Carefully removing the corroded batteries from your vintage camera is crucial to avoiding further damage.

Disassembly Required

To access the battery compartment in most vintage cameras, you will need to partially disassemble the camera. Consult your camera’s manual for specific disassembly instructions. In general, you will need to remove the bottom plate or door to reach the batteries. Work slowly and keep track of any small parts you remove.

Once the battery compartment is exposed, you may see signs of leakage or buildup around the batteries. Do not attempt to forcefully remove the batteries, as this could damage the contacts or casing.

breaking the seal

The corrosion and leakage essentially “glue” the batteries in place. You will need to break this seal to remove the batteries, but do so very gently. You may need to use a plastic tool to slowly pry and loosen the batteries from the compartment. Apply firm and even pressure, wiggling the batteries to slowly break the seal around the edges.

Be extremely careful not to bend or break the contact springs in the battery compartment. Work slowly and avoid using any sharp metal tools which could scratch or dent the compartment. Rust and corrosion can be scrubbed off, but physical damage to the contacts or casing is often irreparable.

Final Removal

Once you have loosened the batteries and broken the seal, you should be able to gently lift them out of the compartment. Do not force them out if they still feel stuck, as this could damage the camera. Apply more solvent and continue gently prying around the edges until they come free.

Take your time and be patient through this process. Removing old batteries from a vintage camera is a delicate operation, but with care and caution you can successfully clean the corrosion and prepare the camera for a new set of batteries, The time and effort will be well worth it to bring your classic camera back to working order.