How can I touch up worn paint (“brassing”) on an old black camera body?
Asked 10/20/2014
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I have an older black Canon New F-1 body with paint worn off along the edges, exposing the metal. I know some people use marker pens, but I’d like to know if there’s a better low-cost way to touch up small worn areas and scratches for a cleaner black finish. Is there a durable DIY method, or is it usually better to leave the wear as-is?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
5
That wear on the camera edges is called "brassing", and it's usually considered to be a badge of honour for a camera. It means the camera has led a productive life of being used, which is exactly what it was designed to do.
Although you've asked how to fix it, I'll offer you an alternative: leave it as it is. It doesn't affect camera function, and in the eyes of many (including me), cameras actually look good with some brassing.
I don't know of any easy permanent way to repair the damage, if you end up not subscribing to my opinion. The metal can be repainted, but to do so durably isn't an easy matter. Felt marker and the like will not have a terribly long life and the brassing will be visible before long.
Avoid dropping your camera and knocking it into things (these can cause functional damage), but edge wear like brassing is harmless.
Originally by user68581. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user68581
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, but expectations matter. Edge wear on older black cameras is commonly called “brassing,” and many photographers/collectors prefer to leave it because it doesn’t affect function and is part of the camera’s history.
If you do want to cover small worn spots, marker pens are the quickest option but usually aren’t durable and tend to wear through again. Better cosmetic results can come from carefully applying touch-up paint in thin coats. Community suggestions included car touch-up paint, epoxy-based paint, and ceramic gun-finish products. The idea is to build up only the damaged area gradually so the repair sits close to the original finish rather than looking like a blob.
For best results, work very sparingly on small scratches and chips; a full durable repaint is much more involved. So for a low-cost DIY fix: use a matte/flat black touch-up paint applied carefully in multiple thin coats. For long-term perfection, refinishing is difficult; for many owners, leaving the brassing alone is the better choice.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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