Camera Repair: What You Can And Can't Do Yourself

Most people have some kind of camera, either digital or film. As is the case with most objects, eventually, they will wear out and will need repair. Is there anything that the owner can do as far as home camera repairs are concerned? Most cameras will eventually need batteries. If the camera suddenly stops working, the first thing to do is to replace the batteries. Most cameras use standard AA batteries or the lithium variety, and these are very simple to replace. They are usually found on the bottom or side of the camera body, and the user will be able to replace them without much trouble.

If the camera has a separate flash, then the flash unit may require batteries. It may also require new bulbs. Depending on the brand, the user may be able to replace the flashbulb at home. A film camera may get film stuck in the rollers as the user is rewinding or advancing the film, and if the camera has an automatic advance/rewind function, the motor may hang up and stall, also. If this happens, the entire roll of film is not lost, but the user has to know exactly what to do. If the camera has a motor that is stalling, the camera’s batteries should be removed. This will keep the motor from burning out. Then, the photographer needs to find a dark-colored coat or blanket. Then, the user needs to take the coat or blanket into a dark closet with the camera and shut the door. The next step is by touch alone, so the photographer will need to be careful. The camera must be underneath the coat or blanket the whole time and the photographer should work as quickly as possible. The user should open the back of the camera, while holding it underneath the covering, and should disentangle the film, then wind it up into the film canister. This may take a minute or so, but when the user can no longer feel any film sticking out of the canister, he can then open the closet door and take the roll of film to be developed. Hopefully, it will have remained unexposed in the darkness.

Changing batteries and getting film out are really the only repairs the average shutterbug can do at home. Cameras are delicately calibrated, and the home user generally does not have the necessary tools or knowledge to attempt repairs himself. Most have small motors or other devices that open the shutter, control the aperture size, advance the film, etc. Digital cameras are even less user-reparable. They have chips and processors that a photographer cannot even get to, much less replace and re-program. The best option for all but the simplest problems is to take the camera to a camera repair shop. Most cities have one, but if there isn’t one, a good option is to call the photographer at the local newspaper and find out where they send their cameras for repair. Since a news photographer’s livelihood depends on having a reliable camera, they will usually know the best place for repairs. Caring properly for a camera is probably the best repair a home user can perform. A camera should be kept out of extreme heat or cold, should have the batteries changed regularly, and should be kept in a case that will cushion the impact if the device is dropped.

When a camera is properly cared for, it should give long years of service and enjoyment while recording memories.