The topics covered in the National Camera Repair Course

[Andreas Thaler]

National Camera in the US provided documents on various topics as part of its self-study course for aspiring camera technicians.

These documents are among the best that have been published on the servicing and repair of film photography equipment. They were published in the 1970s and 1980s.

My research has resulted in the following list of the individual topics covered in the course.

Most of these publications can be found as PDF files on Learn Camera Repair (fee required) or possibly in the Internet Archive for free. Print versions are also available for purchase on eBay.

As an example "Practical Optics" is a comprehensive course on lens servicing and, to my knowledge, is unique.

All other parts

also provide knowledge in a generally understandable form.

They are the ideal prerequisite for learning on your own and working with repair instructions in SPT Journal and The Camera Craftsman as well as with the manufacturers service/repair manuals.

In addition

National Camera has published articles on other topics that were obviously not part of the course.

Wherever you come across these documents, you should grab them.

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Known Topics of the National Camera Repair Course

1. The Photo Equipment Technician
2. The Camera And Its Variations
3. Photographic Techniques
4. Darkroom Techniques
5. The Workshop, Bench And Tools
6. Using Hand Tools
7. Estimating Repair Charges
8. Optics For The Camera Technician
9. Practical Optics
10. Introduction To Shutters
11. The Simple Escapement Retard
12. 35mm Disassembly Techniques
13. Camera Design Characteristics
14. Rangefinder & Autofocus Systems
15. Exposure-Control Systems
16. Cross-Coupled Meters
17. Testing Shutter Speeds
18. Focal-Plane Shutters
19. The Single-Lens Reflex
20. Modular Focal-Plane Shutters
21. Photographic Electricity
22. Practical Electricity
23. Semiconductor Electronics 1
24. Semiconductor Electronics 2
25. Electronically Controlled Shutters
26. Servicing Electronic Shutters
27. Electronic Flash Units
28. Automatic Electronic Flash Units
29. The Slide Projector
30. The Leica Type Shutter
31. Complex Escapement Retard #1
32. Complex Escapement Retard #2
33. Variations on the Escapement Retard

 

[Paul Howell]

One of the PJ I worked with in the 70s when with UPI had taken the course in order to learn how to make emergency repairs in the field. Dont know if he ever had to make such a repair, the course was expensive but came with a set of basic tools.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

One of the PJ I worked with in the 70s when with UPI had taken the course in order to learn how to make emergency repairs in the field. Dont know if he ever had to make such a repair, the course was expensive but came with a set of basic tools.

Those were more generous times than today.

How I would have loved to have taken the NatCam training course, even without the tools

 

[Paul Howell]

As it was all distance learning, although it might have been taught in residence as well, buy a complete set of the course materials, although it seems to be centered on mechanical and simple electronics as opposed the IC of the 80s and 90 bodies.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

As it was all distance learning, although it might have been taught in residence as well, buy a complete set of the course materials, although it seems to be centered on mechanical and simple electronics as opposed the IC of the 80s and 90 bodies.

As far as I can tell, the course covers the technical aspects up to the early 1980s. The electronically controlled vertical focal-plane shutters, found in many 1980s SLRs, are only covered up to the Copal Square SE shutter (I can't prove it) the forerunner of this technology. Similarly, the increasingly integrated electronics are not covered beyond that point. But that’s where the SPT Journal comes in handy,

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Without the work of Larry Lyells and Gene Pate, who give us access to these resources (SPT Journal, The Camera Craftsman), most repairs and maintenance on later SLRs would not be possible. You won't get very far on your own with a Canon T90.