White Salt or Battery Acid looking substance on both my AF-101

[Ed Kishel]

The reason that the metal is not painted under the screw is because it simply would wear off with the screw head being tightened down onto the handle, repeatedly. You cannot paint screw holes as that would require the screws to accommodate the thickness of the paint and then somehow the screws would have to grow larger as the paint wore off.

Well, with respect Jan- that's difficult to buy. I was finally able to get a snap of the top handle of our HMC40 which is also attached to the camera via removable steel screws- like the AF. These are painted underneath (and haven't worn down either). I think it's because the screws are well finished and anodized which doesn't grind on the paint.

I will admit they are two different cameras, and so maybe the handle configuration of the AF100 requires them to be unpainted. Perhaps you have reports from users of the paint grinding off on these?

I think the two different metals coming into bare contact w/ eachother (without paint or washers) contributes to the op's issue. Along with other environmental factors of course. I know you can't control for everything, but I still think the AF's handle should have been painted completely- like on our HMC40s. Perhaps something to suggest to the engineers for future models. And on that note- please ask them to make the inside screw of the handle a "thumbscrew type" next time. It's tough getting a Phillips head screwdriver under there

BTW- some interesting google results on "corrosion on steel used w/ magnesium": http://www.arnold-uk.com/article/alufast-aluminium-screws.php

cheers