Question about using JIS screwdrivers vs standard Phillips on old cameras

I had to make a choice last week when repairing a 1970s Pentax Spotmatic. The screws were really tight and I couldn't tell if they were JIS or Phillips heads. I ended up ordering a proper JIS screwdriver set for $25 instead of forcing my regular Phillips bit. The JIS driver fit PERFECTLY and I didn't strip a single screw head. Has anyone else had trouble figuring out which screwdriver to use on older Japanese cameras?

2 comments

2 Comments

rileyb6127d ago

Did you check the screw heads with a magnifier first or just go off the color of the plating?

morgan_bailey9327d ago

Ugh I've been burned by plating color before, turns out it can vary batch to batch. I learned the hard way after mixing up some vintage brass screws that looked identical until I held them side by side. These tiny details we obsess over are a pain but worth catching early.