Pro tip: check the battery compartment first, even on a 'dead' camera

I was at a camera swap meet in Portland last weekend and a guy handed me a Nikon F3 he said was totally dead. I started to open it up, but then I just popped the battery door. There was a Duracell AA that had leaked all over the contacts. The acid had started to eat into the housing. I cleaned it with vinegar and a fiberglass brush, popped in a fresh battery, and it fired right up. Saved myself an hour of unnecessary disassembly. How do you guys handle bad battery corrosion on older bodies?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopherw342mo ago

It's crazy how often the simplest fix gets overlooked. I see this with remote controls and toys at home all the time. What's the oldest piece of gear you've brought back just by cleaning the contacts?

emmam892mo ago

My grandpa's 1978 CB radio was just full of dust and grime. Took it apart, wiped the circuit board with a q-tip and some alcohol, and it picked up trucker chatter like it was brand new. Felt like a wizard for about five minutes.

harper9142mo ago

My uncle's 1983 Atari 2600 was a brick for years. I mean, I opened it up and the cartridge slot was just packed with what looked like gray lint. A can of air and some rubbing alcohol on the edge connectors and it booted right up. It's wild how much just built up gunk can block a signal. Felt a bit like @emmam89 with that CB radio, like you've unlocked some lost tech. I've saved so many old game cartridges the same way.