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Camera paint
Sep 21, 2019 10:48:30 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
A bit of “brassing” is considered a desirable attribute on black bodied vintage cameras - it is the battle scars of a well used camera. Wear it proudly!
Stan
Stan
Sep 21, 2019 10:56:26 #
n4jee
Loc: New Bern, NC
I'm thinking that any of the suggested solutions short of sending it back to the manufacturer will look like a patch. To do it right, the manufacturer would have to disassemble the camera strip it down to base metal and re-coat it with whatever finish they use. Sounds expensive.
Brassing is the sign of a well used camera. As the poster above said: "Wear it with pride"
Brassing is the sign of a well used camera. As the poster above said: "Wear it with pride"
Sep 21, 2019 12:15:16 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
I've used this "paint pen" to touch up cameras: https://www.micro-tools.com/products/15111-f
There's a matte black paint, too... but it's often too flat finish. The gloss can be "knocked down" with the above version, by lightly tapping the painted area with your finger before the paint fully dries.
An alternative might be automotive retouching paints. Those may be lacquer, though, which won't be as durable as enamels. There may be more selection of finishes in auto paints... Matte, low gloss, semi-gloss, high gloss. In sprays there are also specialty "wrinkle" and "hammered" finishes.
Clean the area to be painted with alcohol before painting it.
Regardless what you do, the retouched area will probably rub off again over time, with handling. The original paint was probably baked on or was an epoxy, both of which are more durable, but impractical for retouching.
There's a matte black paint, too... but it's often too flat finish. The gloss can be "knocked down" with the above version, by lightly tapping the painted area with your finger before the paint fully dries.
An alternative might be automotive retouching paints. Those may be lacquer, though, which won't be as durable as enamels. There may be more selection of finishes in auto paints... Matte, low gloss, semi-gloss, high gloss. In sprays there are also specialty "wrinkle" and "hammered" finishes.
Clean the area to be painted with alcohol before painting it.
Regardless what you do, the retouched area will probably rub off again over time, with handling. The original paint was probably baked on or was an epoxy, both of which are more durable, but impractical for retouching.
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Sep 21, 2019 12:27:50 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
PixelStan77 wrote:
Black Magic Marker wide tip.
or black fingernail polish
Sep 21, 2019 12:39:45 #
Sep 21, 2019 15:27:07 #
billnikon wrote:
When I was a photo journalist for UPI. We shot bla... (show quote)
Well, aren't we showing our age now. I remember when I bought my first Nikon F, in 1969, it was pristine. I lived for the day when brass would show through. I did noting to encourage that, wanted it to happen "organically" and it did.It's a beautiful camera now, although I rarely use it, ubt I'll never sell it.
Remember, not touch-up paint will be imperceptible, and no touch up paint will last longer than what it replaced. Live with what you have and impress others. The condition of the finishon your camera bears no relation to how well it works.
Sep 21, 2019 15:42:52 #
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Sep 21, 2019 15:58:28 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
Cany143 wrote:
Having restored/rebuilt/customized and/or repainte... (show quote)
Right on!!! I'd be proud to have a camera body with honestly earned wear marks.
Sep 21, 2019 16:02:49 #
bobmcculloch wrote:
Sounds like a badge of honor! Wear it proudly!
My cameras all start looking worn eventually - I kind expect it .... it shows they aren't pampered .... but I suppose I should provide some kind of cleaning every year or so.
Sep 21, 2019 16:29:56 #
Don’t do anything except to keep it clean. I inherited a set of WWII Zeiss 7x50 binoculars. They were made out of Aluminum which until the 70s was considered an expensive rare metal. I sent them out for optical cleaning and alignment. I got a call from the person working on them asking if I wanted the leather and body painted, but in the same breath recommended to not paint them. They were in great condition but worn. He said the value would go down significantly if they were painted, so I left them alone.
If you have ever watched the Antiques Roadshow you quickly learn to not do anything to most antiques because it lowers the value.
If you have ever watched the Antiques Roadshow you quickly learn to not do anything to most antiques because it lowers the value.
Sep 21, 2019 18:00:40 #
Bill P wrote:
Well, aren't we showing our age now. I remember wh... (show quote)
Not Necessarily. At the newspaper where I worked, we had 2 Canon 1 DX's with 70-200 and 24-70 lenses attached. They were used by 3 photogs. (Not me as I preferred to use my own equipment). After 2 years both cameras looked trashed with dings, scratches, paint missing, etc. They looked like they could have been 20 years old. Eventually they had to be sent in to Canon to be rebuilt because they quit working altogether.
Sep 21, 2019 18:37:10 #
khorinek wrote:
Not Necessarily. At the newspaper where I worked, we had 2 Canon 1 DX's with 70-200 and 24-70 lenses attached. They were used by 3 photogs. (Not me as I preferred to use my own equipment). After 2 years both cameras looked trashed with dings, scratches, paint missing, etc. They looked like they could have been 20 years old. Eventually they had to be sent in to Canon to be rebuilt because they quit working altogether.
I learned when I was working for a TV station. Our cameras were owned by the station, but they were used only by one person during their term of employment. We each had a company car, but it was ours 24/7. We were responsibe to see that it got oil changed, tires maintained, and antifreeze good. They paid but if we didn't do that stuff, we were on foot.The moral is that if you have company property used by all, it will get little or no maintenance and no care.
Sep 21, 2019 21:39:09 #
Why don’t you get your camera one of those “Easy covers” made specially for different camera brands. They might have one for yours. They are made of silicon and adjust tightly to the camera body allowing the use of all the buttons.
Sep 21, 2019 21:39:10 #
Why don’t you get your camera one of those “Easy covers” made specially for different camera brands. They might have one for yours. They are made of silicon and adjust tightly to the camera body allowing the use of all the buttons.
Sep 21, 2019 21:50:19 #
Cany143 wrote:
Having restored/rebuilt/customized and/or repainte... (show quote)
I think the first option is classy! I used to see a lot of the Nikon F family missing paint. Kind of a badge of honor when folks held on to their cameras for a long time.
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