Rant: I was a total snob about using only original parts for old SLRs

For years, I refused to use anything but original factory parts for any repair, especially on classic 35mm cameras. I'd tell customers the wait and cost were just part of keeping things 'pure.' The tipping point was a Nikon FM2 that sat on my bench for almost 8 months because I was hunting for a specific, discontinued film advance gear. A customer finally said, 'Look, I just want to take pictures with my dad's camera. A modern copy part is fine.' That hit me. I found a third-party gear from a supplier in Chicago for $12, fitted it perfectly, and the camera has worked flawlessly for a client ever since. My stubbornness was about my pride, not the camera's function. Has anyone else had to swallow their pride about 'original only' repairs to actually get a tool back in someone's hands?

4 comments

4 Comments

wesley_jones2mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, that whole "original parts only" thing feels like gatekeeping sometimes, doesn't it? I read a blog post from a repair tech who said the goal should be a working camera, not a museum piece. If a modern part gets the job done and lets someone make photos, what's the real problem? It's like we forget these were mass-produced tools, not holy relics. That Nikon story just proves the point, waiting months for a part that doesn't make the pictures any better.

robin5912mo ago

Right, like @parkerbrown said, it's how everything gets treated now.

parkerbrown2mo ago

Isn't this just how everything gets treated now?

jana_shah1mo ago

You know, that line about "a working camera, not a museum piece" really hit home for me... I had an old Minolta that needed a new light seal, and the original part was going to take three months and cost more than the camera. I ended up just cutting some adhesive foam from a craft store, and it worked perfect for years after. Sometimes the fix that gets you shooting again is way better than waiting around for the exact piece...