I was stuck with a stripped screw on an old SLR body. The manual had a note about using a rubber band for extra grip on the screwdriver. It popped right out and let me finish the fix.
I put moisture absorbers in every repair job now. It really helps prevent future problems.
I was stuck with a tricky spring in an old lens. A knitting needle from my other hobby had the right stiffness and tip to place it just right. What common items have you used in a pinch for fixes?
I always figured a quick blast of compressed air was fine for cleaning DSLR mirror boxes. Then I had a job where it forced tiny grit particles into the focusing screen, leaving permanent scratches. Now I only use a rubber blower bulb and a fine brush for that area. It adds a minute to the process but prevents costly damage.
I had this vintage folding camera that kept giving foggy pictures. Back in the day, we didn't have fancy digital testers, so I used a flashlight in a dark room. It turned out the bellows had a tiny pinhole I almost missed! I spotted it by carefully moving the light around until the leak showed up. Now we have UV lights, but that simple trick feels like real craftsmanship.
Now I schedule short pauses to keep my eyes fresh.
I started working on cameras forty years ago. We fixed everything that came in. Broken parts were kept for future jobs. Today, I see too many cameras tossed out. My shop now uses safe cleaners and recycles metal. I teach new repairers to value old components. This mindset helps reduce waste. It's a small step towards a cleaner world.
It used to take me forever, but now I use a small mirror and a flashlight to check the alignment. Makes it SO much faster and accurate.