Resources For Camera Repair
Links to websites and companies that offer information, repair manuals, tutorials, tools, lubricants, parts, and other supplies for repairing photographing equipment. Links will open in a separate browser tab.
Categories
Tools, Parts, Supplies
Micro Tools
Micro Tools sells a large selection of specialized camera repair tools, cleaning supplies, lubricants, and some camera parts.
Reveni Labs Camera Tester
This recently introduced camera tester tests shutter speeds, curtain times, and exposure meter accuracy.
Custom Bellows
Custom-made replacement bellows for folding cameras and large format cameras.
Replacement Bellows by Sandeha Lynch
Custom-made replacement bellows for folding cameras and large format cameras.
Tool Magnetizer/Demagnetizer
An extremely useful device, this will magnetize any steel tools, such as screwdrivers, so that you won't lose tiny screws when removing or replacing them while servicing a camera. It can also demagnetize the tool! This one is electric-powered, and works much better than the non-powered ones sold in hardware stores.
Minox Camera Replacement Parts
Replacement parts for Minox cameras, repair information, and links to other Minox repair sites.
Mamiya Parts
Mamiya repair specialist Bill Rogers also sells parts for Mamiya cameras.
ICCFL.com
A Chinese company that sells electronic componants, including a large selection of flex cables used in modern autofocus lense, and some camera repair tools. Also has replacement lights for some scanners.
Brightscreens by Rick Oleson
New, modern bright focusing screens for classic medium format cameras."
Light Seal Kits
Hugo Studio, an American supplier known for its camera covers, also sells Light Seal Kits for many different camera models.
Pro Camera Repair Parts
Extensive inventory of repair parts for just about every camera manufacturer, including many older cameras.
DAG Camera Parts
Famed Leica repairman Don Goldberg sells parts for many classic cameras, not just Leicas.
Gres Camera Repair Tools
High quality, reasonably priced toolsfor the camera technician. Includes hard to find Japanese Cross Head screwdrivers, needed for servicing most Japanese cameras (Though Phillips screwdrivers look similar, they will damage Japanese Cross Headscrews used on cameras!).
Kodak Parts
Replacement parts and repair information for Kodak slide projectors and movie projectors.
Making Springs On A Small Lathe
Cameras use a lot of springs, and replacing a broken or worn spring can be difficult with old cameras. This tutorial shows how to manufacture new springs. Written by Dean Williams.
Japan Hobby Tool
A Japanese company that sells camera repair tools, replacement screws, helicoid grease, oil, leather, light seals, and more. They ship to the USA.
Polar Bear Camera
A British company that sells camera repair tools, replacement screws, helicoid grease, leather, ball bearings, and more.
TLR Viewfinder Mirrors
Hugo Studio, an American supplier known for its camera covers, also sells replacement mirrors for the viewfinders of Twin Lens Reflex cameras.
Rolleiflex Parts - DeWit Cameras
DeWit Cameras is a Dutch company selling Rolleiflex camera parts. They ship worldwide.
Camera Covers and Replacement Leather
Hugo Studio
American supplier of replacement leather in many colors for a huge variety of classic cameras from the 1930s to the 1990s.
Aki Asahi
Japanese supplier of replacement leather for both classic cameras and modern digital cameras. Well known for his high-quality Leica coverings. Ships worldwide.
General Tutorials, Repair Manuals, and other Information
Society of Photo-Technologists
SPT is an organization for camera repair technicians. Membership includes access to an extensive library of technical information.
Lens Mount Register Distances List (PDF)
This is a list of mount register distances for most lens mounts that you will encounter. The register distance is the distance between the lens mount and the film plane in a camera. It is important to know the correct register distance for a camera because it is adjustable to correct for focusing accuracy problems.
Orphan Cameras
Mike Butkus's site offering hundreds of free downloads of camera and other photo equipment manuals. Mostly users manuals; but he has some repair manuals, too.
Sam's Strobe Repair FAQ
Notes on the Troubleshooting and Repair of Electronic Flash Units and Strobe Lights.
FotoFix
Camera repair videos by Richard Cross.
Robert Ian Axford's Camera-Works
Several camera repair tutorials by Robert Ian Axford, with excellent photographs illustrating the work.
FixYourCamera.org
Videos of a tech disassembling many different modern digital cameras and lenses.
The Mercury Battery Problem (PDF)
Article about adapting old cameras that used mercury batteries to use modern batteries.
Roland Givan's Camera Repair Site
Repair info and several camera repair tutorials by Roland Givan.
Justin Low's Repair Articles
Camera repair articles by Justin Low. Mostly Minolta and Leica related.
The Repairman's Diary
A blog by Yoshiaki Taguchi with a lot of good repair tutorials. Written in Japanese, you can run the site through Google Translate to see it in English or any other language that Google Translate supports.
"Light Matters" Camera Repair Blog
Blog with camera repair tutorials by Iain Hart.
Lens Mount Technical Data List
This is a list of mount diameters and register distances for an exhaustive list of lens mounts.
Fix Film Cameras
Camera repair articles and tutorials by Mark Overton. Also has instructions for building your own auto collimator for lens calibration!
Mick Feuerbacher's Camera Pages
Repair tutorials for several classic film cameras. Also has a lot of other great information on classic cameras, darkroom work, and other photography topics.
Kenneth Olsen's Camera Repair Videos
Danish photographer Kenneth Olsen's YouTube channel shows how to repair many types of cameras and lenses, from classic film cameras to modern digital SLRs.
Craig Camera
Sells reprints of instruction manuals and repair manuals for photographic equipment. If you cannot find a free service manual online, check here.
Fix Old Cameras
A YouTube channel with videos showing step-by-step how to repair old cameras.
Collecting and Fixing Old Cameras
A large number of camera repair tutorials by Dan Mitchell. Dan has also given us permission to share a PDF version of his excellent book on How To Make New Bellows for folding cameras.
Photo DIY
Lens Repair, modification, and mount conversion tutorials by Markus Keinath.
Simon Hawkettes Camera Repair Tutorials
A wide range of repair tutorials for vintage cameras and lenses by British photographer Simon Hawkettes.
Rick Oleson's Tech Notes
Tutorials and repair diagrams for classic cameras by Rick Oleson. All are now FREE downloads!.
Nobby Sparrow's Rangefinder Camera Repair Videos
Nobby Sparrow is a Japanese technician who has written several books on repairing Leicas and other vintage 35mm rangefinder cameras. He has a series of tutorial videos for repairing Leica, Nikon, and Canon rangefinder cameras.
Canon Cameras
Legacy Canon Manuals
Instruction manauls, some service manuals, and other info on Canon film cameras.
Contax Cameras
Contax IIa shutter repair
Tutorial for repairing and calibrating the shutter on the Contax IIa rangefinder camera. The link above is a Google translation of the original Portuguese site into English.
Contax 139 Resource
Information on the Contax 139. Includes service manuals, instruction books, brochures, and repair tutorials.
Cosina Cameras (including Cosina-made Zeiss and Voigtlander)
Cosina Camera List
Cosina is a Japanese OEM manufacturer of mostly entry-level 35mm SLR cameras for many other companies, including major manufacturers like Canon, Olympus, and Nikon. This is a list of all the cameras made by Cosina, which is useful to the repair technician because most of them were built from the same basic design and share many of their internal parts.
Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder Adjustment
How to adjust the rangefinder on the Cosina-made Zeiss Ikon 35mm rangefinder camera. Written by Peter Robinson.
Epson Printers and Scanners
How To Dismantle Epson Scanners
Information on how to disassemble and clean Epson flatbed scanners from BetterScanning.com.
Cleaning Epson V700 Scanner Glass
Tutorial on how to remove and clean both sidesof the glass in the Epson V700 flatbed scanner. Written by David Dyer-Bennet.
Kodak Cameras
Kodak Parts
Replacement parts and repair information for Kodak slide projectors and movie projectors.
How To Refurbish and Restore The Kodak Brownie Hawkeye
A tutorial on Petapixel written by Dan Howard. Shows hot to disassemble, clean, repair, and repaint the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, one of the most popular box cameras.
Retina Rescue
Chris Sherlock is a camera repairman in New Zealand who specializes in the repair and restoration of Kodak Retina cameras. His site has a number of repair tutorials that Mr. Sherlock has made for those wishing to repair their own classic Kodak cameras. Chris also has a YouTube channel with Retina repair tutorial videos!
Retina Repair Tutorials
Several repair tutorials for Kodak Retina and Retina Reflex cameras by Simon Hawkettes.
Kowa Cameras
Kowa SE and SER Repair Tutorial
Original is in Japanese; this is a link to a translation courtesy of Google.
Large Format Cameras
Large Format Leaf Shutter Information
Technical information on leaf shutters used in large format lenses. Includes Compur, Copal, Prontor, Ilex, and Wollensak.
Graflex Parts
Parts and accessories for Graflex large format SLRs. Also offers repair and restoration services, new shutter curtains, and repair tutorials.
Make Your Own Ground Glass
How to make a ground glass focusing screen for large format cameras. Useful for antique cameras that take unusual size film or plates.
Graflex.org
Information on Graflex cameras, film holders, flashes, rangefinders, and lenses. The Technical Information page has some service manuals.
Graflex Manuals and More
Users manuals and service manuals for Graflex cameras and accessories. Of special interest is a FREE Windows software program to create focusing cams for the rangefinder in the Super Graphic camera!
Lens Mount Conversions
Minolta to Canon EOS Adapter
Tutorial by Markus Keinath showing how to make an adapter to use Minolta manual focus lenses on Canon EOS cameras.
Photo DIY
Lens Repair, modification, and mount conversion tutorials by Markus Keinath.
Convert a Minolta MC Rokkor 58mm f1.2 Lens to Canon EOS Mount
A tutorial by Paul Yates showing how to convert a Minolta MC Rokkor 58mm f1.2 lens to Canon EOS Mount. This is a permanent conversion.
Lens Repair (also see listings under the camera manufacturers' names)
My Take On Photography - Lens Tutorials
A number of repair tutorials, mostly for classic manual focus lenses from Canon, Minolta, and Nikon.
Lens Collimation Without A Collimator
A tutorial by Mike Elek showing how to collimate (calibrate focus accuracy) a lens using a 35mm SLR with a telephoto lens.
How To Test Lenses (PDF)
An article from the old Modern Photography magazine showing how to test your lenses for resolution.
Photo DIY
Lens Repair, modification, and mount conversion tutorials by Markus Keinath.
Yukosteel's Lens Repair Blog
Disassembly and repair tutorials for many modern lenses for rangefinder and digital mirrorless cameras.
Know Your Lens Fungus
An article by Richard Kinch about lens fungus and how to prevent it.
DIY Extravaganza
Lens repair tutorials on YouTube, focusing primarily on Nikon lenses.
Leica Cameras
How the Leica IIIc was made
At the end of World War II, British Intelligence did a study of the Leitz factory in Wetzlar, Germany to see how the Leica IIIc 35mm rangefinder camera was made. Their report and the technical drawings taken from Leitz were used to make the Reid III, a British-made Leica copy. The report makes fascinating reading for anyone curious about how these cameras were made and how they work.
Nobby Sparrow's Rangefinder Camera Repair Videos
Nobby Sparrow is a Japanese technician who has written several books on repairing Leicas and other vintage 35mm rangefinder cameras. He has a series of tutorial videos for repairing Leica, Nikon, and Canon rangefinder cameras.
DAG Camera Parts
Famed Leica repairman Don Goldberg sells parts for Leicas, including old screwmount cameras.
Leica MP: disassembly and adjustment of shutter speeds
Disassembly and shutter speed adjustment tutorial for the Leica MP 35mm film camera.
Justin Low's Repair Articles
Camera repair articles by Justin Low. Mostly Leica and Minolta related.
Mamiya Cameras
Mamiya TLR Lens Repair Blog
French language blog with tutorials for repairing Mamiya TLR lenses and shutters. The link above is a google translation into English. Here is a link for the original French version.
Minolta Cameras
The Rokkor Files
A huge archive of information on Minolta equipment, especially manual focus gear.
What Was Up With Minolta And Capacitors?
An explanation of why so many manual focus Minolta cameras die because of failing electronic capacitors.
Minolta CLE Rangefinder Adjustment
Step-by-step tutorial for adjusting the rangefinder on the Minolta CLE. This is a Google translation of the site, which was originally in French.
Justin Low's Repair Articles
Camera repair articles by Justin Low. Mostly Minolta and Leica related.
Minox Cameras
Minox Camera Replacement Parts
Replacement parts for Minox cameras, repair information, and links to other Minox repair sites.
Nikon Cameras
Nikon Free Service Manuals
Nikon is now offering free service manuals for their current production digital mirrorless cameras.
Richard Haw's Classic Nikon Maintenance Site
Excellent tutorials on repairing Nikon film cameras. Also includes several "Camera Repair Fundamentals" tutorials that apply to any type of equipment.
DIY Extravaganza
Lens repair tutorials on YouTube, focusing primarily on Nikon lenses.
Arctic Wolf's Nikon Resources
A treasure trove of service manuals, brochures, and historical information on Nikon equipment from classic film cameras to digital.
Service and Repair of Nikon Coolscan Scanners
Gleb Shtengel's repair tutorials for Nikon film scanners.
Olympus Cameras
The Olympus Hardware Resource Page
A huge archive of Olympus service manuals, exploded parts diagrams, and repair articles. Includes several good OM-System repair tutorials.
How to Disassemble an Olympus Pen FT
Tutorial for disassembling an Olympus Pen FT half-frame SLR. This is a Google translation of a German-language site. Original German Version Here.
Repairing The Selenium Light Meter On The Olympus Auto Eye II
How to repair the selenium cell light meter in the Olympus Auto Eye II camera. If the selenium cell is bad, this shows how to replace it with a modern silicon solor cell.
Panoramic Cameras
Widelux Repair Tips
Information on repairing Widelux panoramic cameras, including a step-by-step CLA tutorial. Dutch language.
How To Fix Your Horizon's Stuck Shutter
Article on the Lomography website about repairing the shutter on the Russian-made Horizon panoramic camera.
Pentax Cameras
Pentax Auto 110
An extensive library of information on the Pentax Auto 110 system. Includes service manuals, repair tutorials, users manuals, brochures, and more.
Pentax Lens Parts Diagrams
A collection of factory parts diagrams for Pentax lenses hosted by Mike Butkus.
Polaroid Cameras
Convert SX-70 to 600 Film
Tutorial for converting a Polaroid SX-70 folding camera to use Polaroid 600 film.
Polaroid Conversions
This tutorial by Duncan Rodriguez tells you how to convert a Polaroid 250 Land Camera into a Polaroid 180 camera.
Flash Adapter For The SX-70 SX-70
How to make a PC socket flash adapter for the Polaroid SX-70.
Instant Camera Guy
YouTube channel with repair tutorials for the Polaroid SX-70 and SLR680.
Open SX-70
A gold mine of technical information on the Polaroid SX-70, including several repair and modification tutorials.
Hacker's Guide To The SX-70 SX-70
Georg Holderied's Polaroid SX-70 site, includes several repair and modification tutorials.
Rechargeable Battery For The SX-70 SX-70
How to make a rechargeable battery for the Polaroid SX-70, by Nuno Cruz.
Rollei Cameras
Rollei 35 TE Repair Tutorial
A tutorial by Luis Esteves showing how to do several repairs on the Rollei 35 TE camera.
Rolleiflex Parts - DeWit Cameras
DeWit Cameras is a Dutch company selling Rolleiflex camera parts. They ship worldwide.
Rollei SL-35 Light Meter Repair
How to repair the light meter in the Rollei SL-35. Includes how to replace CdS cell, circuit diagrams, clear photos, and explanations.
TLR Viewfinder Mirrors
Hugo Studio, an American supplier known for its camera covers, also sells replacement mirrors for the viewfinders of Twin Lens Reflex cameras.
Soviet Cameras
Kiev Survival Site
Information on repairing Kiev 35mm rangefinder cameras from the Former Soviet Union. This site went offline in early 2021, but most of it is preserved by the Internat Archive's Wayback Machine.
Kiev 60 Repair Tutorial
Tutorial on repairing and calibrating the Kiev 60. Covers disassembly, shutter speed calibration, focus calibration, and exposure meter calibration.
Tiger's Lair
Repair tutorials for Zenit cameras.
How To Fix Your Horizon's Stuck Shutter
Article on the Lomography website about repairing the shutter on the Russian-made Horizon panoramic camera.
Russian Copies of the Hasselblad
Information about how the Hasselblad 1600/1000 cameras and the Russian copies of them (Kiev 80, Kiev 88, Salyut) work and how the Russian cameras differ from the Hasselblads they were modeled after.
Yashica Cameras
Yashica Guy
Tutorials for repairing Yashica rangefinder cameras. Also sells adapters to allow use of modern batteries in cameras designed to use mercury batteries.
Contax 139 Resource
Information on the Contax 139. Includes service manuals, instruction books, brochures, and repair tutorials.
Yashica Electro 35 "Pad of Death"
A tutorial by Mike Elek on how to repair the Yashica Electro 35 "Pad of Death" problem.
Yashica 35 GSN Rangefinder Adjustment
A tutorial by Luis Esteves showing how replace and adjust the rangefinder on the Yashica 35 GSN.
Zeiss Cameras and Lenses
Contax IIa shutter repair
Tutorial for repairing and calibrating the shutter on the Contax IIa rangefinder camera. The link above is a Google translation of the original Portuguese site into English.
Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder Adjustment
How to adjust the rangefinder on the Cosina-made Zeiss Ikon 35mm rangefinder camera. Written by Peter Robinson.
Other Photography-Related Sites
Chris Crawford's Photography Tutorials
Tutorials on photography techniques, exposure metering, film processing, scanning, digital printing, and editing in Photoshop and Lightroom.
Parts of a Mamiya lens.
