Shoutout to the guy who told me to use a guitar pick for old film door latches

I was fixing a Pentax K1000 last week (you know, the one with the sticky film door latch that everyone hates) and this older guy at the parts swap in Austin said to use a thin guitar pick. I thought he was joking, like some weird hack that would scratch things up. But I was stuck, so I tried it with a cheap Fender pick I had in my truck. You slide it between the door and the body to gently pry the latch open without bending the metal. It worked perfectly on the first try, no marks at all. I've used it on three other cameras since then and it's saved me so much time. I guess some of the old tricks really are the best ones. Has anyone else found a weird tool that actually works great for a specific camera job?

2 comments

2 Comments

barbara_kim1mo ago

Guitar picks are the official duct tape of camera repair, I guess. Next you'll tell me a drumstick is the perfect tool for adjusting a viewfinder diopter. Honestly though, that's a solid tip. I used a butter knife on a Minolta once and still feel bad about the tiny gouge.

emma_smith1mo ago

Guitar picks are perfect for prying open those plastic battery doors without leaving a mark. @barbara_kim, that butter knife story hurts, we've all been there in a pinch. Keep a few old picks in your repair kit, the thin ones are best for tight spots. A drumstick might actually work for a diopter if it's rubber tipped, but I'd still use the right tool.