Here's an interesting thing that I have discovered with older cameras with built-in flashes, and electronic flashes -- often after years of no use (with corroded batteries or not), the flash capacitor(s) need a long "kick start" to work the first time. I have found that often I clean the battery terminals, put in fresh batteries and then have to wait a good 10-30 minutes for the flash to be ready -- that first time. After that even if turning the unit off and swapping batteries, the flash will be ready in a more "normal" amount of time (under 1 minute). In a few rare cases I have found units where despite everything, the flash always takes 10+ minutes to be ready -- those are likely where the capacitor(s) have not aged well (a common component that fails in old guitar amps and computers), and usually not worth trying to fix.
samiii yes it’s definitely worth a shot. I will say for me, it didn’t start working until like my 3rd time cleaning it so if it doesn’t work on the first try, try again 😊
I am not going to lie I just watched this video and I have a Polaroid 300 and could not get it to work until I found about the vinegar.Thank You for the tip really got my camera to work again.
thanks for replying. I actually got it working by waiting for the vinegar to dry, as I had to really work at it in the bottom area from the battery corrosion. Still would not come out! So, I grabbed some pliers....and it worked! Amazing how learning new things can be so rewarding! Camera doesn't work yet, but, trial and error!
Thanks for this video showing the classic fix for a classic problem. You might want to rinse with clean water afterwards. Notice also that the failed batteries were Duracell. Duracell are notorious for this problem. I even had barely-used non-expired ones fail this way. Other brands seem more robust.
cdl0 I use mostly Kirkland brand batteries from Costco (which are rumored to be rebranded Duracells). I’ve been a little better lately at remembering to take the batteries out of cameras that are probably going to sit unused for a while. Thanks for watching!
@@theoldcameraguy These days I use rechargeable NiMH batteries. The high capacity Ikea Ladda ones (made in Japan version) are supposed to be good, and believed to be identical to Eneloop, but 1/3 of the price. They work in my Canon T70 cameras and 277T flash. BTW, I am hoping to receive a free Pentax PC35AF-M soon!
Im having my first corrosion and yes i had duracell 🤦♀️ its an older nikon coolpix but the cleaning hasnt fixed it, probably gonna have to see the insides of it. It may be an old dslr but it was a really meaningful gift so I want it to work 😭
ChongoMillionaire Thanks CM! I like where your head’s at. This is my most disliked video, so I guess not everybody thought it was that amazing lol. Thanks for watching!
just revived a Minolta Hi-Matic SD !! didn’t have vinegar or lemon juice handy, but had some limes in the fridge, and it worked just fine ! the camera is in near perfect condition, can’t wait to shoot with it
I have a 38mm pc-500 that’s being living a sad existence, sitting on my shelf. Thanks to this video I have got rid of the cameras battery erosion and it appears to be working. Just have to get shooting and hope for the best. Thanks for sharing this simple but effective tip - I’ll be paying closer attention when thrift shopping now 📷 👀
Great tip! I just picked up an old Canon Sure Shot AF35M mkII from a charity shop for £4. I knew it was too good to be a total bargain! I couldn't get the battery door open, I had to unscrew the base, the batteries were still inside and almost welded to the lid with corrosion! Looks like I'll be doing this tomorrow! There is another issue, the film door latch isn't holding the door, the latch looks to be intact, I guess a spring has broke? I'll investigate once I get it powered up.
you got my subscribe. from capturing the click, to the fantastic intro, to the channel name. many many thanks for helping me get this camera back up and operating!!!
I bought a very cheap eBay special, a Yashica Electro 35 GSN and after cleaning the compartment with vinegar it still didn't work. The battery compartment cover still looked pretty bad so I took a battery cap off of another very similar Yashica and it did work with a clean battery cap. The only replacement I could find online was 35 dollars, way more than I paid for the camera. I ended up pulling a little tab that had the + sign on it off, and sticking in a piece of AL foil. It worked! So one more tip on getting corroded cameras to work again. These cameras take amazing pictures, with the 45mm 1.7 lens, I saw another channel that took a dead Electro, and yanked the lens and attached it to a M42 mount (I think)and used it with an adapter. That had been my plan, but it's a beautiful camera in great shape with a leather case, I just did the light seals and plan to try it with a roll or 2.
I just got a camera that had corroded contacts. I cleaned off the corrosion with vinegar and it came off with a lot of patience and scrubbing. But under that I found rust! Thick layer. I tried alcohol and WD-40 and the cotton swabs were coming off rusty, but no change was happening on the battery door. Then I got fed up and got some sandpaper. Just sanded away the rust, applied WD-40, let it sit, and wiped away. 3-4 rounds of that and the contacts were clear. Batteries work perfectly in that camera now!
I tried this in a Godox strobe that was only a few months old, but a battery decided to go rouge and make a mess! Pretty sure this fixed the strobe, it will power up and flash now. Will only put batteries in when I want to use it, which is not often.
Paulina Contreras Depending on the extent of the damage, sometimes wadding up a small amount of aluminum foil to make contact will work. I used this technique in my Olympus 35EC video. Thanks for watching! th-cam.com/video/h-5-OvyfUbs/w-d-xo.html
Totally worked on an old Nikon Nikkormat winder!! It wasn't easy because the corrosion was all the way in the back of the compartment, but I did it. Thanks!!
forrealgirl 42 I’ve had to use a small flathead screwdriver to pry out batteries before. Also, I’ve poured a small amount of vinegar into a battery chamber to dissolve corrosion that may have been causing the battery to be stuck in the first place. In either of these scenarios, I would advise extreme caution to avoid injury - batteries can be dangerous if mishandled. Thanks for watching!
Used this method on a nikon l35af that I got for a few bucks because seller said it didn’t work cleaned the battery terminals and it started to work just fine
Thank you for the video> I was given an old canon A95 after my dad passed, only to find out years later...that there are four corroded batteries inside! Hope the vinegar helps!
@@theoldcameraguy Hi Dave! thanks for replying! I tried the vinegar. Took off the white acid on top of the two of four batteries needing help. Seems to also be stuck on the bottom. I have tried vinegar, a butter knife....any other suggestions?
Sorry, if this is a stupid question, but why does the vinegar works on the corrosion ? I always thought that the corrosion came from the acid in the battery, so the acid in the vinegar shouldn’t work at all but make it worse. That’s why i tried baking soda with no success at all, while the vinegar does work great. 🤪 Thx.
Good question that I also had. I found out it's because these batteries consist of an alkaline electrolyte which is a base. Still corrosive but neutralized with an acid like vinegar rather than a base like baking soda.
Thank you had to drill hole in one battery to remove it and pry out two more. Vinegar cotton swabs and even little bit of a pic it cleaned up. Used dielectric grease with new good brand batteries and all is well 📷 😁
any tips on trying to restore the battery grip of a Super8? I found a super8 that's been hidden in a bag for years, and virtually untouched with film still in it. only issue, the 4 batteries in it were completely corroded and I believe it went through the contacts as well. fortunately, it hasn't corroded the negative and only corroded the positive including the wire and connector, which was already snapped off when I opened it up. I'm just curious on what are the correct steps, as I'm not very confident in soldering and might have to wait until I find someone that figure it out for me... would it just be as simple as soldering that wire to the contact where the connector snapped off? I already cleaned it up par your instructions, it's just that wire that's not connected. model is Chinon 600 S (not like there's any resources on it anyway)
this is an old upload but worth a shot - my issue is actually getting the batteries out, is there a secret to loosen them up or take them out with the corrosion?? once i am able to take the batteries out i will definitely try this
Hi there! I have a canon Rebel II that had corroded batteries inside. It leaked to the outside body. I cleaned it all up and inside battery chamber looks fine, but the outside is sticky and gooey. Also tried to clean it with white vinegar. Do you think is salvageable? I have not tried to use it yet
@@theoldcameraguy thanks for replying! Ok I've tried it and it doesn't work 😪 does this mean the connection is lost/spoiled somewhere inside. I'm a bit apprehensive to try and dismantle the camera
No other tips, other than trying it more than once. I’ve had some stubborn ones where I had to apply the vinegar 2 or even 3 times before it worked. (And once or twice where I thought it didn’t work, but I had the batteries in the wrong way...)
Very helpful tip, many thanks! Best way to remove gummy labels is with Mineral Spirits. Please don't add music to any DIY, demo, tour, cooking, or wildlife video. It hurts the ears, esp after viewing 11 videos on the same issue.
Hey! Really helpful videos you got going here! I found this old Konica C35 EF at home, and of course the batteries had leaked in the chamber... Been scrubbing it with q-tips and vinegar for 2 days now, but everytime the metal dries there are turquoise markings from the leak. Is it a lost cause? Is there some other way around it? Cheers!
I’ll give that a go. I tried loosen it with vinegar but both double AAs are stuck real good. I’ve seen drilling a screw into the ends and pulling it out but will consider that as a last resort! Appreciate the quick response! 🙏
I have a Canon Snappy S and when I put the batteries the camera doesnt work at all, I check for corrosion and there is a little bit blueish tint on the contact in the interior part, do I need to use the same method?
ACV is acidic, so it probably would work. I don’t think residue would be an issue - if there was any residue, you could hit it with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol.
Hi, what do I do if I can’t open the battery port?? Its a really old Sony Cybershot probably from around 2003. The port is one where you have to press down and push open but I think the old batteries have leaked and caused the port flap to be glued shut inside :( I don’t want to damage it by prying it open… do you have any advice? It would be greatly appreciated.
hi, my batteries are stuck in the camera and I've seen you have suggested WD-40 in some of the replies but unfortunately that is not available in my country. Any alternatives?
Hi! my canon prima af7 date is a little bit corroted on the inside battery chamber. I able to make it work once, then I can't turn it on. After cleaning it with vinegar it still doesn't work. Any advice ? Thank you
Kemal M. Dioniko That’s a tough one - if you’ve made sure the batteries are fresh and installed correctly, then it made be a problem with the internal electronics. I’ve also had to do the vinegar cleaning more than once (and then let it dry thoroughly) to get my camera working
Ines Unfortunately, if you’ve cleaned all the corrosion out of the battery chamber, you may have a problem with the internal electronics - probably not an easy or inexpensive fix
hello i have a konica centuria 20 film camera and the batteries are stuck :( i get to open the battery lid but i have no idea how to take the batteries out. the batteries are pretty corroded and i'm still hoping that i could still use it. ps. it has been stuck in a storage for years and i just realized that i wanted to try using film cameras since everyone has it again :( thank you
yaknee I have had success spraying a little WD40 lubricant in the battery chamber and then carefully prying the batteries out with a small flathead screwdriver. Sometimes pouring a small amount of vinegar helps too. Good luck and thanks for watching
It’s a bottle of liquid that helps remove sticky residue off of all kinds of household items. It’s good for when you remove a sticker or price tag off an item and the item is still sticky where the tag was.
I tried this, but for some reason it’s still not working. There are no other problems with the camera. Do I have to wait for it to dry to put in the batteries? And if so how long?
I'm currently having a problem with a campera that had it's battery left in for YEARS and won't get out, the batteries expanded and now won't get out, what can u do in this case?
Yeah well I’m not a man over 40 but thank god anyone can use this info. Thanks!
Yes!👍
Ugh, can't we men over 40 have anything to ourselves any more?
Here's an interesting thing that I have discovered with older cameras with built-in flashes, and electronic flashes -- often after years of no use (with corroded batteries or not), the flash capacitor(s) need a long "kick start" to work the first time. I have found that often I clean the battery terminals, put in fresh batteries and then have to wait a good 10-30 minutes for the flash to be ready -- that first time. After that even if turning the unit off and swapping batteries, the flash will be ready in a more "normal" amount of time (under 1 minute). In a few rare cases I have found units where despite everything, the flash always takes 10+ minutes to be ready -- those are likely where the capacitor(s) have not aged well (a common component that fails in old guitar amps and computers), and usually not worth trying to fix.
You are an absolute hero. You just helped me fixed a super 8 camera and a flash I got yesterday! Thank you
Glad I could help!
Did as you showed.The batteries were corroded at both ends, really bad. Your video did exactly as shown and the camera is now working. Thanks so much.
Great - Glad it worked out for you
Just revived my instax mini 8 that i hadnt touched in years using this method & i was actually considering buying an entirely new one. Thank you!!!!
That’s awesome - glad it worked for you!
I’m gonna try this on my Polaroid. I having the corrosion issue so I’m hoping it works.
samiii yes it’s definitely worth a shot. I will say for me, it didn’t start working until like my 3rd time cleaning it so if it doesn’t work on the first try, try again 😊
How does it work on you?
@@emzparafina5160 yeah ive tried taking off the dry battery no luck
This literally just fixed a $10 point & shoot I had no idea how to fix ! Thank you !
Great - Glad it worked!
I am not going to lie I just watched this video and I have a Polaroid 300 and could not get it to work until I found about the vinegar.Thank You for the tip really got my camera to work again.
gmanc45able Glad it worked for you - Thanks for watching!
thanks for replying. I actually got it working by waiting for the vinegar to dry, as I had to really work at it in the bottom area from the battery corrosion. Still would not come out! So, I grabbed some pliers....and it worked! Amazing how learning new things can be so rewarding! Camera doesn't work yet, but, trial and error!
That’s progress!
Thanks for this video showing the classic fix for a classic problem. You might want to rinse with clean water afterwards. Notice also that the failed batteries were Duracell. Duracell are notorious for this problem. I even had barely-used non-expired ones fail this way. Other brands seem more robust.
cdl0 I use mostly Kirkland brand batteries from Costco (which are rumored to be rebranded Duracells). I’ve been a little better lately at remembering to take the batteries out of cameras that are probably going to sit unused for a while. Thanks for watching!
@@theoldcameraguy These days I use rechargeable NiMH batteries. The high capacity Ikea Ladda ones (made in Japan version) are supposed to be good, and believed to be identical to Eneloop, but 1/3 of the price. They work in my Canon T70 cameras and 277T flash. BTW, I am hoping to receive a free Pentax PC35AF-M soon!
cdl0 You can’t do better than free - enjoy shooting that Pentax!
Im having my first corrosion and yes i had duracell 🤦♀️ its an older nikon coolpix but the cleaning hasnt fixed it, probably gonna have to see the insides of it. It may be an old dslr but it was a really meaningful gift so I want it to work 😭
That intro was amazing, your personality deserves way more views!!!
ChongoMillionaire Thanks CM! I like where your head’s at. This is my most disliked video, so I guess not everybody thought it was that amazing lol. Thanks for watching!
This was the most useful video on youtube I've seen lately. I managed to revive a Minolta AF 7000, and a Minolta Autowinder D too. Thx!! :)
Ákos Marton Glad to hear you got your Minolta gear working again. Thanks for watching!
I'm actually watching this for a Minolta too!
@@PrincessAshly samee
I have just picked up the exact same camera. It was corroded that bad the springs fell off I don’t think vinegar will fix that 😂😭
What can't you learn on TH-cam? Fantastic!
Jimmy Fischbeck Glad you found it helpful - Thanks for watching!
just revived a Minolta Hi-Matic SD !! didn’t have vinegar or lemon juice handy, but had some limes in the fridge, and it worked just fine ! the camera is in near perfect condition, can’t wait to shoot with it
Manny Del Real Nice - very resourceful. Happy shooting!
help please, I cant get the corroded battery out
thank you so much!!!! fixed up a 30 years old ricoh model with the help of this video!! felt like a mechanic B)
Awesome - Glad you got it up and running!
This oldie but goodie popped up in my feed this morning. Great restoration tips Dave.
Thanks man
It worked!!!!! Thank you so much for this, It saved my camera and some other electronics 😃
Awesome - Glad it worked for you! Thanks for watching
What can you do if the acid is on the inside of the battery slot rather than on the outside like in your video?
i also have this problem ??
@@will2358 any luck trying anything short of taking it apart?
I assume that to get way down in there you need a longer q tip or just use a qtip with a needle nose.
Yes, I got longer wood shaft cotton swabs from a local medical supply store - needle nose would work too.
Thanks so much for this great tip, and also for introducing me to Devin Thomas Arne, what a cool track!!
Thanks for watching
I have a 38mm pc-500 that’s being living a sad existence, sitting on my shelf. Thanks to this video I have got rid of the cameras battery erosion and it appears to be working. Just have to get shooting and hope for the best. Thanks for sharing this simple but effective tip - I’ll be paying closer attention when thrift shopping now 📷 👀
Glad you got it working again - Happy shooting!
any update?
Great tip!
I just picked up an old Canon Sure Shot AF35M mkII from a charity shop for £4.
I knew it was too good to be a total bargain!
I couldn't get the battery door open, I had to unscrew the base, the batteries were still inside and almost welded to the lid with corrosion!
Looks like I'll be doing this tomorrow!
There is another issue, the film door latch isn't holding the door, the latch looks to be intact, I guess a spring has broke?
I'll investigate once I get it powered up.
Hope everything works for you!
you got my subscribe. from capturing the click, to the fantastic intro, to the channel name. many many thanks for helping me get this camera back up and operating!!!
Glad your camera came back to life and thanks for your support!
I bought a very cheap eBay special, a Yashica Electro 35 GSN and after cleaning the compartment with vinegar it still didn't work. The battery compartment cover still looked pretty bad so I took a battery cap off of another very similar Yashica and it did work with a clean battery cap. The only replacement I could find online was 35 dollars, way more than I paid for the camera. I ended up pulling a little tab that had the + sign on it off, and sticking in a piece of AL foil. It worked! So one more tip on getting corroded cameras to work again. These cameras take amazing pictures, with the 45mm 1.7 lens, I saw another channel that took a dead Electro, and yanked the lens and attached it to a M42 mount (I think)and used it with an adapter. That had been my plan, but it's a beautiful camera in great shape with a leather case, I just did the light seals and plan to try it with a roll or 2.
I just got a camera that had corroded contacts. I cleaned off the corrosion with vinegar and it came off with a lot of patience and scrubbing. But under that I found rust! Thick layer. I tried alcohol and WD-40 and the cotton swabs were coming off rusty, but no change was happening on the battery door. Then I got fed up and got some sandpaper. Just sanded away the rust, applied WD-40, let it sit, and wiped away. 3-4 rounds of that and the contacts were clear. Batteries work perfectly in that camera now!
Your persistence and ingenuity paid off - Glad you got it working!
It worked! Raycon battery corroded in our Canon camera. I had no idea this could even happen. Thanks!
Glad it worked for you!
Vinegar is the right thing to use. Others say to use baking soda which is wrong. The 'acid' is actually just the opposite, it's a base, alkaline.
I tried this in a Godox strobe that was only a few months old, but a battery decided to go rouge and make a mess! Pretty sure this fixed the strobe, it will power up and flash now. Will only put batteries in when I want to use it, which is not often.
Sounds like a good idea
Thankyou so much because of this I was going to but a whole new camera but because of your tutorial I didn't have to thanks so much
Great - Glad it worked out for you!
Is there a fix for when the metal in contact with the battery is broken?
Paulina Contreras Depending on the extent of the damage, sometimes wadding up a small amount of aluminum foil to make contact will work. I used this technique in my Olympus 35EC video. Thanks for watching! th-cam.com/video/h-5-OvyfUbs/w-d-xo.html
thank you for this! i have a camera flash (less than 3 years old) and it has corroded batteries. definitely will be trying this.
Totally worked on an old Nikon Nikkormat winder!! It wasn't easy because the corrosion was all the way in the back of the compartment, but I did it. Thanks!!
Glad it worked out for you!
thank you so much for this straight-forward video.
I will be cleaning a lot of battery leakage these coming days,
lol
👍👍👍
Awesome tip. I have a camera I’m going to cleanup tomorrow. Thanks so much for the video:)
Island X Film Hope this works for you!
Thanks for the tip and all but how do you get a stuck battery out in the first place is my question.
forrealgirl 42 I’ve had to use a small flathead screwdriver to pry out batteries before. Also, I’ve poured a small amount of vinegar into a battery chamber to dissolve corrosion that may have been causing the battery to be stuck in the first place. In either of these scenarios, I would advise extreme caution to avoid injury - batteries can be dangerous if mishandled. Thanks for watching!
I’m going to try it with my Regency 620, I got it in a charity shop with green/blue corrosion
Good luck!
The look on your face! thanks. Can not get the door even open all the way on my Vivitar 273 auto flash. Never used got at goodwill.
Ukiah Duran You can try a little vinegar on the outside or a little WD40 spray to loosen the door
@@theoldcameraguy Thanks got it open and 4 ugly batteries out. thanks
Ukiah Duran 👍👍👍
Used this method on a nikon l35af that I got for a few bucks because seller said it didn’t work cleaned the battery terminals and it started to work just fine
Nice score - that’s a great camera (especially for just a few bucks)
Thank you so much, i’m going to use this method on my cassette voice recorder! 😁
Excellent!
Thank you for the video> I was given an old canon A95 after my dad passed, only to find out years later...that there are four corroded batteries inside! Hope the vinegar helps!
Good luck!
@@theoldcameraguy Hi Dave! thanks for replying! I tried the vinegar. Took off the white acid on top of the two of four batteries needing help. Seems to also be stuck on the bottom. I have tried vinegar, a butter knife....any other suggestions?
@@bksketches My only other suggestion would be to spray a little WD-40 in there - it’s worked for me before.
Sorry, if this is a stupid question, but why does the vinegar works on the corrosion ? I always thought that the corrosion came from the acid in the battery, so the acid in the vinegar shouldn’t work at all but make it worse. That’s why i tried baking soda with no success at all, while the vinegar does work great. 🤪 Thx.
Because science, haha. It’s a good question - don’t really understand the chemistry behind it - I’m just glad it works! Thanks for watching.
Good question that I also had. I found out it's because these batteries consist of an alkaline electrolyte which is a base. Still corrosive but neutralized with an acid like vinegar rather than a base like baking soda.
Thank you had to drill hole in one battery to remove it and pry out two more. Vinegar cotton swabs and even little bit of a pic it cleaned up. Used dielectric grease with new good brand batteries and all is well 📷 😁
Nice!
Thanks. Do i need to apply some isopropyl alochol too post applying vinegar?
That’s not necessary
For stickers (but for other dirt as well) I normally use (Zippo) lighter fluid.
Yes, another good hack - Thanks for watching!
Hilarious 🤣 hope it it'll work for us women over 40 to 👍🏻
This worked! Thank you so much! I was able to revive my instax mini 8. 😊
Glad it worked!
Thank you for the easy fix. Going to try it right now with my eBay finds!
Hope it works well for you!
Whew! I'm glad that I was paying close attention -- otherwise I might have put vinegar where it should not go!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thank you camera Guy
Queenie Q You’re welcome - Thanks for watching!
any tips on trying to restore the battery grip of a Super8? I found a super8 that's been hidden in a bag for years, and virtually untouched with film still in it. only issue, the 4 batteries in it were completely corroded and I believe it went through the contacts as well. fortunately, it hasn't corroded the negative and only corroded the positive including the wire and connector, which was already snapped off when I opened it up. I'm just curious on what are the correct steps, as I'm not very confident in soldering and might have to wait until I find someone that figure it out for me... would it just be as simple as soldering that wire to the contact where the connector snapped off? I already cleaned it up par your instructions, it's just that wire that's not connected. model is Chinon 600 S (not like there's any resources on it anyway)
I’ve only used white vinegar to clean corrosion off of contacts before. I don’t have any experience with soldering wires.
Literally about to do this fix on the exact same camera 😂 first video I opened. What are the odds?
It was meant to be!
Worked great!
@@nimieinstein4168 Glad it worked out for you!
A Million Thanks for the info
No problem
this is an old upload but worth a shot - my issue is actually getting the batteries out, is there a secret to loosen them up or take them out with the corrosion?? once i am able to take the batteries out i will definitely try this
A little spray of a lubricant like WD40 can sometimes help loosen them so you can pry them out carefully.
Oh my goodness thank you so much sir😭 i almost broke down my camera just because of the battery😔😔
I have used the WD40 Rust remover with GREAT SUCCESS. Apply it with Q tips.
Do you have any suggestions for removing batteries that are swollen such that they dont slide out easily like this?
I have used WD-40 lubricant and carefully pried them out with a flathead screwdriver, being mindful not to puncture the batteries.
Been there, done that. Used the exact same process. At the end I could revive a Canon flashlite.
I’ve brought a couple radios back to life this way too...
dude i think i owe you my life
Glad it worked out for you!
I have used this before but had problems cleaning the contacts on the inside.Any tips or tricks without taking the camera apart.
It’s tough to get far inside. I sometimes use long wooden shaft cotton swabs from a medical supply store
Hi there! I have a canon Rebel II that had corroded batteries inside. It leaked to the outside body. I cleaned it all up and inside battery chamber looks fine, but the outside is sticky and gooey. Also tried to clean it with white vinegar. Do you think is salvageable? I have not tried to use it yet
Definitely worth trying it - outside condition shouldn’t affect functionality. Good Luck!
Saved my Polaroid ❤️
That’s awesome - glad you got it up and running again!
I'm going to try to fix my brica ez4u, thanks for the information ❤
Good luck - hope it works for you
@@theoldcameraguy It worked! A lot Thank you so much 🤍
What do I do if the metal part is peeled off???
Sometimes putting a wad of foil in there will complete the circuit and work
What about cleaning the battery contacts deep inside on the other end of the camera?
Hi! The springs in the battery compartment were corroded as well and broke off 😩 how do I repair this? The corrosion resulted in blue-like crystals
If the springs are broken off, you can try wadding up some foil to make contact with the batteries - doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot.
@@theoldcameraguy thanks for replying! Ok I've tried it and it doesn't work 😪 does this mean the connection is lost/spoiled somewhere inside. I'm a bit apprehensive to try and dismantle the camera
@@amaninaa.5641 Unfortunately, it does sound like something has gone wrong internally. I don’t typically like opening mine up either.
Humour was awesome and you saved me $200 for a new mac mouse.
Thanks - Glad it worked out for you
Did this on a Polaroid pic300..still did not work..uhm,any other troubleshooting ideas? Thanks!🙏🏻😀
No other tips, other than trying it more than once. I’ve had some stubborn ones where I had to apply the vinegar 2 or even 3 times before it worked. (And once or twice where I thought it didn’t work, but I had the batteries in the wrong way...)
Very helpful tip, many thanks! Best way to remove gummy labels is with Mineral Spirits.
Please don't add music to any DIY, demo, tour, cooking, or wildlife video. It hurts the ears, esp after viewing 11 videos on the same issue.
Hey! Really helpful videos you got going here! I found this old Konica C35 EF at home, and of course the batteries had leaked in the chamber... Been scrubbing it with q-tips and vinegar for 2 days now, but everytime the metal dries there are turquoise markings from the leak. Is it a lost cause? Is there some other way around it?
Cheers!
Might be worth trying a paste made of baking soda and water - Good Luck!
@@theoldcameraguy It worked!!! The sound that the flash makes is really satisfying haha, cant wait to take some photos! Thanks for the help!
@@ivarjanson54 Awesome - Happy shooting!
It helped me. Thank you.
Great - You’re welcome
Any suggestion on how to pull out corroded battery that are stuck?
I have sprayed a little WD-40 in there to lubricate and help get them out
I’ll give that a go. I tried loosen it with vinegar but both double AAs are stuck real good. I’ve seen drilling a screw into the ends and pulling it out but will consider that as a last resort!
Appreciate the quick response! 🙏
@@valramos2003 Good luck!
Keep battery long time inside device a acid leaks is that my inter circuit of device short circuited ? Or device may lead to damage due to this
I have a Canon Snappy S and when I put the batteries the camera doesnt work at all, I check for corrosion and there is a little bit blueish tint on the contact in the interior part, do I need to use the same method?
Yes, corrosion can have a blue or green tint. It is worth trying.
Would apple cider vinegar work, or do you think that'd leave residue?
ACV is acidic, so it probably would work. I don’t think residue would be an issue - if there was any residue, you could hit it with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol.
Thank you much!
You’re welcome👍
So what would I do if one battery stuck cause the corrosion
You can try carefully spraying a lubricant like WD-40 in the chamber to see if that can help you pry it out.
Thank you now i can clean my old singing fish
You may want to grab some earplugs in addition to the vinegar.
Hi, what do I do if I can’t open the battery port?? Its a really old Sony Cybershot probably from around 2003. The port is one where you have to press down and push open but I think the old batteries have leaked and caused the port flap to be glued shut inside :( I don’t want to damage it by prying it open… do you have any advice? It would be greatly appreciated.
Sometimes carefully spraying a little WD-40 can free things up.
Any advice for a stuck battery in the chamber?
I’ve used WD-40 and a screwdriver to pry one out before.
My issue is one battery came out and the other is stuck! Do I try a drop of vinegar on the sides of that battery to get it out? Thanks! ~ Diane
I have used a lubricant like WD-40 to get stuck batteries unstuck before.
Thanks! I used it on my twinkle lights )l) forgot to remove batteries before storing)
Great - Glad it worked for you
does this work with any type of vinegar?
Probably, but I’ve only used white vinegar
@@theoldcameraguy is it okay if it is not distilled? just a white vinegar
@@erickaracaza1289 Yes
What if the batteries are solidified into the camera? These ones have been in the camera for many years, I could only pry one out
Spraying a little lubricant like WD40 in there may help free up the others
@@theoldcameraguy Thanks, I will give it a try!
Don't you need to follow with baking soda and water yo neutralize the vinegar so it stops eating it?
I’ve never done this and I haven’t had any issues.
Does this works with intax mini 11? It has been corroded for quite some time now
It might - I think it is worth trying.
Not a forty year old man but I feel like one working this camera!
Yasmin G 😆😆😆
hi, my batteries are stuck in the camera and I've seen you have suggested WD-40 in some of the replies but unfortunately that is not available in my country. Any alternatives?
Ananya Sahay Olive oil or vegetable oil in a can (also known as cooking spray) may help
@@theoldcameraguy thank you ! so is it safe to put it in the battery compartment
Ananya Sahay Yes, but only use a small amount.
Hi! my canon prima af7 date is a little bit corroted on the inside battery chamber. I able to make it work once, then I can't turn it on. After cleaning it with vinegar it still doesn't work. Any advice ? Thank you
Kemal M. Dioniko That’s a tough one - if you’ve made sure the batteries are fresh and installed correctly, then it made be a problem with the internal electronics. I’ve also had to do the vinegar cleaning more than once (and then let it dry thoroughly) to get my camera working
Try to sand contacts a little bit, gently. With something. It can be a knife. If it doesn’t works then your camera is maybe dead
I have a nikon coolpix l310 that the batteries corroded in and i cleaned it but the camera is still not workin? Why is that? Any tips?
Ines Unfortunately, if you’ve cleaned all the corrosion out of the battery chamber, you may have a problem with the internal electronics - probably not an easy or inexpensive fix
@@theoldcameraguy thank u!
Ines 👍👍👍
Will this work with my robosapien it's a robot and has a lot of corrosion on the actual spring it uses d batterys
It’s worth a try - sometimes you have to do it, let it dry, and do it again
Solved it! Give it a few minutes!
👍👍👍
hello i have a konica centuria 20 film camera and the batteries are stuck :( i get to open the battery lid but i have no idea how to take the batteries out. the batteries are pretty corroded and i'm still hoping that i could still use it.
ps. it has been stuck in a storage for years and i just realized that i wanted to try using film cameras since everyone has it again :( thank you
yaknee I have had success spraying a little WD40 lubricant in the battery chamber and then carefully prying the batteries out with a small flathead screwdriver. Sometimes pouring a small amount of vinegar helps too. Good luck and thanks for watching
@@theoldcameraguy where can i buy the lubricant that you mentioned? i might buy it after this quarantine period
yaknee Hardware and automotive stores always have it. Around here, we can find it at stores like Meijer and Walmart also.
Worked thank you
You’re welcome
What is a goo gone?
It’s a bottle of liquid that helps remove sticky residue off of all kinds of household items. It’s good for when you remove a sticker or price tag off an item and the item is still sticky where the tag was.
theoldcameraguy thx for helping
@@Blueberry-zk3ib You’re welcome
I tried this, but for some reason it’s still not working. There are no other problems with the camera. Do I have to wait for it to dry to put in the batteries? And if so how long?
You should only have to wait a couple minutes as the vinegar dries quickly. There could be something wrong internally.
Will red vinegar work?
Probably - it’s the acidity that does the trick.
Is it Ok to use Normal Duracel AAA+ battery 🔋 in my camera???
Yes
@@theoldcameraguy But it's not turning on When i put the battery and on it
@@XLR83D---R3CONNA1S4NCE If the battery is good, the camera might be broken and beyond repair.
@@theoldcameraguy Yes the Camera is old lik 1994 So i need to repair it thanks!
Thanks!
Patricia Paglinawan You’re welcome and thanks for watching!
Life saver!!!
Franki This little trick works wonders - Thanks for watching’
thanks for the video
You’re welcome 👍
Thank you
You’re welcome👍
I'm currently having a problem with a campera that had it's battery left in for YEARS and won't get out, the batteries expanded and now won't get out, what can u do in this case?
I have carefully used WD-40 and a flathead screwdriver to lubricate and pry old batteries out before.
@@theoldcameraguy hmmm, would putting a glue stick on the battery and then trying to pull it out work? As an alternative, don't have wd40 sadly
@@kaisatous8996 it would have to be pretty strong glue, like Gorilla Glue, but that might work
hi ive done all this on my nikon coolpix l25, i clicked on the on/off button it flashes green but doesnt turn on? help?