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I have an Olympus OM-1 which I've been using as a backup camera for my film Canon Rebel. However, when the mirror trap became stuck "up" in the Olympus, I tried gingerly to pull the trap back down. It eventually gave way and reset properly — but not before cracking and having pieces break away.

The camera still works great. The broken mirror doesn't mess with the viewfinder nearly as much as I thought it would, but it bothers me. Is it possible to repair this on my own? If so, how?

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Next time try applying some WD-40 to the springs and movable parts. I've fixed a Pentax K1000 with the same problem by doing that. \$\endgroup\$
    – Andres
    May 24, 2011 at 15:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Andres The mirror isn't stuck - it's free and working. The mirror is cracked and fragmented. \$\endgroup\$ May 24, 2011 at 15:13
  • \$\begingroup\$ I've re-read the question and edited my comment. Sorry, my native language isn't English and I misunderstood the question! \$\endgroup\$
    – Andres
    May 24, 2011 at 15:15
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    \$\begingroup\$ I'm tempted to tag this seven-years-of-bad-luck.... \$\endgroup\$
    – mattdm
    May 24, 2011 at 15:34

2 Answers 2

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Given the age of the OM-1, it's a fair guess that the only way to get a replacement mirror would be to buy a junk OM-1 with a good mirror, and remove the mirror from one body and transplant it into the other. As you've already found, the mirror is quite fragile, so doing this would be fairly difficult.

Second, it's easy to find film cameras in good condition so cheaply that unless you're emotionally attached to this particular one, there's almost no point anyway.

Personally, I'd just use it as long as it works, and when/if it dies, decide whether to buy another, or consolidate to a single mount for both the main and backup body. Either way, any but the very most minor of repairs on a film camera is extremely difficult to justify anymore.

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It doesn't look good

(I'm jumping in because nobody else has answered)

Short answer: I would be very surprised if there were a feasible way to fix this at home.

To be fair, I am not a repair technician, so I could be wrong, but I don't think many photographers would want to risk it.

So, if you don't want to take it to an approved repair shop, I think you'll just have to get used to it as it is.

I'm sorry about that :-(

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