A hopeless mission? Service and repair for newer electronic cameras

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Andreas Thaler

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Anyone who owns a Nikon F5 or a Canon EOS-1 has reason to be proud.

These, and other professional cameras from the 90s onwards, are high-performance machines that perfect the interaction of mechanics and electronics. Built for load and long-term availability.

It's still a dream to work with them today.

IMG_6988.jpeg


The Nikon F5, a tough high-tech star of the 90s. But also this dream camera doesn't live forever either.


But these cameras can also break or require service, e.g. because the light meter or shutter no longer meets specifications.

Then the question is what to do.


DIY is always a good approach,

but how do you deal with the complexity of these cameras? Where can you find instructions for this? There are almost none of the popular DIY videos for repair and service on the web for these devices.

The service manuals sometimes refer to software that is required for diagnosis and adjustments. But this software is not available. And once you have it, how can you use it? The associated operating systems have long been out of date.

So you contact the manufacturers and the answer you get is:


„There are no longer any spare parts for these camera available“

which is probably an understatement since the service facilities probably no longer have the know-how to work with these.

Things aren't looking much better for independent workshops.

What remains is that these fantastic cameras only have one life and cannot be repaired or adjusted if they fail.


This is bitter

and explains why some users and collectors have several of them in their cupboards.

As a backup of the backup of the backup …

__

See also:

 
Last edited:

ic-racer

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In the US there are pros that still have the Nikon factory software to work on these newer cameras. So, in the case of my newer Nikons, I'd send to one of those places for now. Though, if I did see any speicalized Nikon equipment for sale, I'd buy it quick.


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Bearman

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Keep corrosion down and contacts clean and you should be good for life. :wink:

Good used prices today for F5's appear to be at or below what it costs to repair in US. There are low-shutter-count examples out there under $450USD. 🤯
The MV-1 EXIF data reader can tell you how many rolls have been shot in an F5 (or F6), but never mind / yikes they go for $380+ on the bay. 🤯🤯
Maybe I should rent mine out.
 
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Andreas Thaler

Andreas Thaler

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
4,211
Location
Vienna/Austria
Format
35mm
Keep corrosion down and contacts clean and you should be good for life. :wink:

Good used prices today for F5's appear to be at or below what it costs to repair in US. There are low-shutter-count examples out there under $450USD. 🤯
The MV-1 EXIF data reader can tell you how many rolls have been shot in an F5 (or F6), but never mind / yikes they go for $380+ on the bay. 🤯🤯
Maybe I should rent mine out.

There was once software (PC) and connection cables from an external provider for reading out the data storage of the F5 or EOS-1V.

The project probably no longer exists, but I still have the things.

Maybe I'm rich? 😜
 
OP
OP
Andreas Thaler

Andreas Thaler

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
4,211
Location
Vienna/Austria
Format
35mm
There was once software (PC) and connection cables from an external provider for reading out the data storage of the F5 or EOS-1V.

The project probably no longer exists, but I still have the things.

Maybe I'm rich? 😜


 
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