Restoration of an old film camera can be as complicated as pulling the camera apart - fixing, replacing, cleaning and welding small pieces together - and piecing it back together. Other times, it’s a simple cleaning process, which really involves a microfibre cloth, anti-bacterial wipes, isopropyl alcohol, and some cotton buds. Accumulation of constant use, transporting everywhere one goes, to those kept in storage for many years, dust always manages to find some way inside a camera. Dust doesn’t always affect photos, but a good chunk of it just might! That’s why it’s always good practice to frequently clean your cameras, and this applies to both film and digital cameras!
My new (well, old) Olympus OM2n looks to have been well cared for as it looks pretty much pristine albeit for a few gunks of dust and whatever in between buttons corners and in those little nooks and crannies. With a antibacterial wipe in my hand, I began a gentle but thorough wipe down of the camera and made sure to focus in all the small little areas, in between dials, around the lens, and inside the film winder. I had to do a few wipe downs as the smaller and tighter areas were a bit tricky to thoroughly clean. Next, with microfibre in hand, I began to wipe the camera dry. What’s great about these microfibre clothes is that they don’t scratch the body nor the camera lens. I also made sure to wipe the mirror inside the camera itself and wipe away any accumulated dust. I definitely do not recommend any product on this mirror or else it will cause discolouration and wiping it down too fiercely can potentially damage the mirror, a big component of the camera. A simple and gentle wipe with a microfibre cloth is all you need to tackle that mirror. The same thing apples to the film component at the back. A more firm wipe to get rid of any excess dust is all that’s needed.
The cleaning process was extremely easy, thanks to the previous owner’s meticulous care and storage of the camera. I’m really pleased the camera body itself looks absolutely stunning, a testament to the strong body’s build. It looks absolutely beautiful and its design is a timeless aesthetic to all cameras - digital and analog. I may consider finding a leather carrier for this camera for that extra secured fit. It will also prevent the camera from coming across any scratches or bumps to the bottom part of it, especially how many times one puts a camera down on a surface - smooth or rough. Now, the camera body has been cleaned and prepped for use. Now, my next objective is to restore the three lenses I received!