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c/camera-repairersfinleyw58finleyw581mo agoProlific Poster

Can we talk about the lost art of fixing mechanical shutters?

Honestly, I miss the days when you could take apart a shutter, clean it, and put it back together without needing a computer. Tbh, now with digital bodies, half the time you're just swapping circuit boards. It feels less like repair and more like part replacement. I remember working on old SLRs where every part had a purpose and you could see how it all fit. Now, if a sensor goes bad, you often can't even get the part without going through the manufacturer. It's killing the independent repair shop. We used to be craftsmen, now we're just technicians. Ngl, I think the trade is worse off for it.
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3 Comments
chen.casey
chen.casey1mo agoTop Commenter
Where did all the real skill go?
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emery19
emery191mo ago
Consider how much easier it is to source a common circuit board compared to hunting down a specific, discontinued mechanical part for an old camera. That availability alone can keep an independent shop open when niche repairs dry up. The skill isn't gone, it's just applied to different problems like data recovery or lens calibration software. Modern tech requires its own kind of craftsmanship, even if it involves a computer more than a screwdriver. Honestly, the trade might be more accessible now to people who aren't naturally gifted with their hands.
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terry_lewis31
Switched to data recovery and lens software, idk but it saved my shop.
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