Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Cameras and photographic gear — including commercial video and motion-picture cameras — are taken apart with hand tools so the fault can be reached. Diagnosis draws on the camera itself, processed film, laboratory reports, and engineering drawings or specifications. Shutters, range finders, lens systems, and film transports are tested with precision gauges; light meters and shutter timing are calibrated, and lenses are cleaned and polished. Mechanisms get cleaned and lubricated, and parts are ordered when they have to be replaced. It suits people who like precise, close-up mechanical work, careful testing, and following technical drawings.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$52'720
Median Wage Market Position
$52'720
What you might do
- Adjust shutters, lenses, and view finders
- Take cameras apart to reach the defect
- Test focus, alignment, and film transport
- Clean cameras and polish their lenses
- Calibrate light meters and shutter timing
- Read drawings to decide the repair steps
Skills that matter
- Diagnosing faults from film and reports
- Hand-tool work on shutters and lenses
- Testing focus with precision gauges
- Cleaning, polishing, and lubricating cameras
- Reading drawings to plan the repair
- Calibrating meters and shutter timing
AI & the future of this role
Hands-on teardown, alignment, and parts swaps still require fine motor skill and shop judgment. Diagnostics and manuals may get smarter, yet shrinking repair volumes for cheap digital gear could keep demand uneven.
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