Gaffer’s tape is the cure-all for ailing camera equipment. It came in handy when my Canon 550 started falling over like an electronic Humpty-Dumpty. Four little screws at the bottom holds the top heavy flash to the hot shoe. Without the screws, the flash falls over. So I slap on a piece of tape.

Believe it not, its difficult to find replacement small little screws. Forget about the Home Depot or Lowes, or even the local camera store. I could send it back to Canon, but I would be without it for weeks.

As I was feature hunting, I stumbled upon the CSI camera repair shop in Chesterfield. The shop is small and plainly decorated. Service manager Mike Canis saved me from wasting more gaffer’s tape. He was able to find a few screws from a salvaged flash he had in the back. And the rest, he found in his “miracle box” of random camera parts. The box reminded me of my junk draw at home.

Mike has been repairing cameras for about 35-years and says he had to learn a new set of skills to fix the new generation of digital gear. Asked if he was also a photographer, he said that after handling cameras everyday for 35-years, it was the last thing he wanted to do at home.

With my flash fixed, I can save the gaffer’s tape for more important repairs.