>>3455551Dude, I’m not arguing that mechanical cameras don’t fail. I’m just saying that electronic parts are not 100% reliable either, and when they die, if theres not a major high-tech industrial operation to continue making those parts, that’s it.
With your mechanical cameras, what almost certainly happened was some lubricant got gummed up. In theory, it should be possible to take it apart, clean, lube, adjust, and reassemble. Will require some skill, but it’s doable. If something like the chip that drives a modernish electronic camera dies, that’s it. You could swap in a new chip if you know how to solder, but you’re not going to be able to etch new silicon if the chip just isn’t being made anymore, even if you had access to a circuit diagram and data sheet.
The AE-1 is pretty reliable, but if the PX1, PX2, or PX3 chip in it dies, your only real option is to cannibalize another AE-1. Compare with something like an M3 where there’s lots of complicated little fiddly clockwork inside, but given an example of a part, you can CAD/CAM up a new part with technology available to mortals.
