Can you do anything about rust/corrosion on a camera's surface?

allohse · Mar 3, 2022

I've asked around a few times and the answer seems to be "no".

But I'm curious if there are any tips for stopping corrosion from getting any worse. Or maybe just for conserving your camera in good condition and free of humidity (or any reading material about it).

For example, these rust spots on this camera I'm thinking about buying. I guess I have to live with them, but won't they get worse over time?

BobD · Mar 3, 2022

For small spots of rust on chrome, I use Turtle Wax Chrome Polish & Rust Remover. It works very well for me.

shutterfinger · Mar 3, 2022

Cider vinegar removes rust from steel, let sit in the vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes, rinse with water, apply a light coat of oil to prevent the rust from reforming. For magnesium with the white flaking soak in the vinegar for 30 to 45 seconds then rinse with water, dry and repaint.

For the spots on the pictured camera visit your local car parts store and get some paste type metal polish and the verity store and get some cotton swabs. Apply and wipe off the metal polish with the cotton swabs.

albada · Mar 4, 2022

I've found that the abrasive in toothpaste is enough to clean chrome on cameras without damaging it. Your corrosion is minor, so I suggest cleaning with toothpaste and then forgetting about it.
Humidity is an enemy of cameras and (especially) lenses due to fungus. I don't how humid it is where you live in Brazil, but I think as long as you store the camera in an area under 60% or so, it'll be fine.

Mark Overton

gone · Mar 4, 2022

Anything chrome plated on a camera is usually going to be plastic or brass, neither will be any worry regarding corrosion, it's just cosmetic. Even if it turns out to be surface rust on steel, that's all it will be, on the surface. Cameras generally don't rust.

AgX · Mar 4, 2022

I looked meticulously at those photos of yours and there is NO rust at all.

Concerninng the corrosion there is I myself at my cameras leave such as is. In cases with salts visible I do a chemical treatment, but the visual effect then typically will be worse than before.

The perfect way to solve the issue would be machining, polishing, de-coating and re-chroming these parts. A major and costly endeavour.

But as you seem to insist on doing something, the only practical approach I can offer is retouching the parts with aluminium-bronce paint and rubbing off the excess so that the paint remains only at the pits. You have to see then whether the effect makes the pits more or less obtrusive than before, it will depend also on the sort paint used..

BrianShaw · Mar 4, 2022

The only thing I'd consider is to clean up the center terminal of the synch port and the terminals on the hot shoe if planning to use a strobe.

allohse · Mar 6, 2022

What's the best method to do that, specifically?

Can you do anything about rust/corrosion on a camera's surface?

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