Posts Tagged ‘digital camera repair’
Digital camera lens repair is as common as LCD repair, but it’s #2 on my list because it’s harder to repair a digital camera lens and there are so many different types of lens problems whereas a broken LCD is a broken LCD no matter how you look at it.
Basic Lens Care Tips:
- Do not leave the batteries in your camera in the camera bag. The power button can be pressed accidentally causing the lens to extend and get jammed because it cannot open properly inside the bag.
- Try not to drop the camera with the lens extended.
- Don't ever pull or twist on a lens that is not working 100% properly, you will just break it.
I would have to write a book to fully explain lens problems fully (hmm.. maybe a good idea!) so I will try and keep it simple and informative.
The lens is made up of many different parts… Let’s start with the several pieces of glass referred to as the lens elements. The outer lens element is prone to being scratched and scuffed, and usually has a special coating on it that you DO NOT want to clean off with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), or Windex or something similar. It’s not the end of the world, and don’t worry about it if it’s missing. Just keep the lens clean (why are there fingerprints on your lens anyway??) & free from wear.
The inner-most lens element is responsible for the fine focus and resides directly in front of the CCD. When you press the shutter button half way down to focus, this part moves forwards and backwards till it’s in the correct position and your image is in focus. You won’t be messing with this part of the lens… unless you feel like removing the lens from the camera and then tearing down the lens to get at it’s ‘guts’. It can be pretty fun the first time it happens, but… I wish you luck getting it back together properly. The tearing apart stuff is great, the putting it back together is a drag!
The lens has two small motors with their own gears that connect to the two main parts of the lens. The larger motor drives the lens barrel in and out when zooming. The smaller motor drives the fine focus element mentioned above and controls the focus. If you get ONE GRAIN of sand in these gears, they will jam and the lens will “error out” as we like to say. Open it up and clean it out if you like, but it’s not easy. The larger of the two lens motors usually has 4-5 different gears that if misaligned will cause the lens to jam. But hey, your lens is already jammed, why not see how it works, right?
Then there is the CCD, “charge-coupled device” which translates the light that enters the lens into a digital signal that the camera can record.
There was a very large CCD recall for digital camera lens repair over the past few years that covers many manufacturers like Canon, Fuji and Nikon and not just Sony, but Sony provided the CCDs to many other manufacturers for their cameras so they do have a large amount of defective cameras on the list themselves. The defective CCD’s cause the camera to take solid black photos, or purple/pink “dripping paint” photos, or they have repeating white horizontal or verticle lines on the images. If your camera does this, call the manufacturer and tell them you want a repair under the CCD recall no matter how old your camera is! IF it's on the list, you might get your camera repaired for free.
Got spots on your images that get bigger and smaller as you zoom in and out? Usually there's a spot of dirt on the CCD unit. You will need to remove the lens and then remove the CCD from the back of the lens and clean it off. Don’t lose the gasket that goes around the CCD, don’t get any other dirt inside the lens and don’t leave any fingerprints! Tall order I know, sorry, I’m demanding. =)
Let’s see… what else? Your lens is part way out, stuck at an angle because the camera was dropped while turned on. Now please read that carefully; the lens must be stuck part way out or all the way out, and one section of the lens MUST be stuck at an angle. The lens must not move freely at all for this section to apply, and you may follow this advice AT YOUR OWN RISK. The following repair trick works, but I am not responsible for your actions or anything you do to your camera.
Alright then, the lens is jammed at an angle and you think it's worthwhile to attempt to fix it yourself. No problem.
Hold the camera with the angled part of the lens resting against the edge of a table, and the rest of the camera hanging over the side. Do not place the camera facing down with the “Canon Zoom Lens…" metallic front section down flat on the counter. The round part of the lens barrel is what we want on the flat surface of the table. Now… here is the tricky part… press the angled part of the lens back into alignment by pushing down on the lens on the edge of the table. Put your fingers on the LENS below the angled part to support it and press firmly but still gently (how do I do that? I don’t know.. you just do it) and the lens will either POP!! back where it belongs and the lens will work again or it won’t move and no harm will be done, or worst case scenario one of the guide pins that move inside a small slot inside the lens will break and the lens will be ruined.
I told you it was at your own risk!! Camera repair is fun… right?
Ok, how are we feeling about lenses? I think we have covered most of the basic problems, and possible solutions. If you want to buy a lens for your camera there are several ways to do it which include calling the manufacturer; but they will want 5+ for the lens, guaranteed.
Do a Google search for “digital camera repair” and you will see at #1 the only site that has affordable digital camera repair and DIY parts… Darntoothysam.com!
Today’s digital camera technology offers consumers an irresistible range of camera options coming from different top brands. The choices in digital cameras today ranging from small point and shoot pocket cameras to large professional digital SLR’s can be overwhelming and seemingly endless. Each of these choices boasts of its own specifications that can make camera shopping more difficult than it should be. So how can a consumer end up picking the cream of the crop?
While there is no single best digital camera (since choices vary according to each person’s unique needs and preferences), your best bet is of course to study the options available and rely on one of the top brands in the market today.
Canon Digital Cameras
What is the brand with the largest market share today? Canon! Canon has always been known to be a top manufacturer of a wide array of superior digital cameras. Its camera series lines, which include PowerShot (point and shoot) and EOS (DSLR), have consistently received numerous positive ratings from users and critiques.
Of course, not everything that Canon produces is flawless as there have been issues along the way; nevertheless this company enjoys a good reputation and an outstanding track record when it comes to high quality digital cameras.
These days price is a concern to us all when buying a new Canon digital camera but thankfully they have many affordable digital cameras available. The Canon Powershot A470 is a top-selling camera for good reason. This compact and portable digital camera offers a 7.1 megapixel CCD, 3.4x optical zoom, and a 2.5″ LCD screen to frame your photos and review them easily. Quality and user-friendliness are combined in this piece of affordable camera.
Canon also recognizes the fact that digital cameras have also become a fashion accessory today and people are looking for beauty and style aside from excellent performance. The Canon A1000IS with its elegant, two-toned look is certainly appealing to most people’s eyes. Even with its modern style, its features do not take a backseat. It comes with a 10MP image size (honestly all you need), 4x optical zoom and impressive image stabilization.
For adventure seekers, Canon created an action-packed camera called the Canon PowerShot D10, which is waterproof up to 10 meters, freezeproof from -10 degrees Celsius, and shockproof up to 1.22 meters. This superlative camera comes with a 12 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom lens, 2.5″ LCD screen and the very important image stabilization.
Proper Care and Maintenance
Just like with any other brand of digital camera, it is imperative that you take utmost care of your Canon camera repair. Even if Canon is known for its quality, it is still not invincible to wear and tear. You should always keep the camera protected from dust and sand. Try to ensure you never drop your camera or bang/bump it severely.
If you suspect any malfunction in your digicam, bring it immediately to a service center that has experience with Canon camera repair. If you prefer to do it yourself, look for a vendor selling genuine OEM Canon digital camera parts.
Producing high-quality photographs is not at all difficult with the excellent line of Canon PowerShot series. To ensure that you end up with the best choice that will meet your photography needs and requirements, review and compare different products before buying.
The continuing development of digital camera technology offers near limitless choices for the professional and amateur alike when looking to achieve the best photographs possible. There is a wide array of camera options ranging from compact digital cameras to large DSLRs. Each type of camera available has pros and cons associated with it, so shopping for the right camera can be confusing. Nevertheless, it will still boil down to the type and specifications that each person is looking for.
With any digital camera, there will be an assortment of features and utility levels which will make a good camera well above a thousand dollars. The current top digital camera brands are Canon, Sony and Nikon.
Probably the most essential parts of a digital camera are the lens, viewfinder and the LCD screen. Proper cleaning and care of these parts will prolong the use of your camera. These sensitive components such as a camera LCD screen should never be bumped or have a battery put against it inside the camera case; you don’t want to have to pay for a camera LCD screen repair Purchasing some good quality lens cleaning items such as a brush or blower and lens cloth and cleaning solution can be important. A lens blower can help remove dust and dirt, while a cleaning solution and cloth can remove debris that the blower cannot. Another important reminder is to protect the cameras lens by always putting on the lens cover when the camera is not in use.
Be sure to store your digital camera properly when not in use. Always store your digital camera in a cool, dry space to avoid extreme tempertures and condensation. Always keep the camera out of the sun and from cold temperature. Digital camera batteries should also be taken out when the camera is not in use. Also keep in mind that magnets of any kind should also be kept away from the camera.
Besides just the camera itself, you should also remember to take care of your accessories such as memory cards. These are small accessories, so you should take care to not lose or damage them. Never remove the memory card while transfering images to your computer. Memory cards should be stored in the camera or in a card case to avoid damage to them and avoid losing them.
Taking care of your most prized digital camera is imperative to make certain that they will last for a very long time. Even if you purchase the most reliable brand, which in my opinion is Canon, there is still no guarantee that your camera won’t have problems due to the normal wear and tear of usage. As much as possible, to avoid having to find a Canon digital camera repair shop you need to protect it from impact damage, water exposure, sand and dust and extreme tempertures.
If you notice any damage or malfunction to any part then it is important to find someone who can affordably provide you with reliable camera repair services. Keep in mind that a good digital camera is not cheap, and it pays off in the long run to take good care of it.
Many people have asked about repairing their front covers/flaps on their Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, so I’ve written up some instructions. Our lens barrier repair kit is a little tricky to replace on Canon SD series cameras but definately not impossible for you to do yourself. All you need is some patience, a steady hand and a small tipped screwdriver. We use dental picks, they work great!
To get things started, turn on the camera to extend the lens and then open the battery door and remove the battery so that the lens stays out. This allows you to easily work on the lens barrier assembly.
First the part we need is the ‘barrel drive ring’, it’s the ring with the small piece that sticks down into the lens. Some cameras don’t have one, so if there isn’t one in your kit then your camera doesn’t need it. Be certain that it will rotate slightly after installation, otherwise it is probably not installed properly and can cause the lens to get jammed.
Next are the springs and flaps. There is a small little tab that holds the spring in place when you put it on the ‘flap’ or ‘barrier plate’ as they are actually called. They are TINY, they are hard to hold and if you drop it… lets just say DON’T drop it on the carpet, ok? If you do lose some springs, we have them available on their own in our store for you to purchase.
Carefully put the cover or ‘flap’ in the hole with the spring pointing towards the post where the other end will connect, and then with something with a tiny and pointy tip (we use dental picks!) gently grab the loop of the spring and stick it on its post.
Do this with the flaps in the open position, they will stay in place if you get them seated properly. If everything pops off, just start again. Try not to stretch out the springs, they need to remain tight for the assembly to work properly.
Then gently put on the barrier cover, it’s a flat plastic ring. There are tabs on the barrier cover, they match up with little slots on the lens and it locks into place. Be gentle, don’t force anything too hard or you will break it and the parts will not hold it place.
Now it’s time to test your skills! Put in the battery (cross your fingers) and press the power button! Is it working? Did it go flying across the room with a cute little *SPROING!* and maybe all the parts scattered all over the place? Yeah I hope not, but I’ve been there myself so you’re not alone.
Once it’s working nicely …you’re almost done with your first digital camera repair!
Next put the dual sided tape on the barrier cover. CAUTION: Make sure to take the tape off of the backing paper but DON’T remove the paper that matches the shape of the tape on the other side!! Removing the small paper part will cause the tape to fold up on itself and stick together. Bye bye tape!
The tabs of the tape fold over the edges, if they stick out the lens cover will not fit properly and can jam up the lens. The tape lines up with one tab at about the 11 o’clock position, then fold the tabs over and press them in so they don’t stick out.
Now put on your chrome or black lens cap, line up the cap with the small indentation at the bottom, you’ll see how it goes on easily.
Fire up the camera again and admire your handywork! Congratulations you now know more about digital camera repair than the Geek Squad, and they told you it would be two hundred dollars and take 3-4 weeks to repair. Whatever Geek Squad… Whatever.
Hmm… I think I’m seeing the beginning of something big here; affordable do it yourself Canon digital camera repair