Had to choose between fixing a $20 Yashica or tossing it last Tuesday

I got this beat up old Yashica Electro 35 G from a thrift store for $20. The shutter was stuck and the light meter was dead. I spent like 2 hours debating if I should just trash it or try to fix it. I went with fixing it because I figured it was good practice. Took me 3 tries to unstick the shutter with lighter fluid and a tiny screwdriver. Then I had to rig a new battery with a diode because the original ones don't exist anymore. It actually works now and takes decent pictures, but I probably spent $15 in parts alone. Has anyone else bothered to fix a cheap camera that was basically junk?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.taylor1mo ago

Did you think it was worth all that fiddling? I've been there with old junk that you just can't let go of. There's something satisfying about coaxing a dead camera back to life, even if it costs half as much as a new one. The lighter fluid trick is a classic, I've done that on old shutters more times than I can count. And that battery rig with a diode, man that takes me back. You end up with a weird little piece of history that actually works, which is way cooler than any Amazon special.

wright.kevin1mo ago

That lighter fluid trick saved my Yashica once too.