My $40 investment in a set of JIS screwdrivers for old Nikons

I was working on a Nikon FM2 last month and kept stripping the tiny screws on the top plate, even with my best Phillips set. A guy at the local shop in Austin mentioned they were actually JIS heads, not Phillips. I bought a Vessel Megadora set for about $40 and the difference is huge, no more chewed-up screws. Has anyone else run into this with other Japanese camera brands from that era?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_green487d ago

Oh man, that "actually JIS heads, not Phillips" thing is so real. I had the exact same problem with an old Pentax I was trying to fix. I mean, I was so frustrated thinking I was just being clumsy. Getting the right drivers was a total game changer, it just fits perfectly. I found a cheap set online and it made all the difference for my old Japanese bikes too.

keithroberts6d ago

Tell me about it, @anna_green48. That moment you realize it's not you, it's the tool, is such a relief. I stripped so many screws on old camera gear before I learned the difference. It's one of those hidden bits of knowledge that saves you so much headache. More people need to know about JIS when working on vintage Japanese stuff.