Being able to maintain and repair your own SLR, being independent - for some, this is a wonderful idea.
But as soon as it comes to putting it into practice, disillusionment sets in.
It's complicated, the instructions are incomprehensible, all the parts are tiny, their function is not self-explanatory, and then there's the electronics, which make it all even more puzzling, and expensive tools that I don't know how to use – I'll never manage it.
And so the DIY project is abandoned
And with it, the opportunity to repair an SLR yourself that no repair shop will take on because it requires specialization that is not economically viable. If it were a Leica M or Nikon F ... But a Canon T90 or Minolta Maxxum 7000? Sorry, there's just no demand for that.
And so the SLR you purchased once or the heirloom from your father/grandfather remains broken in the closet.
What a shame
Sure, you can't learn how to repair a complex SLR in a day.
But one day is enough to get what you need:
- A broken SLR of the type you want to repair.
- The corresponding SPT Journal with all the necessary instructions to disassemble step by step.
- A 00 JIS screwdriver, tweezers, a soldering iron, solder and flux, safety glasses and a magnifying glass.
And on the third day, I read the SPT Journal, accept that I don't understand most of it yet, and try to replicate what it says.
On the fourth day, the SLR could already be without its top cover. Then I see how the image counter is constructed, how switches work that I have only seen from the outside before, and what an LCD looks like without a cover and how it is connected.
And so it goes on, day after day
And if I stick with it, in a few days, months, years - time doesn't matter here - I'll be able to repair my beloved SLR myself.
What a joy!
See also
How-to guide DIY service/repair for electromechanical SLRs: How do I get started with DIY? (part 1/8)
Over the past few months, I’ve been active online with the goal of making DIY service/repairs for electromechanical SLRs accessible to a wider audience. The aim is to help preserve these beautiful and ingeniously designed SLRs from Japan dating from the 1970s and 1980s. This is because repair...
www.photrio.com
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A word of cautionPlease keep in mind that you’ll be using highly flammable solvents for service work, and their fumes are harmful to your health. Soldering also produces fumes that should not be inhaled. Dangerous high voltages can be present when handling electronics, especially in conjunction with electronic flash units and mains. Therefore, familiarize yourself with the safety regulations beforehand and ensure your safety. Depending on the activity, protective gear may be advisable.
All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
Acknowledgments
Without the work of Master Larry Lyells, in particular, we wouldn’t have the detailed technical information we need today for service/repair of SLRs.
The SPT Journal and The Camera Craftsman, which he helped shape significantly as an author, and which contain all the necessary information and instructions are available for a fee through Learn Camera Repair.
We owe our access to them to Eugene Pate, the founder of Learn Camera Repair.
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