Just watched a guy in Tampa try to fix a Canon AE-1 shutter with a flathead screwdriver

He was prying at the shutter curtain like it was a paint can lid, and I had to step in before he tore the silk. The curtain on those is way more delicate than people think, and you need the right spanner tool for the tension adjustment screws. Has anyone else seen a specific repair method that makes you cringe?

3 comments

3 Comments

camerona7928d ago

Totally agree with that, but I used to think soaking was a quick fix too. Back when I started tinkering with old cameras I figured more solvent equaled cleaner. Then I ruined a perfectly good Canon EF by dunking the top plate in isopropyl and watching the leatherette bubble up. @jadeg81 is right, those plastic windows cloud up real fast and the finish just gets this weird chalky look. I learned the hard way that a tiny bit of lighter fluid and some patience does way more than a full bath ever could.

jadeg811mo ago

Saw a video last week where someone "fixed" a sticky film advance lever by soaking the whole top plate in rubbing alcohol. They were shocked when the finish peeled off and the plastic window over the frame counter clouded up. Some people just don't get that cameras are precise, not a rusty hinge on a garden gate.

sagea881mo ago

I watched that same video and my jaw dropped. Soaking a whole top plate is like fixing a watch with a hammer. That sticky lever just needed a tiny drop of lighter fluid on the right pivot point. It's a shame because the camera was probably fine before they dunked it in alcohol.