Customer Reviews

Camera Maintenance & Repair, Book 1: Fundamental Techniques: A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Guide (Bk. 1)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

And what it intends to do is get one started in camera repair. It does this very well. It shows the necessary tools, gives precautions and explains the sequence of mechanical/electrical events between clicking the shutter button and winding for the next frame. All the basic stuff.

Since every camera is different, it cannot hope to be comprehensive on every make and model but it gives enough theory that one can fix most simple things.

My favorite part of the book is the hints and tips section in the back where it mentions many common camera problems and tricky disassembly points. This section has saved me much time.

If you're staring at a busted or rusted camera and can't imagine any alternative to junking it, take heart. This terse, somewhat scattered guide will get you started, and if you have any talent for precision machinery, it's all the start you need. Not a lot of hand-holding and no fix-it recipes, but lots of good solid information.Let me add: clean clouded lenses with a q-tip and 50/50 ammonia and hydrogen peroxide

This book might be useful to someone experienced in camera repair but not to a beginner as I am. All good technical documentation should define terms. Easiest way is to have a photo or line drawing with labels. This book lacks any such help. Also, photos without labels. For example, it mentions "rack and pinion" but doesn't show an example. On the other hand it shows a lock-needle automatic unit but without labels to point out what I should be seeing. It should at least show specific steps for a generic SLR and a Range Finder. Then it could continue the way it does. It should show one how to use the tools -- at least one picture. I'm afraid this book has failed me miserably.

This book tries to teach you how to fix 170 different cameras in 150 pages. Is it possible? Let's cut off the intructions, safty advice, notes, index, table of connets and others, one camera only gets a half page's description at most. Do you think you can become an expert by getting this little help? When dealing with Canon AE-1, the author says: "Remove the front cover as usual." What usual? Where is the "usual"? So far I have not been able to open my camera yet, but it can be a good thing because I am sure I will not able to put it back.

It is merely a gloss of a few dozen camera models without sufficient depth for any utility. If you bought this book to help you repair a decades-old camera, you wasted your money. The second volume is no better.

There is no substitute for the factory repair manual annotated by a Society of Photo Technologists journal.

good starter for the novice. sometimes difficult to follow initially. but
over all a good intro.

In fact very useful. Other reviewers have said it all. But it must be stressed this is not an idiot's guide. This book assumes some skill and prior knowledge. Rather cunningly some of this knowledge is contained in other books by this author.

Feel author has the technical knowledge but should focus on the common classics with enough detail for one to comprehend disassembly procedures. I've got every clock making tool available and I could not get the cover off the winder gear of an old common Cannon.

Great companion for when you are traveling and need a quick fix

The book offers a guide to what you will face in undertaking camera maintenance and repair work. It does not offer detailed procedures for the repair problems of specific camera design. You will be on your own which is only good if you have the making of a good camera repair person.
In my opinion the book will not be helpful for the majority of readers who have dreams of doing serious camera repair work.