Go to a local hardware store. See how many different tools there are for each job. Pick the area of the store that interests you most and ask an employee more about the tools there.

Visit a hardware store and look around.

Try these quick projects from Khan Academy that you can do at home. Build a simple motor, a ping pong ball launcher, or something else from the list!

Develop mechanics knowledge with hands-on projects!

Before you can start repairing cameras, you need a solid understanding of how they work. Check out this article to learn more about how cameras work.

Discover how cameras work.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Repair and adjust cameras and photographic equipment, including commercial video and motion picture camera equipment.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

Adjust cameras, photographic mechanisms, or equipment such as range and view finders, shutters, light meters, or lens systems, using hand tools.

Disassemble equipment to gain access to defect, using hand tools.

Test equipment performance, focus of lens system, diaphragm alignment, lens mounts, or film transport, using precision gauges.

Clean and lubricate cameras and polish camera lenses, using cleaning materials and work aids.

Calibrate and verify accuracy of light meters, shutter diaphragm operation, or lens carriers, using timing instruments.

Examine cameras, equipment, processed film, or laboratory reports to diagnose malfunction, using work aids and specifications.

Read and interpret engineering drawings, diagrams, instructions, or specifications to determine needed repairs, fabrication method, and operation sequence.

Measure parts to verify specified dimensions or settings, such as camera shutter speed or light meter reading accuracy, using measuring instruments.

Fabricate or modify defective electronic, electrical, or mechanical components, using bench lathe, milling machine, shaper, grinder, or precision hand tools, according to specifications.

Microsoft Excel

RepairTRAX

Email software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Statistical process control SPC software

Battery cover removal tools

Eyepiece tools

Metal lens wrenches

Minispan wrenches

Aperture testers

Digital light meters

Retaining ring removal tools

Dial indicators

Digital multimeters

Mini pliers sets

Mini screwdrivers

Dial vernier calipers

Bench lathes

Electric soldering irons

Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?

Every day

How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?

A lot of freedom

Some freedom

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Never

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Limited freedom

About half the time

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a year or more but not every month

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Overview

Career

What Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers Do

Other Job Titles Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Overview

Career

What Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers Do

Other Job Titles Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders