My SLR Stinks

[Pete B]

No, it literally does. It's a new to me Nikon in mint condition but apparently previously owned by a chain smoker. Any ideas how to get rid of the heinous odour?
Pete

 

[peterm1]

Koff Koff! When a fridge stinks baking soda is often recommended as a remedy. No I am not suggesting pouring it on the camera but maybe putting the camera in an enclosed box with an open container of Baking Soda may work. It is at least innocuous. Also what I would consider is giving the camera a good wipe down with a suitable cloth (maybe a micro fibre cleaning cloth) dampened SLIGHTLY with something like isopropol alcohol (which is readily available at hardware stores. Unlike some solvents I dont think it would attack the surface of the camera if used within reason. The stench of tobacco seems to be carried on hydro carbons so maybe alcohol would help dissolve them and wipe them away. Although the strong spray surfecants that come in surface cleaners these days would work too I think they use water as a solvent and I would be worried about putting it on a camera without very extreme care.

 

[btgc]

It took me weeks to remove nicotine smell from SLR and bag by keeping them wrapped in papers, changing them every day and keeping camera in a box with opened can of baking soda.

 

[Bille]

No, it literally does. It's a new to me Nikon in mint condition but apparently previously owned by a chain smoker. Any ideas how to get rid of the heinous odour?
Pete

Clean with alcohol, wait a few weeks.

 

[Sid836]

You could change its smell to coffee by putting it in a box along with coffee beans for a week. 🙂

 

[bobbyrab]

Start smoking and you'll be oblivious to the smell in no time.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yep, like all smokers, then you'll say: "what smell?"

 

[Keith]

Drink the alcohol until the smell no longer bothers you! 😀

 

[wintoid]

Baby wipes

 

[sc_rufctr]

Clean with alcohol, wait a few weeks.

I wouldn't use alcohol on a modern DSLR. It can degrade the rubber coatings.
With older film cameras it works fine.

Just some warm soapy water should do it. (not too much soap)

 

[sc_rufctr]

You could change its smell to coffee by putting it in a box along with coffee beans for a week. 🙂

That's a good idea. Well done!

 

[Bill58]

Koff Koff! When a fridge stinks baking soda is often recommended as a remedy. No I am not suggesting pouring it on the camera but maybe putting the camera in an enclosed box with an open container of Baking Soda may work. It is at least innocuous. Also what I would consider is giving the camera a good wipe down with a suitable cloth (maybe a micro fibre cleaning cloth) dampened SLIGHTLY with something like isopropol alcohol (which is readily available at hardware stores. Unlike some solvents I dont think it would attack the surface of the camera if used within reason. The stench of tobacco seems to be carried on hydro carbons so maybe alcohol would help dissolve them and wipe them away. Although the strong spray surfecants that come in surface cleaners these days would work too I think they use water as a solvent and I would be worried about putting it on a camera without very extreme care.

I can verify that Baking Soda works!

 

[Pete B]

Many good suggestions, thanks. It's a shame he wasn't a pipe smoker, I rather like the smell of a pipe. It's an FM3A. I've given it a quick wipe with some alcohol and it has had a significant improvement. Cheers everyone.
Pete

 

[BLKRCAT]

Drink the alcohol until the smell no longer bothers you! 😀

haha! best of the thread so far

 

[css9450]

Switch to Canon?

 

[eliev]

I bought a used F5 that stank too. The smell eventually went away from just using it.

 

[c.poulton]

I've got the same problem with a recently bought Fujifilm GA645zi - lovely camera in good condition except for the smell......!

I guess (hope) that it will wear off over time...?

 

[oftheherd]

Drink the alcohol until the smell no longer bothers you! 😀

Yep, funniest answer so far. Thanks for the laugh.

I think most of the answers are good, except for the warm soapy water. Just me, but I avoid water around my cameras when possible. Alcohol is fine, (ground but keep it out of the camera) coffee will help over time, and just exposure to air that doesn't have tobacco in it. I don't think anything will make it go completely away in one try.

I sympathize with you. I have had a couple come to me that way. I really dislike that.

 

[wintoid]

Gawd I've been here nearly 8 years...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13845

 

[sc_rufctr]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106323

🙄