I stumbled in here with an old AE-1 Program that has visibly deteriorated light seals. Not sure yet if they need replacing, but I'm pretty confident a test roll will show some light damage. This video has been wonderfully instructional. I never would have thought of the IPA trick with the adhesive. I'm pretty confident that, with this channel's help, I can get this camera into good working order.

Fantastic to learn to dip the extremely thin door insulation in isoprop alc before attaching them, I had big problems with this before!! Thanks

I have watched just 60 seconds of my first video on your channel and I just had to pause it to commend you for being reasonable human beings providing information instead of obnoxious clowns shouting things at me over dance music for no reason. I will now like and subscribe and am very excited to learn how to refurbish my canon ae-1 and yashica fr I and II. Thanks!!

If anyone else out there is like me, and more likely to cut your finger off than cut the foam in a straight line, I found a paper-cutter at my local Staples store that will cut the 1 and 2mm foam straight as an arrow. The unit I found was a CARL RBT-12N and cost about $12(US). All you do is place the foam sheet in the cutter with the backing facing you (it helps to mark a cut line on the backing sheet). With the 2mm foam a little "trimming" was required with my exacto knife as it didn't cut quite all the way through all the foam for the length of the cut, but it was very small and the foam came out straight.

Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. You make very intricate work seem effortless. My Canon AE-1 needs new light seals but I don’t think I can do it. Getting a little shaky in my old age ! Enjoy watching your videos. Thanks.

Thank you for making this video! I'm glad someone takes the time to educate people in repairing old cameras instead of doing things the "American way" and throwing it out.

I use black yarn and it works and fits great. I also use thin foam on the door with cement glue. Ive done this with my minolta xg1 pantex 1000 aei and omg 10s.

Awesome video! Thanks for helping us beginners!

Great tutorial!!!

Isn't the light seal foam for the mirror just a cushion and not really a seal? It's my understanding that Canon assumed the users head/eye over the view finder was adequate to block any light leaking from there or you're supposed to use the little cover they provided for those times when your head wasn't there (my Canon EOS 60D DSLR came with a little cover attached to the camera strap that the user is supposed to put over the view finder when not using the view finder). Also, wouldn't it be better to remove the screen before removing the old foam?

The AE-1P has a removable focusing screen.

Has anyone tried the "goo off" products that are available on the residual gunk left behind by the old light seals?

I enjoy and appreciate all of your "How To" videos. In this video, you suggest isopropyl alcohol as your recommended solvent. I've been using denatured alcohol as it seems to work more quickly....are you aware of any reasons why I shouldn't use it?

Nice video, thanks for showing us!

Very nice. I've replaced seals in several old cameras successfully, but I have a few that still leak light. When you replace yours, what do you do at the counter reset tab? I've been trying to trim the seal as close to them as I can, but should I just run the seal strip over the tab?

Thanks for your videos! What is the height of the foam that you use here ? 2mm or 3mm ? Can I use the same foam for a Canon FT QL?

Not mentioned: Never, ever touch the front-silvered mirror with anything, much less the sticky goo from this repair process.

could you guys demonstrate how to fix reattach the viewfinder glass back in place. the glass in my viewfinder fumbles around in the chamber, so whenever i try to look through the viewfinder, the glass becomes out of place. i would really appreciate it.

What is the width (I'm guessing in millimeters since the Camera was manufactured in Japan) of the upper and lower film door groove seals and how critical is that measurement (my "eyeball" measurement says the grooves are 2mm wide)? Also, how far around the corners at each end of the grooves should the light seal go. Based on what I see of the old seals Canon did not carry the seals all the way around and to the end of the grooves. It looks like the material ends about 3-4 mm before that. What are the dimensions on the two mirror damper pieces?

great video, thanks. Is it possible to repair a door issue, in which the door is closing but not perfectly and making a litle squeeze or clinch by grabbing the body of the camera. it sounds like 'creh' 'creh' or somthing like this. thank you

Greetings from Kuwait thanks very helpful

Are the light seals on the AE-1 the same as on the AE-1 Program?

Do you have a video on how to repair the light meter on an AE-1?

Is it ok if the door needs a bit more preasure to close after I applied new light seals?

Hello there, from the look of it you seem really knowledgeable and I would like to ask you if you have ever came across to a canon A1 where the mirror is not moving at all when I press the shutter button I can ear a small clicking sound, I have tried everywhere but unfortunately no one had the same issue. I would much appreciate your help, if you could at least advise. Thanks, Adriano

These videos are great! Any tips on light seal replacement for a Canon FTb QL?

What if you have dust on the inside of your view finder, not the mirror lens or prism but on the actually glass you look through? Its on a Mamiya Msx 500 and its really annoying, I've cleaned the mirror and prism and lens multiple times until I realized where the dust really was. Thanks.

Hi Fix Old Cameras, I have a problem. When I changed my light seals, I saw that my focusing screen has halos on it. How could I remove them?

It is possible to see some light seal replacements for Minolta SR-T 101, Zenit E and Yashica 230-AF ?

Bought my AE-1 from a charity shop, and it doesn’t have the felt in the door latch, anyone know where I could get a replacement?

I notice that you use two thicknesses of foam. I only was sold the thinner type. Where is the thick and thin types used?

Glad we could help.

All you Americans seem to use 'Isopropyl Alcohol' to dissolve gooey seals BUT here in England I asked around my town and nowhere in any Pharmacies did they have any -- in one I was told you 'have to have a special Licence to get it' -- I use Lighter Fluid instead.

I got some of the light seal on my focus screen prior to watching this video so I tried to wipe it off and it left a stain on it. Is there anyway I could clean it or how could I replace the focus screen on it. The camera is a classic Canon AE-1 by the way.

Excellent, the term is fresnel, i.e. Ground glass. I'll be sending a sick OM-4 to you soon, only because I need to see more of your videos. Merry Christmas! BTW , I want your book, but Thai duty taxes make that EXPENSIVE. Send ma a copy for x-mas please, Love to all. D. RedHawk

I have obtained a AE-1 and it has what looks like green rust speckled over the top silver casing, what would you recommend to remove it?

Thanks :)

I'm getting front light leaks on my Canon A1. Which seals need replacing for front light leaks?

This is helpful, but what is the foam called? Is there a certain type? And where can I find it?

Would anyone know the proper measurements to cut the adhesive foam at, particularly the width?

Will you do a light seal repair on the Minolta x-700?

My mirror is stuck on my Nikon f2 . It appears the mirror is sticking up due to the light seals being worn and degraded. Thoughts?

Hi ! Why use ispropyl alcol instead of Etilic ?

Do you need to dip each new foam sealant into alcohol?

How important is the light seal for the camera lens door

what do you do with the part where it bends? do you cut the light seal in a specific way?

What size light seals size should I buy? I own 1.5mm thickness

how do you replace the light seals in the upper and lower door groove???

What thickness of foam do I need to buy to make these light seals?

Light Seal Replacement on canon canonet

How to clean the viewfinder

Where do we buy the replacement foam?

What size is the foam

A wooden stick? U mean likea toothpick eh?

The nose whistle!!!

Fantastic to learn to dip the extremely thin door insulation in isoprop alc before attaching them, I had big problems with this before!! Thanks