The future of SLR repair (2/3): Following manufacturer guidelines or creative DIY solutions?

[lumoStoria]

You're misunderstanding me. I'm actually very keen on encouraging people to try DIY—see my posts.

You misunderstood me, too . Of course, it is not your intention to leave people behind. However, you always set the bar very high when it comes to preparation and execution of camera repairs. For an absolute beginner, this might be threatening and he might shy away from all the overwhelming tasks and give up before he even tried. This would be a pity since - as you say, too - we need more (and younger) people entering the hobby. In my opinion, for certain beginners a more "playful" approach might be better suited where you just buy a broken camera for a couple of bucks and try to repair it. Will the camera survive? Probably not. Who cares? When it comes to cameras, there are probably only murderers in this thread . At least, the beginner might learn if repairing cameras is something he likes to do. If not, he can choose another, more appropriate hobby. If yes, he might continue and do better the next time and also learn gradually from your posts.

This is just my personal impression. However, I was in this "beginner" situation not much more than a year ago and, therefore, might have a better look on this topic from the "outside". I'm always more of a 'let's give it a go' type of guy and would have never entered the field of camera repair if I would have been forced to read thick service manuals and text books beforehand.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I understand your objection.

I, too, once started from scratch when it came to repairs.

But as I said before, we should distinguish between attempting to repair according to the manufacturer’s specifications, experimental shortcuts, and botched work. Everyone of course is free to choose one of these approaches.

However, based on my own experience, I refuse to consider these three approaches as equivalent.

If someone uses the botched methods described—and there is evidence to prove why they are botched—then an SLR cannot be considered repaired. At best, it will continue to run for a while longer and then fail again with the same error, or develop additional ones.

I value experimental shortcuts more highly, as they are done with careful consideration.

But the uncritical following of nonsensical and harmful measures remains botched work.

I’m happy to be called elitist or a gatekeeper in this regard

Let’s apply this to other fields.

For anything involving technology/craft, there are specifications.

For example, it would never occur to me to tamper with the electrical wiring at home. Even though I know a bit about it in theory, I have no qualifications. In the worst-case scenario, I wouldn’t survive an attempt at repair.

Nor do I try to do carpentry work because I can’t do it.

Or trying to tailor a shirt for myself, fix the radio, or fix a computer.

In summary:

Everyone is free to do qualified repair work on SLRs. Everyone is free to try shortcuts; everyone is free to botch things up. It’s just that these three paths aren’t equal. It can't be true for the reasons mentioned. And not just because frequent poster Andreas Thaler claims it is

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That doesn’t solve the dilemma faced by people who want to get their SLRs repaired but either can’t afford it, can’t find a professional repair shop, or don’t want to or can’t learn how to do it themselves. This dilemma can’t be resolved. At least, I don’t see a practical solution.

All I can do is try to help people with DIY repairs and provide them with information presented as clearly as possible. Free of charge. But I can’t take the effort off their hands or make the learning process any easier.

Not because I believe my approach is the only valid one, but simply because I don’t see any alternatives.

SLRs from the 1980s—hybrid SLRs—are plain and simple difficult to repair.

I think I've fully explained my position

Please take this as a suggestion, not as an attempt to presume to interpret things. If someone comes up with simpler solutions that work, that's great.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

As always, I’ll take the liberty of quoting myself

These are my three suggestions for DIY beginners.

All three approaches are based on my belief that only repairs that meet the manufacturer's specifications and are performed to a professional standard are effective.

In my opinion, it doesn’t get any easier than this.

But I’d genuinely appreciate any feedback on this. Or ideas and examples of how we can better support beginners.

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[Andreas Thaler]

In my opinion, for certain beginners a more "playful" approach might be better suited where you just buy a broken camera for a couple of bucks and try to repair it.

See the three links above.

I also recommend starting with a practice camera.

 

[4season]

Today it might be different but I strongly believe that the big camera manufacturers of the 70s and 80s did not use planned obsolescence...

I've got some suspicions about Fujifilm: They soldered batteries for TW-3 and GX680 film backs into place. I think their assumption was that all of their cameras, from entry-level to professional models, were consumable items.

 

[Tel]

See the three links above.

I also recommend starting with a practice camera.

I often buy a (second) junk version of a camera I'm trying to fix, just to figure out how to dismantle it and/or see how the mechanics of it work together.