Why my basic tool box gets the job done on most cameras

I know many repairers think you need every fancy tool out there. I disagree. In my years fixing cameras, I've found that a simple screwdriver set and some tweezers handle most jobs. Take last month, I had a classic rangefinder with a loose viewfinder. Forums said to buy a special alignment tool. I used a small hex key I had on hand, and it fixed the issue just fine. Of course, for tricky internal parts, you might need more. But for everyday fixes, keeping it simple saves time and money. This way, I can help more people without charging a lot. It's not the common view, but it works for me and my clients.

4 comments

4 Comments

anthony_rivera1mo ago

My old spanner wrench from the 90s has saved more projects than any generic tool. I get the simplicity angle, but telling people they only need basics for complex optics worries me. Last year, a friend tried a hex key on a Contax lens mount and stripped the threads. Some jobs do need the right tool, not just any tool. There’s a line between being resourceful and risking damage to gear that’s hard to replace.

logans721mo ago

Totally get that. Reminds me of when I tried to adjust the focus on an old projector lens with a butter knife. Scratched the glass so bad it was useless. Learned real quick that some gear just won't forgive a makeshift fix. Now I keep a proper spanner in my kit, even if it gathers dust most of the time. Better safe than sorry with irreplaceable stuff.

olivermason1mo ago

Man, I used a paperclip on my laptop, broke the USB port!

-1

adams.barbara1mo ago

Ugh, been there! Paperclips are way too soft and can bend the tiny pins inside. I use a plastic spudger from an old phone repair kit now. If something's really stuck, a tiny drop of isopropyl alcohol on the connector helps loosen it without the metal-on-metal damage.