Camera Maintenance and Repair Vol. 2: Advanced Techniques

Library Journal

Both these books offer a good overview of camera maintenance and repair, particularly for amateur and professional photographers who wish to undertake cleaning, basic maintenance, and minor repairs of their own cameras. Though most photographers may still find extensive repairs beyond their interest and ability, these books can help owners save money on costly maintenance and will teach them more about their cameras. Neither book is comprehensive, which would be impossible given the abundance and variety of cameras manufactured over the past 150 years. Tomosy tends to emphasize more popular 35mm cameras and does not even include information about view cameras. Romney arranged his book more logically by camera parts (e.g., leaf shutters, lenses, and exposure meters) as well as by type of camera and camera system, including view cameras. Readers will find the indexes and illustrations (both photos and diagrams) in both books to be very useful. If one can afford only one title, Tomosy's will appeal to those most interested in cleaning and maintenance of new 35mm cameras. Romney's will be appreciated by those interested in cameras as precise instruments, including collectors of antique cameras. Both books are recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with photography collections.-- Raymond Bial, Parkland Coll. Lib., Champaign, Ill.