Canon A-1 Restoration

robhooley167

robhooley167

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Hi all

Recently purchased a Canon A-1 from our rather dodgy friend Rocky Cameras and while i wasnt expecting a pristine model, the condition was a bit naff to be honest. I then decided in one of my moments of poor judgement to have a crack at restoring it being as i have 3 months off (being a student has its perks) i took a few photos on the way so i would have a record of where things went and because some people may find it interesting :p

As it arrived - No leatherette on some bits and a dial missing, covered up with black tape

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Bottom off fixing the squeaky mirror damper (canon cough)

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Stripped down and cleaned with new light seals

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All finished with new leatherette coating

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I purchased a dead A-1 to scavenge replacement dials and parts from because the individual parts cost was adding up

Hope this was of some interest :)
 
I know it's subjective, and all that...

but that blue leatherette is flaming hideous!
 
TheBigYin said:
I know it's subjective, and all that...

but that blue leatherette is flaming hideous!
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in my defense, when i ordered it, it looked much more tasteful, it doesnt look too bad in person but the iphone flash has no concept of colour preservation :p
 
TheBigYin said:
I know it's subjective, and all that...

but that blue leatherette is flaming hideous!
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol:

Harsh but unfortunately true.

But well done on the re-furb, it's really satisfying to bring a camera back from the brink of the skip.
 
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

my eyes............

'black' is the ONLY way to go.....:D

''thumbsup'' for the restoration though
 
RaglanSurf said:
:lol::lol::lol:

Harsh but unfortunately true.

But well done on the re-furb, it's really satisfying to bring a camera back from the brink of the skip.
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well it was either blue or bright red :p blue was a bit more decent, i may end up reskinning it again as the adhesive doesnt seem to be adhering so well to the aluminium.
Now to think of a more lurid covering :p
 
Yardbent said:
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

my eyes............

'black' is the ONLY way to go.....:D

''thumbsup'' for the restoration though
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now then now then... it aint that bad honest :p

the restoration was pretty tricky and a bit disgusting, especially when i found what appeared to be a pubic hair in the mechanism... :gag:
 
TheBigYin said:
Try HERE they do a rather nice selection of cover kits... I quite like the VH black version :)
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had a look on there but i got the leatherette and cut it myself, only cost me £2 for it, when the blue stuff starts to peel then i will put a new one on :)
 
i suppose one perk of everyone thinking it looks disgusting is that no-one is going to nick it :p
 
robhooley167 said:
i suppose one perk of everyone thinking it looks disgusting is that no-one is going to nick it :p
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People will nick anything...my son said that my old bright orange, cheap, Bosch mobile phone was disgusting and nobody would want/nick it...shall I go on :'(
 
I rather like the blue tbh. :) Dont listen to this lot anyway dude, half of them probably use those stupid gray lenses... I mean come on! ;) :lol:
 
Woodsy said:
I rather like the blue tbh. :) Dont listen to this lot anyway dude, half of them probably use those stupid gray lenses... I mean come on! ;) :lol:
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i suppose it's less gaudy than that big red triangle on the grips of some cameras, i mean come on its not a toy for 5 yr olds is it? :p
 
I went on Rocky Cameras' website the other night. It was like looking in a skip from the comfort of your own home.
 
garry71 said:
I went on Rocky Cameras' website the other night. It was like looking in a skip from the comfort of your own home.
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The scary thing is that they look better on the website than the do in reality.. ..
 
Dervish99 said:
I assume the piece on the lens is on the lens cap,, and not glued to the glass??:naughty:
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Thats where i went wrong...

i kinda like the blue but its not to everyones tastes, mainly because it looks a damn sight better in person :naughty:
 
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