View Single Post
  #7   Report Post  
Ken Weitzel
 
Posts: n/a
Default



spudnuty wrote:

It would help to know the history of the camera. Was it dropped, sat
on, or at the beach? Was it working then suddenly stopped?
I've worked on a lot of digital cameras. To determine the problem with
the zoom, disassemble the camera down to the lens module. Try to
isolate the extension-retraction circuit and drive the motor from an
external source. Usually you'll find the lens has broken tracking tabs
on the main group barrel or retrofocus converter group or the ways or
guides have cracked. I recently repaired a Nikon 4100 that responded
nicely because the guide elements just snapped back into place. Usually
they snap and break off or are already broken off because most are
plastic. Some older ones are aluminum and can be bent back into shape
but that takes quite a lot of experience. Sometimes there's just a
piece of grit in the ways and you can revive it by complete disassembly
and cleaning. Otherwise you might be looking on eBay for a parts camera
with a good lens or mainboard.
Richard


Hi Richard...

I don't know Canon's at all; know Olympus's pretty durned good, though.

Respectfully suggest that since the OP didn't mention any electronic
experience at all, we should warn him about the flash cap before taking
it apart. That thing will seriously get his attention, or worse!
Don't ask me how I know.

Having said that, and warned him, I'd like to know what he means when he
says the lens won't move. Could mean that the lens obviously tries to
move, fails, and shuts down. Or doesn't even think about it.

If it tries to move and fails, then he surely has a lens problem.
Likely a crack (invisible to the naked eye) in the outer barrel.
Usually lets the ball bearing fall out of it's groove between the
two barrels. Rattles a little if you gently shake the camera. Almost
certainly needs the lens assembly replaced.

If it doesn't even try, but the rest of the camera operates normally,
then I'd guess he's looking at the interconnection(s) between the
mainboard and the lens motor(s). Connector pulled apart, cracked
mainboard, or something.

If it doesn't even try and the rest of the camera is dead as a
doornail, then perhaps the battery connections? Power board?

We need more info to help, but please, please original poster,
don't take it apart unless and until you learn to deal with that
flash capacitor.

Sorry for the long winded post.

Ken