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Film Camera Repairs: Fixing up a Vintage Hasselblad

We at CameraFIX love cameras and photography. And we know you do, too. So with film photography on the rise, we decided to sit down with Alex, CameraFIX’s founder and lead repairman, to discuss his latest film camera repair project and help you learn more about film mechanics and care.

Which camera were you working on?

Well, it’s a medium-format Hasselblad film camera from the 50’s.

What can you tell us about its history?

At the start of the 1950s, this particular Hasselblad model was the go-to camera for magazines and newspapers. It became very popular very quickly because it is a relatively simple film camera to work with and because of the image quality you can achieve with it. Even now, when you look at old magazines from that era, most of the shoots featured there would have been taken on a Hasselblad like this one.

How does the camera work?

It is quite an interesting camera. It’s very uncomplicated. The whole idea behind it is a simple sequence. You actually see this sequence in many other film cameras, but it’s far more straightforward here.

To make the sequence work, you need to charge the camera. It has a lever on the camera body that you use to charge its mechanisms. The first of these mechanisms is a transporter, responsible for transporting film. Alongside this one are a few other mechanisms, including one for moving the mirror and another for charging the lens.

Essentially, these all parts work together in that sequence. You insert the film cartridge and spin the lever to charge it up. And through that process, you queue up your first shot. The main problem with a camera that works like this is its simplicity. If even one thing is off in the sequence, the whole system falls apart, blocking you from taking photos.

Another thing I would like to mention is that the camera itself doesn’t play a big part. It is not the star of the show, so to speak. Instead, the star is the lens.

How did it end up at CameraFIX?

Well, there wasn’t much wrong. It’s not very exciting, but it just simply needed a service. I did need to do some repairs on the mountable lenses the owner brought in – an 80mm, 150 mm Sonar, and 50mm Distagon – but yes. I found no major problems there, either.

I think the camera’s issue was that it had been sitting in a garage for many years. After that long a time, the lenses got stuck, the shutter jammed, and the camera didn’t work. So I dismantled the lenses, cleaned out the shutter, lubricated some mechanics, cleaned everything up, and boom, done. For the camera, it was pretty much the same process.

The good thing is that after professional servicing, it will keep working with minimal issues for a good 20 years. That’s partly the genius of Hasselblad design and partly because it’s not used professionally. For pro photographers, I’d recommend servicing at least once a year.

What would you say is the most difficult part of the process?

With a Hasselblad and cameras in general, repairs and servicing are not hard if you know what you are doing.

But, I would say the worst thing for me and our technicians is having to do re-repairs. Most of the time, camera damage from wear and tear, neglect, even drops is predictable. But you never know what you’ll find inside if someone who is not a professional tried to fix something and damaged something.

What’s your biggest piece of advice for film camera owners?

From my point of view, as a film camera repairman, I’d say don’t do repairs at home. Bring it in, and we will have a look. It is always much better and much more practical for me to examine the camera and repair it.

Because unfortunately, we do get cases where an owner bites off more than they can chew, breaks something, damages something, and I have to repair someone else’s repairs.

Especially now, more and more people are taking up film photography. And while it is great to see these old, amazing cameras coming out of storage, I don’t think many people are really knowledgeable on how to care for their camera or how it works. So for most film cameras, unless it’s a simpler model like a Hasselblad, I’d say it’s always worth it to read the manual. It’s not always easy to parse through, but it can tell you a lot about how to work your camera and keep it in good condition. Or instead, you can go to your local camera repair shop and ask how to use it and care for it. We here have 30 years of experience with many different cameras, so we can show you what to do.

And please, don’t let your camera sit for years in a garage. Even in proper storage, many parts can jam. So when you take it out, chances are that even in the best conditions under the sun, you’ll come across some problem.

If your camera has already sat for years, it’s worth servicing it before using it. You never know what the damage could be.

Bring your camera to CameraFIX

With 30 years of experience in camera cleaning, servicing, and repairs, you can trust that you’ll get good advice and that your film camera will be in good hands.

Contact us here.

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Updated Camera Lens Repair and Maintenance Guide

Camera lenses are very fragile. Even if you're taking excellent care of yours, it’ll likely need a lens repair sooner or later. 

So, here’s our updated lens repair guide to walk you through the common types of lens damage, troubleshooting, and determining when to take your camera to a specialist. 

First, let’s talk about software faults

Software faults are generally easy to spot and fix. You’ll notice that the photos you take aren’t as sharp as they used to be, and the lens will have trouble responding to autofocus settings. You might also see an error message pop up on the screen. 

To fix this issue, just update your firmware. You’ll likely have a manual somewhere to tell you how. Or if not, there’s a good chance there will be one on Google.

But if the problem persists, your camera might have suffered some physical damage. Or you may need to contact its manufacturer to see if they can determine the nature of the software fault. 

Scratched front element

Scratches can vary from barely perceptible to really noticeable. Large scratches lead to significant focus and light scattering issues. Meanwhile, smaller ones might not affect your photos at all. Or, they may only affect photos taken at smaller apertures or at night, where shooting lights makes whitish smears or halos pop up.

Now, camera lens scratches are tricky. On the one hand, even if a scratch isn’t bothering you now, it might grow over time and start to impact photo quality. And larger scratches are more difficult to repair than smaller ones. 

Additionally, trying to fix even a minor scratch yourself could make it worse or compromise the protective coating of the lens, leaving it vulnerable to other types of damage. So, here are your options:

You can clean the lens (see our lens maintenance article for instructions) to see if that helps. Sometimes, what looks like a scratch might turn out to be a rogue particle. But if it is a scratch, DO NOT try to buff it out yourself. Despite what the internet might tell you, it could lead to irreparable lens damage. 

You can replace the lens element. If you’re comfortable doing it yourself, do so, but make sure to use the appropriate equipment and remove it in a dust-free environment. Please note, however, we don’t recommend replacing internal or fixed lens elements yourself, as this requires more complex disassembly. 

Take your camera to a lens repair specialist. We’ll assess your lens and either repair or replace it based on the damage.

Mechanical damage

Mechanical damage is damage done to the inner workings of the lens mount. It will typically result in your lens not retracting, focusing, and/or zooming properly. Try using and fiddling with all the moving parts of your camera, like the aperture ring, autofocus, and manual focus. You can also try taking some shots of a flat textured surface to see if the photo quality has been affected.

If you find something off, you can replace the whole mount (provided it’s not fixed) or get it replaced by a professional. You can also seek out a professional for mount repairs. We don’t recommend picking it apart and putting it back together yourself, as it could do more harm than good.

Cracked lens element 

A cracked lens, regrettably, is not fixable. You will need to replace the lens, which you can do yourself or ask a specialist to. In most cases, both front and internal lens elements can be replaced without needing to replace the entire mount. But we cannot stress enough that if you’re not comfortable changing the lens yourself or if the mount is fixed, it’s best to seek out specialist help. 

And last but not least, environmental damage

As you might imagine, water damage is dangerous for a camera. From electrical faults to rust to fungus to unsightly splotches, it's in your best interest to protect your equipment as best you can. To start, we’d recommend storing your camera in a quality camera bag and a cool, dry place. Additionally, always store it with a lens cap on. And if you’re shooting in wet weather, use a rain cover and check your camera after the shoot to see if any water droplets got through.

If you suspect water may be inside your camera lens:

Turn off your camera

Take out the battery and memory cards immediately

Point your camera at the floor to stop any present droplets from getting to your sensor

Carefully wipe off the camera body

Take off the lens mount (if possible, and not fixed)

Rinse and clean the lens to deal with any microorganisms and dirt particles

Let things dry. But DO NOT put your lens in the sun (you can learn more about camera maintenance tips here)

Carefully cleaning and drying the lens mount and elements should prevent fungus from growing and remove splotches on the glass.

But, water can work fast. So if it leads to a mechanical fault, your camera not turning on, or water damage to an internal lens element, take it to a lens repair shop.

We hope we’ve helped you learn more about your lenses and lens repair.

Remember to keep a close eye on your lenses and maintain them properly. But most importantly, keep in mind that while you can get away with minor DIY fixes like updates, cleaning, and some replacements, it's often best to seek expert advice.

And there’s nowhere better to do so than CameraFIX. We’re happy to help you pinpoint what’s wrong and recommend the best course of action.

So, if your lens is damaged, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Do Camera Repairs Yourself

As a camera repairs shop, we see a lot of cameras in a wide range of conditions every day. But, the worst cases are the cameras that received non-professional repairs, whether that was the fault of an unlicensed repairer or shop or the owner's own DIY fix. 

So, in the interest of protecting your camera, we want to go over why you shouldn’t try and repair it if you’re not a pro.

1. Cameras are more fragile than you think

Both film and digital cameras have complex mechanisms made of tiny, tiny parts. With that in mind, you can understand that it's not hard to damage or lose an integral bit of machinery. On top of that, there’s a chance you’ll put something in wrong, which will throw off the whole mechanism. Not to mention, a disassembled camera is more prone to damage from rogue particles. So if you suspect there’s a mechanical fault, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. 

2. Lenses especially can be easily damaged beyond repair

External lens elements are prone to damage from falls, rogue particles, and environmental factors like water damage and fungus. So we understand the urge to fix the problem yourself instead of going to a repair shop every time there’s a problem with your lens. 

But, we want to stress, DO NOT attempt to fix a lens element yourself. Even minor scratches and scuffs should be handled by a professional because it’s easy to do more harm than good in the buffing process. This goes double for built-in and internal lens elements, as fixing them involves disassembly. And in non-experienced hands, disassembly could damage them further.

3. There’s lots of bad advice out there

Unfortunately, many cameras end up in our shop because of bad YouTube tutorials. If you Google ‘How to repair a lens scratch’, for example, you’ll come across a dozen articles offering advice on how to buff out lens scratches with everything from toothpaste to pencil erasers. And we want to stress, please don’t attempt to do this. Such methods aren’t proven to work, and the substances involved can eat through your lens coating, leaving it even more vulnerable.

The same goes for how-to’s on fixing the camera body and lens mounts. As we mentioned, cameras have a lot of moving parts, so if something gets damaged or moved out of place, your camera won’t be able to work properly. 

4. There are low-quality tools on the market

Another unfortunate fact is that not every camera repair kit is made equal. Cameras can be extremely finicky, to the point of needing exact screws, screwdrivers, clamps, and even wipes. (Yes, wiping your camera lens with anything other than a quality microfibre camera wipe likely won’t end well.) 

Additionally, dismantling the camera body with bad or ill-fitting tools will inevitably do some damage.

5. DIY camera repairs void warranties

On that note, tampering with your camera’s innards could potentially void your manufacturer’s warranty. Even independent repair shops’ workmanship warranties might not apply. 

As we mentioned in our Hasselblad repairs story, the damage your camera might incur from sitting in bad conditions, environmental factors, and even drops is predictable. But with DIY jobs, we never know what we might find. And regrettably, we won’t always be able to fix the damage from botched DIY repairs.

In short, the best way forward is to keep your camera well maintained 

Good camera maintenance isn’t always easy and can get pricey. But it will save you a lot of trouble and money down the line. We recommend:

Keeping a lens cap on your lens wherever you’re not shooting

Investing in a rain cover for wet-weather shoots

Investing in a quality camera bag

Being very careful when cleaning your lenses 

Always storing your camera in a cool, dry place

Getting a camera strap

NEVER using brute force if something jammed

Taking it in for professional servicing once every few years

And don’t hesitate to see a specialist if something feels off

We at CameraFIX have over 30 years of experience in camera repairs and servicing for film and digital models. We love cameras, so we’ll be more than happy to assess yours, fix any damage, and offer you specific advice on how to take care of it. 

So if your camera’s not working as well as it should be, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Old Film Camera Restoration: New Investment

An Olympus XA in good condition sells for around AUD 500 on eBay. A Rolleiflex 2.8 Fx TLR sells for upwards of $2,000. A Leica M6? Over $5,000.

It’s true that the market for vintage film cameras is a very niche one, with many film types falling out of production and camera service centres rarely, if ever, taking in even new film camera models. But, avid collectors are still willing to pay top dollar for rare and reputable film camera models.

The trick to this investment plan is to make sure the camera is in good condition.

This is where film camera restoration comes in.

While many vintage film cameras were expertly made (Leicas especially knock even modern film cameras out of the park), they are still prone to dust, rust, fungus, and light leaks. They also typically have dozens of moving parts, which are notoriously difficult to maintain, clean, and replace.

Fortunately, if you want to do some DIY old camera restoration, there is plenty of material to walk you through the process. You can check our FAQ sections for information on light leaks, jammed film, and stuck shutters or our film camera repairs article for cleaning and maintenance tips.

However, keep in mind that old camera repair and restoration is delicate work.

If you find the damage or wear and tear is beyond your skill set, or if you just don’t have the time, the good news is there are many camera repair shops perfectly capable of getting broken or rundown film cameras back in working order.

We at CameraFIX, for example, have offered vintage camera repairs in Sydney since before some vintage models were considered vintage.

From parts replacement to cleaning to delicate internal repairs, we’ll make sure you can sell your old film camera at a premium price.

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Crashed, Dropped, or Drowned in Sydney? We Can Repair Your DJI Drone With Ease

DJI drones are a fantastic tool for photographers and videographers. But as every owner knows, they are notoriously prone to damage.

Fortunately, it’s easy for a DJI drone repairs centre or licensed repair shop to get your drone back in working order, even in this faraway corner of the world.

How easy? Let’s walk through the professional DJI drone repairs process to find out.

1. Assessing and quote

If you’re after DJI drone repairs in Sydney, there is a good chance you’ve already run into the many hazards of drone ownership here. From water and sand damage incurred from shooting at the beach to extreme heat waves to unpredictable weather, your drone can get damaged by any number of things.

So, the first thing we do is assess the damage to see what’s wrong and give you a quote depending on what we find. External damage is easy to spot, but if your drone took a dip or a hard crash, there may be internal damage as well.

2. Repairs and replacements

The next step is repairs. Doing drone repairs in Sydney is significantly easier than film camera repairs. While most easily damaged drone parts like propellers, arms, and chassis will likely have to be outright replaced, replacement parts aren’t difficult to come by as there are plenty of authorised suppliers to choose from. So if need be, we can easily order them in.

More complex parts like the mainboard and gimbal, meanwhile, can usually be repaired by experienced hands. So whether these parts require smouldering, a thorough clean, or replacement, we’ll discuss the options with you.

3. Workmanship warranty

Finally, the warranty. All our repair work is under a 90-day workmanship warranty, regardless of whether your drone had a manufacturing defect or suffered damage from piloting or hostile weather. So if you find your drone is still acting up after leaving our shop, you can bring it in up to 3 months down the line for free re-repairs.

So, if you’re looking for professional drone repairs or DJI drone servicing in Sydney, you don’t need to look up “DJI drone repairs near me.”

Bring your drone to CameraFIX, and we’ll get you sorted.

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Where to Get Your Old Camera Fixed

Vintage cameras make great collectors’ items and offer effects and a shooting experience that modern models can’t provide.

So, should the worst happen, it’s important to know where to take your camera for repairs. And here’s our guide on how to do just that

Check the damage

Before you start your search for a camera and lens repair shop or service centre, assess the damage. If the problem is jammed film, light leaks, lens fungus, or a sluggish shutter, you may be able to fix it yourself with some tools and patience.

Check our FAQs and repairs articles for more information on DIY fixes. If, however, the damage is extensive, we, of course, recommend taking it to a specialist.

Do your research

Finding a good camera service centre or repair shop for a vintage camera isn’t as easy typing

“Old Nikon camera repairs” “PowerShot Canon camera repairs Sydney” Or “vintage Leica lens repairs”

Into Google and taking your pick. You want to make sure your camera is landing in good hands. To that end, keep in mind that an official service centre may not be the best option because a centre will likely not have dedicated experts for older models as it’s not profitable for them to keep them on.

Ask some questions

Also to that end, we recommend asking your selected camera repair shops or centres questions before bringing in your camera. Try to find out their:

Warranty period

Level of experience with your camera brand

Whether they’ve worked with your specific model. Even if a shop or centre offers Canon camera repairs (for example), there’s no guarantee they’ve worked on old models

If they can provide a quote Etc.

At the end of the day, vintage cameras are hard to replace, so finding a good repairman is a worthwhile investment.

And if you ever happen to be looking for expert vintage camera repairs in Sydney, get in touch with us

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Many DSLRs are Getting Discontinued: What Does this Mean for DSLR Camera Repairs?

As with digital vs film, mirrorless cameras have slowly taken over the market. Amongst recent reports of DSLR cameras being discontinued, it’s no wonder that there is some concern over repairs.

Nikon, for example, is reportedly slated to terminate the production of all its DSLR cameras in Japan by March 2022.

Canon has similarly discontinued many of its DSLR lenses (like the 85mm f/1.2L USM II and the 70-200mm f/4L IS USM II).

With these two major imaging brands focusing more on mirrorless, their focus on spare parts manufacture, servicing, and repairs for DSLR cameras will likely shrink even further, especially in far-away countries like Australia.

But while replacing EF-mount lenses and some DSLR parts will get harder, the situation isn’t quite dire for DSLR owners.

Firstly, Canon still has some DSLR camera repair centres in operation, and Nikon has a small network of authorised repair shops, some of which take on DSLR models.

Additionally, many licensed repair shops take in what the big brands won’t.

Some of these shops (like ours) also have the industry connections and equipment to make parts.

So if you need your DSLR camera fixed, bring it into CameraFIX.

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How Do Camera Repair Shops Work?

Taking your camera to a repair shop for the first time can be a little stressful. You might yourself: wIll my camera come out ok? Will they make up problems like some mechanics allegedly do? Will they overcharge me?

So to get you a bit more comfortable with the procedure, we’ve written up the basics of what you can expect from us.

Assessment and quoting

We can’t speak for all repair shops, but our process begins with assessing your camera to check its maintenance and repair needs and sending you a quote based on what we find. We will not start on servicing or repairs until we have your full approval.

We also don’t provide quotes on descriptions alone. Your camera’s issue might have a more complex underlying cause or may have another problem you haven’t noticed. Because we want to provide you with the most accurate estimate and give your camera all the care it needs, we will examine it in person first.

Camera repairs and servicing

Shops like ours are fully licensed, and some may even be brand-authorised. Additionally, repair shops also often have a long history of servicing a range of camera models and performing various maintenance tasks and repairs, including:

Lens cleaning

Shutter repair

Button unjamming

Film unjamming

Lens calibration

And more.  

So whether you come in with a dirty lens or intense internal issues, rest assured your camera will be in good hands.

Wait time

We’ll notify you once we’ve finished the repairs. Unless the problem was severe or we need to order parts, you can generally expect to collect your camera within a couple of days if you dropped it off and are picking it up in person (postage time will obviously take a little longer).

Warranty

Most good camera repair shops offer warranties. We, for example, offer a 90-day workmanship warranty on all works. So on the off chance your camera’s issues persist, we will fix them free of charge within that time frame.

And if you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Camera Repairs Sydney: Which Brands Still Have Repair Centres Here?

For camera brands, Sydney (and Australia at large) is often too far and expensive to set up official service centres. With the options few and dwindling, it’s hard for photographers to know which camera brands are still supported.

So, here is our rundown of which major camera brands still have official centres and which don’t.

FujiFilm: as we noted in our recent article, FujiFilm does have a repair centre in Sydney. However, the centre only offers serving for digital cameras despite the popularity of the Instax range.

Leica: does repairs in their George Street shop. However, it seems spare Leica parts can only be purchased from the Camera Clinic, a third-party repair shop.

Nikon: unfortunately, Nikon doesn’t have a repair centre in Sydney. But, the company does list a small network of Nikon-authorised third-party repair shops.

Olympus: the Olympus imaging brand technically no longer exists. All their imaging products and services are now owned by OM. To our knowledge, OM does currently offer servicing of ‘Olympus’ cameras in Sydney, but their resources are limited, meaning long wait periods.

Panasonic: like Nikon, Panasonic outsources all camera repairs to third party companies. We believe their current affiliated repair shop is Tecworks.

Canon: Canon does have a repair centre here and offers servicing and repairs for various Canon models, including compact, mirrorless, and DSLR.

Sony: while the company does have official repairs facilities in Sydney for some electronics, they don’t for cameras. Like Panasonic and Nikon, they outsource repairs to authorised third-party shops.

Hasselblad: also outsources all camera repairs to third party shops, including C&R Kennedy Spares and Repairs.

Now, if you have an unsupported camera, don’t worry. There are plenty of fully licensed repair shops like ours capable of fixing your Instax, Olympus, and even Leica cameras.

So if you need camera repairs in Sydney, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Olympus Repair Centres Vanish from Sydney: Repair Shops are the Solution

While official service centres for many big-name camera brands have been dwindling over the years, Olympus’ situation is different.

‘Olympus’ camera repair and service centres no longer exist in Sydney or anywhere.

In January of this year, the company finalised transferring its imaging department to OM Digital Solutions, the subsidiary of Japan Industrial Partners Inc. (JIP). As part of the agreement, Olympus transferred its ownership of all camera manufacturing and repairs.

And the last we heard, OM doesn’t offer much in the way of service centres. According to our sources, the corporation only kept one camera repairs and servicing employee, responsible for camera servicing as well as admin tasks and parts management.

Servicing efficiency is likely close to 0%.

Olympus had, in the past, sent cameras to Hong Kong for repairs, but with the expense and lengthy turnaround of sending Australian cameras, OM is unlikely to continue that tradition.

But there is still hope for Olympus owners. Independent, fully-licensed repair shops like ours have been servicing digital and film cameras old and new for years, including various Olympus models.

So if you find that your Olympus is faulty, send it to the leading Olympus repair shop in Sydney.

Give us a call, and we’ll get you sorted.

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7 Tips to Help You Avoid Needing Camera Repairs

There’s no shame in needing to take your camera in for repairs. But there are some general maintenance and cleaning tasks you can do yourself to prolong your camera’s life and save yourself some time and money.

So, here are our top 7 tips to help keep your camera in great condition.

Keep your camera protected from moisture. Always store your gear in a cool, dry place, keep it in a waterproof camera bag, especially when travelling in wet or humid conditions, and use a camera hood when shooting in wet weather.

Don’t use brute force. If a dial, button, or hinge is stuck, be gentle in trying to get it unstuck, or, if possible, call a local repair shop or tech support.

Replace the battery. Even rechargeable camera batteries have an expiration date. Old Lithium batteries that are past their prime are one of the underlying causes for slowing shutter speeds and jamming.

Keep the cap on the lens when not in use. Dust, dirt, fungus, and moisture have an uncanny way of getting onto your camera lens, so keep it protected with a lens cap when you’re not using your camera.

Properly clean your lenses. Camera lenses are very sensitive. So if yours needs cleaning, you need to follow some specific guidelines to avoid damaging it.

Avoid direct sunlight. Keeping the lens in direct sunlight for too long can damage your camera’s sensor.

Use a strap. It goes without saying that dropping your camera isn’t good for it. So make use of the camera’s attached strap or, if possible, see if you can get one attached.

Now, all these tips are to help you avoid needing to take your camera to a specialist. There are some issues you won’t be able to fix yourself.

And if that’s the case, come see the leading camera repair specialists in Sydney.

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FujiFilm Announces New Digital-Film Camera: But How Easy is it to Repair in Sydney?

While FujiFilm’s Instax Mini Evo promises a more convenient way to shoot in instant film, film camera repair centres, especially for Sydneysiders, are a different story.

Set to launch in Japan on December 3rd and starting February 2022 across the rest of the world, the $299 Mini Evo boasts familiar Instax features with a few notable upgrades, chief among which are an LCD screen, faster shutter speed, and internal storage.

But with FujiFilm only having one service centre in Sydney, getting this hybrid camera fixed through official channels will be challenging.

Along with only one open centre, prospective owners of the Mini Evo might not be able to send in their cameras. At the time of writing, FujiFilm Australia only has a digital camera servicing division.

And with the centre already having a 3-4 week turnaround time, waiting for overseas shipping may not be an option.

The Mini Evo will not be as difficult to replace as discontinued film cameras or expensive pro models. But as the Instax range isn’t immune to jamming, dirt build-up, and lens damage, it’s good to have professionals on hand to deal with minor problems and extend the camera’s lifespan.

Fortunately, camera owners in Sydney can still rely on licenced repair shops. We at CameraFIX, for example, have years of experience servicing film and digital cameras as well as the Instax range.

So when the time comes to service your Mini Evo, give us a call.

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A Guide For Fixing Damaged Lenses

The good health of your camera’s lens is vital to taking high-quality photos. Unfortunately, lenses aren’t invulnerable, so they - and in turn, the quality of your photos - can be negatively affected by falls, moisture, and particulates. But fortunately, there are methods to fix most lens-related problems.

The first step in repairing a lens is determining what’s broken. Lenses consist of the glass lens itself, the lens mount, and the lens filter mount. Sometimes damage to these parts will be easily visible, like a scratch on the glass, but don’t stop your investigation there. The scratch may turn out to be a hair, or the lens mount may have been affected too. You can test the mount by examining how well your camera focuses and zooms and if the barrel extends and retracts as it should. 

In some cases, you’ll be able to fix the problem yourself. If the issue was just a bit of debris, blow it off the lens using an air blower. Or, if it was poor focus, you can generally make do with a bit of DIY lens calibration. 

But in other cases, you’ll need some help. Cracked glass lenses, for instance, need to be replaced, and if your camera’s lens is built-in and you’re not comfortable disassembling the lens mount to get it out, it’s best for the lens to be replaced by a specialist. And the same goes for replacing or repairing a mount with extensive damage. 

And if you do end up needing a specialist repair shop for lens repairs in Sydney, you will find none better than CameraFIX.

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Film Cameras: Etiquette For Repairs and Maintenance

Film cameras don’t have the extensive support network of parts and repairs providers enjoyed by digital cameras. So for film photographers and vintage camera collectors, it is vital to keep these cameras well-maintained and know where to take them should the worst happen. 

Firstly, you should always keep your camera in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. We recommend keeping it in a bag or a container with a silica packet. This will protect your camera from rogue dirt and dust particles and keep it safe from mould and fungi. 

It’s also important to keep it clean. For advice on cleaning lenses, see our lens maintenance article. Generally, cleaning the body is less delicate work, but you should still be careful. Start with putting a cap on the lens (or, if possible, removing the lens entirely). Wipe visible grime off the body with a microfibre cloth dipped in soapy water. For hard to reach nooks and crannies, use a Q-tip or a soft brush. 

If your film camera is damaged or needs internal cleaning, take it to a specialist. Unfortunately, there aren’t many official centres that will be able to service it. As the market turned digital, it became less profitable for brands to manufacture parts for film cameras or train employees in servicing them. But don’t worry. You can go to a licensed repair shop, and your camera will be better for it. Here at Camera Fix, for instance, we’ve been cleaning and fixing film cameras for decades. 

So if you require film camera repairs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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The Experts’ Tips for Getting Rid of Lens Fungus

Lens fungus can be a real pain for photographers. As the fungus grows and spreads, it will start affecting photo quality; you’ll have a difficult time focusing your shots and lose clarity and contrast. The good news is that there are ways to prevent lens fungus and remove it.

Fungal spores typically get onto camera lenses by travelling on dust particles and will thrive in moist and dark conditions. So to avoid a fungal infestation, make sure to keep your lens clean and dry. This involves: 

Making use of lens filters, caps, and hoods to protect your lens from dirt and dust

Getting a good quality camera bag (we recommend something from Thule or Billingham Hadley)

Using a camera rain cover in wet weather conditions

Letting your lenses dry after a shoot in a humid or moist environment

Never touching your lens with bare fingers

Using an air blower to get rid of any dust particles on its surface ASAP

Storing your lenses in a dry place

If your camera is already affected, you can remove lens fungus yourself if it’s on the lens surface. Leave the lens out in the sun, and the UV rays will desiccate the fungus to dust, after which you can use an air blower to get the remains off. For eliminating more stubborn fungus, you could try using a half-and-half mix of hydrogen peroxide and household ammonia. But make sure to only spray it on a specialised camera wipe and not the lens itself, as excessive liquid comes with its own problems. 

And most importantly, if you are not confident in your ability to get rid of lens fungus yourself, or if it is on the inside of the lens, removal is best left to the professionals. 

[camerafix]

The Life, Times, and Technology of a Space Camera

In our 30 years of camera repairs, we’ve seen all types of cameras. But the most interesting bit of camera technology we’ve come across is a digital data pack designed for an old satellite. 

To our best guess, the pack was manufactured for the US military sometime in the mid-to-late 1980s. But because of these alleged first owners, much of the pack’s fascinating life is unknown to us. What we do know (because we were given a collection of emails documenting it) is that this pack endured a long period of being tossed from owner to repair shop and back around again because few people knew how it worked and even fewer knew how to get it working. 

And we can’t fault them. As it was built for space, this data pack has an inherently different build to regular consumer cameras, with features like grooves in its casing to enable heat dissipation in a vacuum. It also has a CCD of 6x6cm, four times the regular modern size. There’s also the absence of colour microlenses; to capture a full colour image, the pack requires specialised filters and a three-shot process. Not to mention it needs to be connected to three separate power supplies to turn on. 

But what makes this pack even more remarkable is that it’s a technological marvel even by modern standards. For instance, its enormous CCD can capture a lot of light, leading to better quality low-light images. It also has a resolution of 16 megapixels, which knocked 90’s digital cameras out the water and is not that far off the 20 megapixels of good modern cameras. And its three-shot colour capture process means its resolution is as advertised. Modern camera CCDs have three separate sensors, each devoted to capturing one colour, meaning the 20-megapixel resolution is cut into thirds.

So, there’s your interesting bit of camera history for the day. Stay tuned or follow us for more. 

[camerafix]

Why You Should Get Your Camera Fixed at an Independent Repair Shop

Whether you’re a professional photographer or picked it up as a hobby, chances are that at some stage your camera will need to be serviced. From that point, you’ll have to choose between an official service center or an independent camera repair shop. As a company with staff who have worked on both sides of the fence, we recommend the latter. Here’s why.

Unaffiliated camera repair specialists can give you the right advice and the right repairs. We at Camera Fix are under no obligation to recommend one brand over another or push you to buy a newer model instead of repairing your existing one against our better judgement. Our repairmen also have years of photography experience. We not only know what a camera needs but also what a photographer needs.  

There is also the benefit of time. For photographers in Australia, shipping wait periods for official centers can be a nightmare because it's too far and too expensive for brands to set them up here. Our repair shop, on the other hand, is conveniently located close to Sydney CBD. Not to mention, we can assess your camera on the spot as we aren’t bogged down by bureaucracy and take on orders one at a time instead of working in batches. 

And if you have a film camera, a digital camera that’s older than 10, or a camera from an uncommon brand, a repair shop is your best and only bet. Official centers only exist for prominent brands like Sony and Olympus, and even then, they’ll only be interested in servicing newer, digital models. This means they’ll have no spare parts for other camera varieties on hand and likely no staff trained to work on them. So even if you manage to get your camera into a center, it won’t get the care it needs. We, conversely, have over 30 years of experience and the equipment to make parts. 

So, if your camera is not working as it should be, get in touch with us today