: Open the back of the camera, point it at a light source, and fire it at various speeds. You should see a clear flash of light. At slow speeds (like 1 second), listen for a consistent "zip-click" sound without lagging.
: Known as the "student camera," this is a fully manual, mechanical workhorse. It requires no battery to operate the shutter, making it incredibly durable and excellent for learning the relationship between light and settings.
: Open the battery door and check for green or white corrosion. If it's heavy, the camera’s light meter may no longer work.
: Shine a flashlight through the lens. Look for fungus (spiderweb-like patterns), haze (a cloudy film), or heavy scratches . Tiny dust specks are normal and won't affect photos.
