Learning Camera Repair

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unixrevolution

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Hey all,

I am a DIY Computer fix-it, a DIY car mechanic, and a self-taught photographer. Seeing the general decline in the people who can fix our cherished film cameras, I was wondering how hard it was to get started really repairing camera gear.

What are the starting tools needed, are there any good books or self-teaching aids, and where do I get them?

I was thinking if I got good at it, I could even make it a second income. Not to tread on the toes of other Camera repair people, of course, but new people need to learn so there will be someone to fix Leicas and Pentaxes in 50 years 🙂
 
A good set of jewellers screwdrivers, a felt mat to work on (to keep tiny screws from rolling or bouncing away), some tweezers or tiny pliers, x-acto knife (for pulling up leatherette or stickers that hide screws) and a decent adjustable lens spanner, probably the minimum required.

Then get some simple cameras like Argus C3, Exa, take them apart and put them back together again. Once you do that work on some "real" cameras. Stick to manual cameras. Once plastics and electronics started appearing in cameras, they tended to no longer be made with servicing them in mind and you can get in way over your head without special tools and a manual specific to the camera you're opening up.
 
I’m not a repairman. I tinker with my old cameras and have fixed several that were “dead.” I’ve also have learned how to take apart a lens for cleaning (very helpful). Of course you’ll need a good set of tools (try micro-tools). As for books, Thomas Tomosy wrote two books on camera repair that are pretty good. Another, by Joe Lippincott, has also proved to be helpful. All are out of print but are available on eBay and other sites. Good luck.

Jim B.
 
unixrevolution said:
Not to tread on the toes of other Camera repair people, of course, but new people need to learn so there will be someone to fix Leicas and Pentaxes in 50 years 🙂
Click to expand...

Not that many toes left to step on, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.
I've been working with my hands on things with very small tolerances for decades, and have had the same thought you've had, for the same reasons, but doubt I will ever act on it.
Good luck!
 
FSU like Zorki and Fed's are some pretty good "Learning Material". Try your hand on Fed 1 or Zorki or Fed 2. Those are pretty basic and give you some undertanding about "Leica like" mechanics. Not the same as Leica very similar. Also, they are plentiful so lots of spare parts available.

Regards and good luck

Marcelo
 
Just a thought....

Perhaps contact some repair folks who are working in the repair business and see if you can find a mentor that could help you. Maybe someone who is retiring in a short while who could work you into their business.

Does Leica offer an apprenticeship program? Probably help if you could speak and write in German.
 
Start by making a list of cheap cameras that held together with screws. These may get sacrificed to the cause but apart from anything else you'll learn the tools you need.
 
Definitely want to hear how this turns out. I've had that hankering for a while but have never acted on it. Having seen many expensive cameras go for well above half their value if they have a known issue (which would seem difficult to fix) I always opted out. Who knows though... might give it a go.
 
That sounds like a really nice gig for part-time income in a field you enjoy.

I often notice "for parts" cameras on Ebay. I just searched on "camera body for parts" and there were quite a few hits. You might find some good practice bodies and also create parts inventory.

Good luck with it.

John
 
For decades THE place to learn mechanical camera repair was a mail order school in Colorado, National Camera Repair. The change to electronics had a big part of them going out of business in the late 1980's.
They were the GOLD standard for professional camera techs
National probably trained something like 95% of all the camera repair techs in the US in the 1950's to 1980's.

There course was about two years longs with over a dozen camera repair textbooks written by National.

In my opinion the National Course is so far beyond everything else available,
it makes no sense to buy other course materials - unless you can't find the National Course!

Sometimes their course text books or service manuals are for sale on ebay.
 
I started with tinkering FSU cameras. I found most of the tutorial on the Internet.

After FSU adventures, I've cleaned, calibrated, and fixed small malfunctions on some Canon RFs, as well as my Bessa-R, and various M39 lenses. I couldn't do fix any electronics, but managed to put a Yashica GX back to life that was mishandled by previous repairman (physical mechanic problem). But really, they were only small problems caused by ageing, or bumping into things, or carelessness of previous service work, and most of the problems were unbelievably easy to fix. For instance, 80% of the non working Canon-7 I saw on eBay were very likely caused by miss-installation of the self-timer lever, that can be easily fixed in 5 min.

I haven't purchased any camera completely dead but only with small problems here and there. So I wouldn't call myself a repairman. Plus I'm no collector but a shooter and I only put my gears back to working condition instead of make them shining like burning chrome.

Sometimes I'm not sure if I enjoy tinkering cameras more or shooting cameras more.
 
CameraQuest said:
For decades THE place to learn mechanical camera repair was a mail order school in Colorado, National Camera Repair. The change to electronics had a big part of them going out of business in the late 1980's.
They were the GOLD standard.

Sometimes their course text books or service manuals are for sale on ebay.
Click to expand...

This is a good point. I picked up several issues of the National Camera magazine, “The Camera Craftsman” to help me in my camera repairs. Each issue would frequently specialize in one camera and would do a total teardown, describing each step in detail, along with including many pictures. Very, very helpful.

Jim B.
 
I've disassembled a number of cameras (and even more lenses) for maintenance, but I don't think I've ever repaired anything that was broken. This would generally require an inventory of spare parts and specific knowledge of individual camera designs. I have replaced the shutter curtains of two Nicca Leica clones - a tedious chore that I don't look forward to doing again.

I would advise getting a nice set of small screwdrivers and a spanner to start with and find a cheap leaf shutter rangefinder that needs some work to experiment on. Most importantly, be sure to meticulously document the process with a digital camera. I also like to use empty film canisters for storing and organizing tiny screws and parts.

Good luck!
 
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