I had the Mamiya RB67 and Pentax 67 on my medium-format wanted list for many years now, but I simply could not justify the price tag or bare the unfortunate realization that either camera would sit lonely and unused on a shelf. That all changed December 2022 when I decided to grab a non-working RB67 as a Christmas present for my eldest brother. Sure, you must be thinking jeez this guy is incredibly cheap if he gives people broken Christmas presents but boy you would be wrong.
How to replace light seals in old film cameras for less than $5 with stuff you can find at Walmart
With the rise in popularity of film over the last few years, it’s no surprise that a lot of old (really old) cameras are making their way back into the used market. Some of these cameras can be 50+ years old and they’re wonderful cameras to go out and run some film through. The problem, though, is that when they get that old (and sometimes not even that old) the seals that prevent light from leaking into your camera can disintegrate and need replacing.
You can, of course, get your old camera cleaned and sealed at a local camera shop (assuming there’s one still left near you that knows what they’re doing) but you can also do it yourself. In this video, Jonathan Paragas of KingJvpes walks us through swapping out the light seals in one of his old Nikomat FTn cameras using nothing but stuff he found in the local craft aisle at his local Walmart.
Watch the photographer as he renovates a beautiful 100-year-old camera
When it comes to cool projects with vintage cameras, Markus Hofstätter is one of the names that immediately come to mind. Many of his portraits were shot on his faithful old Century No.2 camera. However, its bellow started to leak light, and Markus decided it was time to make an effort and repair it.
So, he got to work and restored the 100-year-old beauty. He filmed the whole process and the end result, and if I may say – the ol’ gal looks even better now with its brand new bellow.
Google’s mail-in repair service accused of hacking customer’s phone searching for nudes
Google’s mail-in repair service was recently accused of hacking a customer’s phone. Game designer and author Jane McGonigal recently sent her Pixel 5a to Google for repair, and she claims that they hacked it and went through her private data and photos – especially those with hints of nudity.
Couple’s $800 from Walmart camera breaks, Nikon says it’s “gray market” and won’t repair it
A couple bought an $800 Nikon P1000 for bird photography. And when it broke – the company could do nothing to fix it. Even though the camera was bought at Walmart, Nikon considers it to be “gray market gear” and won’t repair it, leaving the couple with a “$800 paperweight.”
Resurrecting a broken 50-year-old Linhof tripod with a little DIY repair
There is a lot of old camera gear out there and I regularly see people showing off their “finds” on social media. Usually, though, it’s cameras or lenses. Often in decent working condition, too. Occasionally, though, they become repair projects, and following that process is fascinating. Less common, though, are anything photo-related that isn’t a camera or a lens… Like a tripod.
Well, Markus Hofstätter found himself in possession of a 50-year-old Linhof tripod that had apparently been involved in a bicycle accident and was in pretty rough shape. Being a big fan of really old camera gear and also being pretty good at repairing it, he decided to see if he could give this old Linhof tripod a new life.
Camera Rescue starts a free school for repairing and preserving old film cameras
The Camera Rescue team are on a mission to save old and discontinued film cameras. And if you’d like to join them and learn their craft – now you can. They’re starting a school where they will teach you to repair and preserve old film cameras, and even recreate the missing parts for them. And it’s completely free of charge.
Apple kills off 3rd party iPhone 12 camera repairs thanks to proprietary Apple tool requirement
If you’re one of those who’s jumped on the new iPhone 12 smartphones, be ready to take very good care of it because if you kill the camera, there’s no inexpensive repair option. It will have to go back to either Apple or one of the few (expensive) authorised repair centres, iFixit has discovered in some more extensive testing of the new iPhones.
A leaked internal Apple training guide suggests that this is intentional on Apple’s part, and also indicates that it’s true of all four models of the new 12 series iPhones, as they have to be tested through Apple’s proprietary software – although iFixit has only seen issues with the iPhone 12 so far. Oh, yeah, and screens can’t be user replaced without errors, either.
Nikon USA has opened back up its repair service – but not for walk-ins
After Nikon shut down its repair services in the USA and Canada in March, Nikon USA has reopened its service centre, but only for mail-in customers, not walk-in customers over the counter. This is expected to change as measures are put into place to protect both their staff and customers.
As a result of COVID-19, an announcement on the Nikon USA website says that there is a longer turnaround time than usual and that delays should be expected.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is actually super easy to fix
The folks at iFixit have been working hard during the lockdown, including building a massive repository of repair information for ventilators and other devices to help those who need to repair life-saving equipment. But they’re also managing to keep up with their regular YouTube duties, too, still regularly posting teardowns and instructional videos to repair your personal devices.
Most recently, their latest video is the new DJI Mavic Air 2 drone; DJI’s follow-up to 2018’s popular Mavic Air. iFixit’s video takes the Mavic Air 2 apart to show how all of the major components fit together, and how easily they dismantle to provide access to pretty much every component contained within.
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