34
votes
How many pictures can you take with a Sony mirrorless camera before the sensor fails?
Unlike a mirrored camera, there is little likelihood of the sensing system
in a mirrorless camera suffering a catastrophic failure so it is really up to your "taste" to determine when a sensor is too ...
- 1,999
6
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to remove fungus without dismantling the lens?
UV light will kill the fungus, so all you need to do is let the lens be exposed to sunlight for a few days. Be sure to remove any UV filter you might have attached to the front of the lens.
...
- 176k
5
votes
Accepted
Black dots appear in photos
Dust in a DSLR generally ends up on top of a thin layer of glass(like) above the sensor, usually an anti-alias filter. Even on cameras without AA filters there is still usually a layer of glass (or ...
- 2,363
5
votes
How many pictures can you take with a Sony mirrorless camera before the sensor fails?
The sensor on a digital camera is a solid-state device, and while theoretically degradation is possible, in practice, they last basically forever. Don't worry about it.
On the other hand, the ...
- 144k
4
votes
Accepted
What maintenance does a negative scanner need?
The Nikon scanners do not require regular maintenance. They are however quite prone to dirt and dust. Your best bet keeping the scanner running problem free for a long time is to store it in a clean ...
- 3,388
4
votes
Accepted
How to properly polish phone camera plastic cover?
The problem is, any clear piece of plastic or glass that is not FLAT to an extremely precise standard is going to act as a lens or prism of some sort, adding distortions and aberrations. Using a ...
- 7,252
4
votes
Accepted
Are there alternatives to the WP-G1000 silicone grease?
The Nikon grease can still be found; Ace Photo in VA says they have it in stock.
But I'm fairly certain there is nothing particularly special about it. Fantasea O-ring grease would be a suitable ...
- 19.4k
3
votes
Accepted
What is the best way to clean internal lens elements?
The coating was probably already damaged by the fungus, not the alcohol. Though you should consider using a lower concentration (70-90%) like a normal person.
PetaPixel: How to Remove Fungus from a ...
- 27.1k
3
votes
What should I check to make sure my camera is okay after sending it in for service?
If it’s specifically undergone sensor cleaning, then test this by photographing a white wall at f/22. Look for dust. Is it better than before you sent it in? If yes, carry on. If no, contact your ...
- 20.5k
3
votes
What should I check to make sure my camera is okay after sending it in for service?
As a beginner, you should assume that the professional shop you sent the camera to did their job. Verify that whatever problem you sent it in for is fixed, and then carry on shooting as normal. ...
- 144k
3
votes
Is there a way to remove fungus without dismantling the lens?
UV lamps are available in the market. It would be better to put the lenses in an ordinary stainless steel container and put the UV on for few hours; don't look at it while it's on. I think it's ...
3
votes
How can I remove the Timer lever on a Pentax ME Super?
Here you go...
http://www.pickmycamera.net/service-pentax-mesuper/
According to the article they have a special tool to remove the timer lever
- 199
3
votes
Is there a way to remove fungus without dismantling the lens?
I have had a small amount of fungus in some second-hand lenses, I took the rear and front caps off, went out on a very sunny day, and had the sunlight shine directly through them(not attached to the ...
- 41
3
votes
How to smoothen a tripod's head movement?
Force some talcum powder (or better yet, powdered graphite) into the friction surfaces of the head. This works like little ball bearings for the plastic-on-plastic rubbing of a cheap tripod head. ...
- 31
2
votes
What are some good resources for getting started with a large roll printer?
Create yourself a proper editing/printing workflow, this will ensure that what you attempt to print will meet your expectations.
Different combinations of papers and ink sets will all provide a ...
- 4,864
2
votes
Is there a way to remove fungus without dismantling the lens?
My supplier in India uses sunlight only. He is using a cannon camera since 30 years and puts it in sunlight every two months. He is very happy and also I .
- 21
2
votes
What is the best way to clean internal lens elements?
Some hints from someone who dabbled in it:
-Invest in some actually dust and lint free paper towels for drying things. It's good for your sanity.
-Contact lens lifters are very helpful in handling ...
- 7,252
2
votes
Eccentric/collimating mechanisms in lenses - do they compensate for glass or mechanics?
Do these correct for inaccuracies in the way the glass is manufactured
(eg the lenses themselves having eccentric rims), or for inaccuracies
in all the concentric metalwork?
Most such adjustments ...
- 176k
2
votes
How to properly polish phone camera plastic cover?
Polishing is only the last step in a series of steps to get a clear finish.
First, you need to get out the scratches, which you do by (counter intuitively) adding more (but smaller) scratches. ...
- 201
2
votes
Does a New Tripod Need Lubrication?
It looks like you have a carbon fiber tripod with plastic leg locks. Whether it's a Gitzo, Really Right Stuff, Manfrotto, Benro, etc., the maintenance is pretty much all the same.
You don't need to ...
- 33.3k
1
vote
Need Help With Maintenance of Beseler Darkroom Enlargers
A lot of good info there. Please feel free to ask me about service. I am on Long Island so geographically you are far but I will answer any question. Lamp wise, led not really needed as the 75 watt ...
- 11
1
vote
Need Help With Maintenance of Beseler Darkroom Enlargers
Most of it is common sense. I am a maniac, so let me categorize things. Maintenance, in general, is divided into two categories.
1. Preventive
Cleaning
Lubrication
2. Corrective
Parts replacement
...
- 25.4k
1
vote
Need Help With Maintenance of Beseler Darkroom Enlargers
Here's what I'd do:
Take it apart and blow it out with dry compressed air
use specific bulb designed for enlarging if you change bulbs
clean the condensor (s) with lintless wipes and use lens ...
1
vote
Safe Deposit Boxes & Dehumidifiers
If you are concerned about fire, it is prudent to store flammable materials in a fireproof box. If you are in an area prone to flooding, you might consider keeping your film and photographs offsite (...
- 27.1k
1
vote
Pentax lens focus ring snapping
The mechanisms are linked. There is probably some debris that entered the lens and is stuck in the gears, so the gears have worn out. In either case, you must sent it to be repaired. This did happen ...
- 103k
1
vote
What are some good resources for getting started with a large roll printer?
One easy step to save on ink and quality is to print different small-size versions of the same photo adjusted in Photoshop (levels, saturation, etc) and then picking visually the best. Then print this ...
- 343
1
vote
Identifying fingerprints on negatives & ultraviolet torches
Body oils are not in themselves fluorescing. No UV source will help you in this regard.
Notwithstanding the value of the film itself, you can use an indirect method of 'lifting' contaminants from the ...
- 5,527
1
vote
Is PEC-12 effective at removing old fingerprints from film and negatives?
I have found nothing better than PEC-12. I have used it to take off permanent marker ink. I think it would take off old fingerprints unless they embedded in the emulsion or the finger oils have caused ...
- 3,628
1
vote
Help with dirty viewfinder
Because it's a difficult and long (30 minutes) procedure I'll give links, we can't copy verbatim all the text and swipe the person's photos to provide an answer. Here are four very similar methods ...
- 1,823
1
vote
Black dots appear in photos
You have dust on the sensor. The image without a lens is so overexposed that the little shadow the dust makes is overwhelmed. The shadow is also very diffuse due to the light coming from a wide ...
- 17.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible