Remember when we used to fix shutter speeds with a can of air and a prayer?

I had an old Nikon FM2 come in last month with a sticky 1/1000th. Tried the old spray and tap method I learned in the 90s, got maybe 10 clean shots before it stuck again. Then I bit the bullet and used my new ultrasonic cleaner on the whole curtain assembly, like the manual actually says. That was the fix. The old way felt like a band-aid, this felt like real repair. Anyone else finally give up on the shortcuts and just do the full clean?

2 comments

2 Comments

ninaw882d ago

Oh man, the spray and pray method! I was so guilty of that. I'd blast my old Canon with canned air, give it a hopeful little whack, and call it a day. It's like putting a piece of tape on a leaky hose and being shocked when your feet get wet again. Finally doing the real clean feels like you've stopped lying to yourself and the camera.

oscarthompson2d ago

That "spray and tap method" was the only trick I knew for years too. It got my old Pentax K1000 through a couple seasons, but you're right, it's just a band-aid. I finally got a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight last year. Took apart a jammed Minolta shutter, gave the gears a real bath in simple green, and it's been smooth ever since. Felt good to actually fix it instead of just hoping. What solvent do you like in your cleaner?