Warning: a $15 spring from a 1980s Canon AE-1 just launched into orbit across my workbench

I was trying to replace the mirror bumper foam last Tuesday and that tiny, angry piece of metal flew out, hit my lamp, and is now officially lost in the carpet for good.

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyjohnson1mo ago

My 1978 Minolta XG-1 had a tiny screw from the film advance lever shoot straight into a heating vent last winter. Tbh, I spent two hours with a magnet and a flashlight before I gave up. That screw is probably in the furnace now.

tarab542mo ago

Oh man, I used to think those tiny parts weren't a big deal. After watching a shutter spring from my old Pentax vanish into a vent, I finally bought a clear plastic bag to work inside of. It changed my whole method. Now I won't touch a camera without one. That carpet is a black hole for springs forever.

faith_lopez482mo ago

Hey, that's a solid tip! Honestly, a big plastic tub works even better than a bag for me. It gives you way more room to move your hands around without knocking stuff over.