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Hot take: I just found out how many parts are in a basic 35mm SLR shutter and my mind is blown

I was reading a repair manual for a Nikon FM2 from the 80s, and it said the focal plane shutter assembly alone has over 50 separate pieces (springs, blades, gears, the works). I always thought it was maybe 20 parts max, just a simple curtain. It really makes you respect the engineering in these old mechanical cameras. Anyone else had a moment like this with a specific camera model?
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owens.nancy
Wait, so you're telling me that tiny shutter in my old Nikon actually has over 50 pieces? I always figured it was maybe a dozen parts tops, you know, just some blades and a spring or two. @margaretj40 that stat you mentioned really hit home for me too. I used to get annoyed when my shutter would jam and I'd have to send it in for repair, but now I actually feel bad for whatever poor tech has to dig into that little mechanical maze. The fact that those tiny gears and springs all have to move perfectly every single time for decades is just wild.
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davis.iris
davis.iris2mo ago
Which part was the most surprising?
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margaretj40
That stat you posted, @davis.iris, really caught me off guard.
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