New Military Retiree!!!

[DarkRoom]

Hello all!!!

I want to start filling my days with some things I enjoy doing. One of them is Amateur Radio, and the other is getting back into photography. I recently found, uncovered, and cleaned my old camera, that I dragged to the Panama, Gulf, and Bosnian wars. It has been sitting in a camera case, in the back of a closet since 1996. It's an old Minolta SRT 200 with 3 different lenses and several filters. Somehow it got covered with this black sooty type stuff, which I was able to clean pretty well. The mirrors are a different story. They keep getting this black stuff on them, from whatever is around them inside the camera. The viewfinder(Eyepiece) has a bit of tiny hairs and/or dust on the inside, that I have no way of getting at, and I don't know if the picture would be affected. I would really hate to have to ditch this camera because of dirt, when I have all these accessories as well. I look forward to exploring the world of photography, and gaining tons of insight and knowledge from all of you!

Cheers!
73,

Jeff

 

[FoggyLens]

Welcome! That stinks about your camera.. Have you maybe thought about taking it in to a camera shop to see if they can clean it? Hope you get it up and going.

 

[DarkRoom]

Thank you for replying! Yes I have looked into it, but between the military and my amateur radio hobby, I've learned that I can learn more if I set about the problem myself. I don't have so much pride though, to know when I must admit defeat and save the camera from myself!!! LOL! I was able to get the inside mirrors pretty well cleared up, but there is this nagging little streak that wipes away quickly, and then leaves a little black speck, and so on. I don't know how to describe it, but there is some sort of black, tacky(sticky), stuff?? It seems to be brittle from age and flaking off in areas. When I touch it, it is semi-sticky. and if it gets on the mirror, a damp cloth needs to be used to clear it properly. The other bothersome issue, is that the eyepiece is cluttered with little pieces of dust on the inside. When I look into the eyepiece, you can still make out things, but you have to get beyond the dust. I don't know if the dust on the viewfinder(eyepiece), reflects what will show on the finished picture, or am I okay as long as the mirrors are clean. Well thank you in advance for your advice, time, and patience.

Cheers!

73,

Jeff

 

[cnutco]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for your service!!!
Welcome to the site.

 

[MSnowy]

^^^^^^ :thumbup:

 

[sgbasu]

Hi Jeff,
Minolta SRT 200 is a SLR camera and known to be a good one in ’70s. Through eyepiece you see but the photo is taken through the lens. If the lens is clean [w/o any fungus] nothing to worry. I am sure you will see good result. I have two Canon SLRs [TL, FT and both are 1.8] and using last 30-35 years and still going fine. Keep the camera in a dry place.
~Basu [from Bangalore]

 

[Canon AE-1]

The black things on the mirror are prolly from the deteriorating foam above the mirror.
The particles you see in the viewfinder are in the prisim unit and would have to disassemble most of the camera to get to it but wont affect your photos. As long as your optics are clean your good to go.

 

[DarkRoom]

Thank you everyone, for the welcome and advice. I appreciate it immensely!

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[ghache]

If i were you, i would bring the camera to a repair place and get it cleaned professionaly for a low cost., get the mirror foam replaced and the film door foam and seals replaced and you got yourself a new camera.