My point???

If you don't want to muck up the appearance of your classic camera and if you want it to work as it should let someone who knows do the repair...

 

[agour]

I disagree.

If a camera costs you >£70, getting it cla'd generally isnt worth the cost. For lots of cameras its cheaper to just buy another one that is in working condition.

Plus if an amateur never opened a camera, how would anyone ever get good at camera repair? You've got to start somewhere!

 

[newspaperguy]

Yes, but it would be nice if they would 'fess up to having done the quote, work, unquote...

not like that is going to happen.

 

[isoterica]

Actually I paid 10$ for a Yashica 35 Electro GSN in perfect cosmetic condition. Got it home and found out the new batteries wouldn't work so then 30$ for a CLA and have a perfect camera for 40$. The wiring was corroded so had to be replaced. Now I know this isn't an expensive camera however if you get cut a really good deal on purchase, why not spend a little for the clean.. you would have paid more for a better camera so it evens out.

As for doing your own it depends on how simple the camera is. TLR's I will clean myself. I'm not up to a rangefinder. The most complex I did was an Ansco Memar Pronto.. It had the green glue of death syndrome, as in the lubricant in the lens solidified and locked the focusing ring and I had to take it apart. Took a few weeks of soaking in solvent, boiling, etc.. but finally put it back together. Is it perfect? Wasn't to begin with.. but it takes some damn dreamy photos with the [already there] light scratching on the lens.

 

[colyn]

I disagree.

If a camera costs you >£70, getting it cla'd generally isnt worth the cost. For lots of cameras its cheaper to just buy another one that is in working condition.

Note my key word.... "classic"..

Plus if an amateur never opened a camera, how would anyone ever get good at camera repair? You've got to start somewhere!

Before opening a camera the proper tools should be on hand.

How does someone expect to trust your camera repair if it is marred by the wrong tools..

 

[colyn]

, quote,Yes, but it would be nice if they would 'fess up to having done the quote, work, unquote...

not like that is going to happen.

I'm trained at camera repair and have the correct tools. Been doing it since 1970...

The damage was already done before I bought it.. If I do damage a screw most likely I have a replacement undamaged screw to replace it with..

 

[wafflecakee]

I'd love to try to modify a fuji ga645 to 6x6... No idea if it is possible but if I were to crack open a camera. That would be the one.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I disagree.

If a camera costs you >£70, getting it cla'd generally isnt worth the cost. For lots of cameras its cheaper to just buy another one that is in working condition.

Plus if an amateur never opened a camera, how would anyone ever get good at camera repair? You've got to start somewhere!

Professional techs used to go to trade schools for camera repair. Unfortunately, none offer training in it anymore. I think camera manufacturers have thier own in-house training programs for newly-hired techs. That's probably the best way to learn if you want to do it professionally. If you want to do camera repair for yourself, for fun and to save money fixing your own stuff, there are books you can read, and of course, taking things apart to try and fix.

 

[newspaperguy]

Colyn - My reference was to the guy who sold it to you... Not You. :angel:

 

[colyn]

Colyn - My reference was to the guy who sold it to you... Not You. :angel:

Sorry.. I misunderstood..

I do agree with you in that the seller was probably the bad guy..

He also had a butchered IIIC (big C) but I passed in part because of the high price..

 

[sevo]

I think camera manufacturers have thier own in-house training programs for newly-hired techs.

For the makers where I got any insight into that, it used to be a spin-off of their regular in-house training for the production staff in assembly and adjustment. Nowadays, they've pretty much done away with skilled labour in the camera assembly - I strongly fear that these training programs have gone away or are now reduced to a introduction to the software used to determine which PCB to replace.

 

[farlymac]

The thing about 'if you don't start working on things, how will you ever get good at camera repair' is a decent point. However, I started doing repairs only because they were my cameras, and if I wanted to shoot them, I had to fix them. If I screwed it up, no harm was done to anyone else because I was keeping it anyway.

But there are folks who are unscrupulous enough to pass off a botched job to someone else. It's called human nature, and you can't get away from it. I would never sell one of my repaired units unless I was confident it was working correctly. After all, I've been repairing things my entire life, and usually for pay, so I know to keep a standard of integrity when dealing with others. But there are those who have no problem screwing someone out of money while covering their own ineptitude.

PF

 

[Pablito]

30$ for a CLA

Maybe in 1952!

 

[sig]

Or why you should not work on a classic camera unless you know what the @&*^%@$ you are doing.

I picked up a Kodak Retina IIIc recently that was going cheap and based on the description I suspected the cocking rack was the problem. Sure enough that was the issue but I could tell from damage not only to the straight slot screws but also to the pin screws someone who didn't have a clue had worked on it. I had to replace the 3 screws that hold the top cover on since they were beyond saving and I was able to replace the rewind pin screw from my parts box.

While this camera was now working the meter was off by more than a stop and since the needle would travel the entire scale I suspected the hack had screwed up calibration when he/she had loosened the pin screw on top of the meter so through trial and error I was able to get it back to where it is supposed to be so now the meter is working as it should and is accurate.

My point???

If you don't want to muck up the appearance of your classic camera and if you want it to work as it should let someone who knows do the repair...

It was going cheap, based on the description it needed to be fixed......... What more do you expext?

My point??? If you want to fix your own camera, go for it, it is yours....

 

[pinkarmy]

i am messing around with my chrome Konica C35,
because it is cheap and ugly and not worth paying a pro to do it
(and i already have a beautiful black working one and another non-working black one)
if i screw up it won't hurt. and i could learn a good lesson.


at the same time, i sent my Voigtlander Vitessa A3 and Vitomatic IIIb to a pro to have the viewfinder clean because i definitely don't want even the slightest screw-up.
it's a sin if i screw up a Voigtlander.

 

[Bill58]

I took my Nikkormat FTN today to a hack to remove/ clean the focusing screen. He did it for $10.00, but now the shutter is jammed. It was a 2-hour bus/ subway trip I now have to repeat.

 

[colyn]

It was going cheap, based on the description it needed to be fixed......... What more do you expext?

The previous owner who obviously had no camera repair experience tried to work on it and botched it. The reason it was going cheap is because nobody else wanted it. I only bought it since I have the parts to replace the damaged parts.. Had the owner left it alone he could have gotten more for it..

My point??? If you want to fix your own camera, go for it, it is yours....

But if you intend to sell be honest by mentioning the attempted repair...

 

[sevo]

But if you intend to sell be honest by mentioning the attempted repair...

You can't know through how many hands the thing has gone. Intermediate owners usually won't be able to determine why the thing won't work - often enough they can't even determine whether it works...

 

[colyn]

You can't know through how many hands the thing has gone. Intermediate owners usually won't be able to determine why the thing won't work - often enough they can't even determine whether it works...

You obviously missed my point which is if you have attempted a repair be honest when selling..

 

[zuiko85]

Guilty as charged! Well, sort of. I stick to cheap and available cameras with simple to fix needs. I did however, to my great chagrin, mess up a Kodak Tourist 6X9 folder with a nice 105mm f4.5 Anaston lens. Ruined it trying to remove the center lens element, now it's a pinhole body. But, this weekend at a local second hand store I found a replacement that is working fine. Now I got to find some time to sit in the dark and respool some 120 on to 620 spools.