SLR camera problems. Repair of photographic equipment, the secrets of professional craftsmen How to repair a digital camera

An overview of typical camera problems, their causes, diagnostics and troubleshooting

A reflex camera is one of the most reliable devices due to high-end electronics, rigorous testing, and camera rejection at the factory. But breakdowns still happen.

The most common horrors for a photographer are:

The camera does not turn on - reasons:

• Deep discharge of the battery.
• Battery failure.
• Memory card failure (with a broken memory card, the camera will not turn on).

How to check where is the problem?

1. At least it is worth checking the battery. First, measure the charge level with a tester.
If the voltage is lower than the rating indicated on the battery, the camera will not turn on.

3. Didn't help? We change the memory card to a known working one. Sometimes a non-working memory card prevents the camera from turning on.

4. We do the same with the lens - we put it obviously working.

If after that the camera does not turn on - only deep.

Features of repair and diagnostics of cameras that are not included:

During the diagnostics, we determine not only the breakdown, but also the delivery time of components, the complexity of resolving the issue, the price of the components themselves.

The price of repair depends on the price of the block or element that needs to be replaced and the complexity of the work.

With the help of an oscilloscope, the master analyzes the pulses of the camera.
Finds out the nuances of signal transmission, determines the cause of the breakdown.

Next, we analyze the time and price, and we agree these points with you.
For popular brands (Canon, Nikon, Olympus) the period is from one day to two weeks.
For those rare on the territory of Ukraine (“Leica” (Panasonic), newfangled Fujifilm (the price of cameras is such that, in principle, there cannot be many of them) - longer.

Shutter does not work - causes

The development of rivets that hold the lamellas (curtains) together.

In this case, we do the replacement of lamellae

• The shutter motor breaks.
• The driver “flew” (a microcircuit that controls the operation of the shutter).

Most often - the question is in the lamellas.
From a blow, such breakdowns rarely occur: equipment is expensive in every sense and therefore “seriously” drop them rarely.

Signs that the matter is in the shutter:


Dark shot, the matrix did not light up.

How to check:

Without a lens, press the "Shutter" button in manual mode.
If the mirror went up, but the shutter did not work and you did not see the matrix, then the shutter was jammed.

SLR shutter repair features:

The older the camera, the more difficult and longer it takes to find the shutter.
Not everything is available in Ukraine.
In such cases, we import original parts to the USA, Thailand, China.
If available, the replacement takes three to four days.

You cannot fix such a malfunction on your own: you need a jewelry disassembly of the bolt.

At least once in a lifetime, each of us breaks down complex digital equipment. So I broke down our family Canon camera A 460, and as always, at the most inopportune moment. The camera, of course, is not new, it was bought in 2008. All this time he served faithfully, did not let down even once. Of course, he is morally obsolete. Modern soap dishes boast dozens of megapixels and multiple optical zoom. But the Canon A 460 suits me perfectly, takes good pictures, is able to perform acceptable macro photography.

In general, the malfunction manifested itself at one moment, the photos began to turn out very white, as if canon a 460 light up photo. And characteristically, horizontal stripes are visible. Here are some bad photos:

But the video was filmed, as before, without changes. I immediately noticed that at the moment the shutter release button was pressed, there was no characteristic sound of the shutter curtains operating.

If you encounter a similar malfunction, do not be upset, most likely to blame. You will have to replace it with a new one - this is a typical malfunction. Although, to be honest, this activity is not for the faint of heart.

To get to the bowels of the lens, you need to disassemble the entire camera, which has small details. In addition, we are dealing with optics that do not like dust. Therefore, you will have to acquire patience and self-control.

Of course, you can buy a new lens and replace it entirely. But I could not find it cheaper than 800 rubles, although the shutter cable is not so cheap, around 160 rubles. In general, I decided to replace the cable. I photographed the procedure for disassembling the camera on my phone, I apologize for the quality of the photos.

Canon A460 disassembly

Let's start by removing two AA batteries. Then we take out a three-volt battery, which is responsible for the memory. We unscrew 5 bolts and do not forget about the sixth, which is located under the protective cap of the USB connector:

Immediately after the cover is removed and access to the main board appears, you need to discharge the flash capacitor.

Attention! Discharging the capacitor by simply shorting the leads is strictly prohibited, as the microprocessor may fail.

To discharge the capacitor, we use a low-power load, for example, a light bulb, which we unscrew from the refrigerator:

Then unsolder the wires to separate the board from the case:

We will further disassemble the Canon camera based on the photographs that I found on the Internet. True, I simplified the disassembly a little, excluding the removal of the matrix, and also refused to dismantle the main tube from the lens.

The new shutter cable looks like this:

We assemble the camera in the reverse order and preferably on the same day so as not to forget anything. When assembling the lens, I would like to draw your attention to the moment when we will attach the optical viewfinder. It consists of four lenses, two of which are movable and must move in sync with the retractable tube.

Simply screwing the viewfinder into place will not work, because the movable lenses are in their initial position and are held by springs, so the lenses do not fall into the guide grooves on the barrel. How can we get out of this difficult situation?

Some experts advise to extend the lens. I did it easier. I just removed the metal cover from the video finder, which is held on by latches:

Then we try to put it in place, simultaneously moving each movable lens, trying to get into the guide groove of the tube. After we have succeeded, close the lid:

Next, you should definitely make sure that the assembled lens is working. To do this, we use one finger-type battery. By changing the polarity on the motor, we make sure that the lens moves out completely, moves without delay, we observe the closing of the protective shutters, we check the performance of the viewfinder:

If everything works fine, then I congratulate you, you have overcome the most difficult operation of assembling the lens. It remains to collect the camera together.

This is what a broken camera shutter cable looks like:

I hope that this article helped in self repair, and you did not have to look for a workshop where they could repair the Canon A 460 camera.

Instruction

In the event of any malfunction, first of all open the instruction manual for the device. It can be either a printed manual or an electronic manual on a CD. Find in the list of possible faults suitable look problem and see troubleshooting tips.

If so, it's most likely time to change the batteries. Swap batteries with known good batteries. When installing, pay attention to the correct location of the batteries in the slots. If the problem persists, the problem may be with a new set of batteries, try replacing them with different ones.

If the device is equipped with lithium batteries, install them in the charger and check if the device is dead. Charge the battery if necessary.

If the camera is not shooting, check that there is enough space on the memory to save new photos. If there is no free memory, replace the card with a new one or delete unnecessary images from the old card by first transferring them to another medium (disk, flash card, etc.).

If replacing the memory card does not solve the problem, the shooting conditions may not allow the flash to fire (not enough light). Pay attention to the light-emitting indicators that are located on the back of the device. When the indicator is flashing, refer to the instruction manual to find out the cause of the problem and how to solve it.

One indication of a problem is poor image quality, where images are overexposed or underexposed. In this case, do not rush to take the device to a service center, but check the flash and exposure compensation settings. Usually the button that changes these settings is located on the back of the camera and can be pressed accidentally.

If the image is regularly out of focus, check if the Macro Focus option is set on the machine. Correct the setting if necessary.

If images appear distorted when zoomed in, make sure the lens is clean and free from dust or fingerprints. If the lens is dirty, clean it using only a special cloth, not paper towels, which can easily scratch the lens.

If the memory card cannot be read, the contacts may be dirty. Wipe the contacts with a rubber eraser. In most cases, this procedure restores the performance of the camera. If the problem persists, reformat the card or replace it with a new one. Please note that reformatting the memory card will permanently delete all images.

If the described troubleshooting methods do not return the camera to working capacity, contact the service center. Serious breakdowns of digital equipment should not be attempted to be repaired on your own. Specialists will diagnose the device, fix the problem or recommend replacing the device with a serviceable one, if such a possibility is provided for by the warranty.

Master's response:

In order to repair a digital device yourself, you need to know what this device is from the inside. So, the optics system includes a diaphragm (inside the lens) and a shutter. The diaphragm is a series of petals that, when closed, narrow the hole through which light enters the matrix. Due to this, the degree of illumination is reduced, which prevents unnecessary exposure of the matrix if the subject is brightly lit. Like a diaphragm, a shutter changes the amount of light that hits the sensor.

When the camera is turned on, the camera lenses may extend and retract into the body of the device. It is important to know that a slight shock from the impact will damage the camera. An equally fragile part of the lens is the lens, which must be extremely carefully protected from contact with third-party objects. The cleaner the lens, the better the sharpness and image quality will be. Therefore, purchase a special can of compressed air, the flow of which will remove dust particles adhering to the lens. Using a clean piece of cloth, wipe off fingerprints from the lens, and if the dirt does not wipe off at all, then buy and carry a special liquid for cleaning optics with you.

If, when working with a camera, you hear clicks in the lens, and the indicator blinks constantly, then most likely the lens is jammed due to broken teeth of the gearbox gear. In more complex cases, the sleeve, which is the driving mechanism of the diaphragm and shutter, may break in the lenses.

The shutter of the apparatus is in the open state, so that the rays of light passing through the lens constantly fall on the matrix. The camera constantly receives an image from the matrix, which is displayed on the camera monitor. If the shutter is closed, the monitor will not display anything. However, after a high-resolution frame is taken, the shutter closes for a moment so that the information from the matrix is ​​​​copied into the device's memory.

Behind the lens is an infrared filter that blocks infrared light from reaching the sensor with a low ISO threshold. Our vision is not capable of seeing infrared light, which a digital camera should not see either. Otherwise, the picture will be different from the one we are used to seeing with our normal vision.

Along the path of light is a photosensitive matrix. Its upper part is glass, due to which the surface of the matrix is ​​protected. The surface of the matrix is ​​a myriad of light-sensitive cells, in the depths of which an electric charge arises from a ray of light. After you have taken a picture, the resulting charges are transferred to the analog-to-digital converter device, where the digitization process begins. Large values ​​receive large charges, and small values ​​receive insignificant charges. If there is no charge in the cell, a zero value is formed. But the maximum number is directly dependent on the bit depth of your ADC.

For most of the cameras used, the value does not exceed 255, which means 8 bits per channel. RAM receives this digitized information. The OP is a microcircuit where information is stored, even if for a fraction of a second, but only under the condition of constant electrical power. This microcircuit performs digital image processing - improves sharpness, color reproduction, brightness and other image parameters.

In digital cameras from different manufacturers, similar photosensitive matrices can be used. However, the output image quality may vary due to digital processing. So, the already converted frame gets into the memory card, where the photo in digital format will be stored regardless of whether the device is charged or not.

If you are faced with the problem of a memory card refusing to save photos, then most likely its contacts are dirty. So, carefully and forcefully clean the contacts with a piece of cloth.

If the device does not work after you have installed the battery in it, check again that the connection is correct. After all, the lack of effort when inserting the battery and its correct location do not mean anything. Another reason is not fully charged batteries, since the current consumed by the camera is more than 1A. So because of weak batteries, the camera will refuse to even turn on.

The entire imaging system is controlled by a central processing unit. And above the lens is an optical viewfinder device. When the zoom function works, the distance between the lenses of the lens changes and also the scale of the picture. The same movements are performed by the lenses in the device of the optical viewfinder of the camera, and therefore the device is located in the same block as the lens.

So, you have checked and established that the power supply is good, but the machine still cannot turn on. The culprit, most likely, is a burned-out processor, which must be replaced. However, first measure the current consumption during power-up: a zero value indicates a power failure.

The flash device is a separate board on which there is a transformer and a capacitor with a significant capacitance. And the rear panel of the camera is an LCD monitor that displays the image during shooting.

Our service center professionally repairs digital cameras (camcorders) under the manufacturer's warranty: CASIO, and also provides services on a paid basis for products from the following manufacturers: Canon, Casio, Fujifilm, HP, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung, Sigma, Sony, Kodak, Pentax etc. and we guarantee with qualified service not only acceptable prices and short time but also quality service.

Our service center employs only highly qualified service engineers who can accurately and carefully deal with breakdowns of your camera and perform fast and high-quality repairs.

Repair such sophisticated technology as a digital camera should be made by an experienced specialist who detects a malfunction of the product after carrying out complex diagnostic work. At the same time, the Client receives all the necessary information to make a decision on the advisability of repairing his camera or camcorder. Free diagnostics is made without printed detailing. After the diagnostic work, if necessary, the replacement of failed parts is carried out. Our Service Center has the necessary components that require replacement.

List of works performed:

• Lens repair cameras of any complexity, including SLR cameras;
• Standard repair, elimination of non-critical defects without installing new spare parts;
• Complicated repair. This procedure includes complex diagnostics with the replacement of various components, electronic elements, optics and mechanisms; Component Replacement - Microphone, optical details, cables, connectors, LCD displays, speakers, electronic boards and control buttons;
• Technical restoration after ingress of water, dust, sand, including the overhaul of the lens mechanism;
• Preventive actions– testing, cleaning, lubrication, setting options;
• Electronics repair at the component level;
• Replacement software .

Digital Camera Problems

The main causes of repair and malfunction of digital cameras.

Camera repair becomes necessary after improper or careless handling of a high-tech device. High-quality repair is possible only if the cause of the malfunction is accurately identified and its further elimination using professional equipment. In general, there are a number of main reasons for the repair and breakdown of digital cameras, which are typical for any brands and models of this type of electronics. Consider the main reasons for the repair.

Physical impact is the main reason for repairing cameras.

Due to the portable nature of the device and the high degree of mobility, the likelihood of mechanical damage to the device increases, and this in turn leads to the need for professional repair. Mechanical damage as a result of physical impact is the main reason for the repair of most digital cameras. The most common repair in this regard is a fall. Hitting a hard surface can severely damage the internal components of a digital camera, as well as cause significant damage. appearance. Scratches and cracks on the case are not as terrible as malfunctions in the operation of Zoom or the display - without them, the camera will not be able to work normally. You will certainly understand if your LCD screen is broken as a result of an impact or a fall. The situation is more difficult with the definition of a breakdown of the motherboard or matrix of the camera. These elements are located inside the camera body, and only a specialist can accurately diagnose their malfunction and repair it. In any of the above cases, repairs are possible, in some of them, with the replacement of damaged elements.

Water ingress is a common cause of camera repairs.

water ingress

The second most popular reason for contacting service centers is the ingress of moisture into the case, which leads to serious internal damage. electronic device and the camera is in urgent need of repair. Even with the slightest contact of liquid with electronic elements digital camera is undergoing a process of electrochemical corrosion and repair is indispensable here. Salt in the water is deposited on the internal elements of a digital camera, and this in turn leads to serious damage and the need for urgent repairs. If you have a suspicion that the camera might get wet or you see that nothing happens when you press the control buttons, then this definitely indicates the penetration of moisture or abundant condensation inside the camera, you should immediately seek professional help. In this case, it is unlikely that it will be possible to avoid serious repairs in a specialized service center. The only way you can help your camera is to quickly turn off the device, remove the battery and take the camera to us.

Sand ingress is a very common cause requiring camera repair.

This reason for the repair is also widespread, since the camera is usually widely used during the summer holidays, and these are beaches, nature and dusty roads. Even the smallest particles of dust or sand can render your digital camera inoperable and require repair. First of all, the camera lens suffers from this, the movement mechanism of which becomes clogged and stops working, if this happens, immediately contact a service center for qualified help. Thus getting sand in requires immediate repair. Do not try to use such a camera for shooting, clean it yourself and, even more so, try to repair it. Seek professional repair.

Overheating in the sun can also lead to the need for repair of a digital camera.

Violation of the thermal operating conditions can seriously affect the performance of your digital camera. The internal elements of the camera overheat, and even melt at very high temperatures, so repairs due to overheating cannot be avoided. So, as a result of careless handling of the camera (forgotten on the beach, left under direct sunlight), you get an absolutely non-working camera that requires serious repairs, professional equipment and a qualified specialist. Remember that from getting inside the camera moisture, dust or overheating, and as a result of the need for repair, you can save the usual observance of the instructions for use.

Lens damage

The main reason for contacting camera service centers for many years is damage to the camera lens. As a result of a drop, impact, moisture or dust, the lens of your digital camera stops working normally. This manifests itself, most often, in the incorrect operation of the zoom and poor focusing of the image. As a result, professional intervention by a specialist may be required, and in severe cases, its complete replacement. At times, it is enough to replace only individual components of the camera lens and not make expensive repairs to the entire camera. Urgent repairs may also require failed gears of the lens, which are responsible for its movement. This can happen as a result of breakage of gear teeth, which have increased brittleness. If the smallest grains of sand get between the teeth of the zoom lens drive gear, it can clog and fail. Not to mention the physical impact on the teeth of the mechanism and lens pins. Do not try to "help" the lens move, you will only harm and damage one of the fragile mechanisms that will later have to be repaired along with the camera. In this case, it is easy to break some other part of the camera and costly repairs cannot be avoided. Repairing a damaged zoom requires more skill than simply replacing it. Many services do not even try to repair damaged camera lenses, offering to replace them with new ones. Which ultimately results in "a pretty penny", and sometimes even becomes unprofitable.

Lens in a digital camera is a complex optical-mechanical device that requires proper care. It is the quality of the resulting image that depends on the operation of the lens - clarity, sharpness, lack of distortion, etc. Camera lens repair accounts for the majority of all calls to digital camera repair shops. The cause of damage, in most cases, is improper operation or careless attitude to the device. The camera has been dropped, spilled, stepped on, or left to play with a child, all of which will eventually lead to serious camera lens failure and require professional repair. Full diagnostics and repair of the camera lens is required.

Lens problems are typical for almost all manufacturers of this type of electronics, which is why it is important to carry your camera to a service center if such a breakdown occurs. Especially often with damage to the retractable lens mechanism, Canon and Nikon digital cameras come to us for repair. This is due to the most complex assembly (mechanics, electronics, optics) of cameras from these manufacturers.

Damage to the camera display.

Display damage

A frequent case of mechanical impact on a digital camera is damage to the camera display. Dropping or impacting the LCD may crack or shatter, which will undoubtedly require professional repair or replacement. Most at risk of damage to the display and repair of digital cameras that do not have a protective glass. Enough insignificant external influence(for example, light pressure), so that you have to urgently resort to the help of qualified specialists. Repairing displays without a protective coating is a fairly common occurrence.

Here are some typical signs of a malfunction of digital camera displays: cracks or spreading of liquid crystals, displaying only part of the information on the display monitor or its complete absence. In any case, you need a quality repair, which is impossible without the use of high-precision equipment.

Camera flash repair.

Almost all modern cameras equipped with a built-in flash capable of highlighting the foreground. Flash malfunctions are among the most common problems with photographic equipment, while not causing much difficulty in the repair process, provided that it is carried out by a qualified technician at modern equipment and using the latest technologies. Only if all these conditions are met, you are guaranteed a high-quality repair of flash cameras of cameras of any modification.

Most flash units today come with additional features, including red-eye reduction. Professional and semi-professional cameras have a contact for connecting an external flash, the so-called hot shoe, which also often needs to be repaired. Damage to this seemingly insignificant element can lead to a complete failure of the digital camera flash. Shoe failure is the most common flash problem. This can happen due to banal negligence or careless use.

To maintain the full operation of your digital camera, it is necessary from time to time to visit specialized service centers, where experienced specialists will carry out general maintenance work and check the flash lamps and the flash mounting mechanism, that is, the shoe.

Repair of camera interfaces.

In addition to the varieties described above, there are also frequent problems in the interfaces of this electronic device, which include the USB connector (Universal Serial Bus), audio outputs and video outputs of cameras. Damage to at least one of these elements, important for external access, can seriously spoil the mood at the most exciting moment. Camera interfaces can be damaged by inaccurate use of the device, regular bumps, falls, and frequent use of connectors, which contributes to the rapid wear of the elements. Repair of the camera interface in this case consists in replacing a loose connector and does not present any particular difficulties with the necessary skills and abilities. Compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations for the care, storage and use of your camera will help prevent unforeseen breakdowns, save on repairs and extend the life of your camera. Care of the camera includes several elementary rules: respect for the device, protection from drops and shocks, and prevention of sand or moisture getting inside.

Control board repair

This problem is not one of the most popular, it accounts for only a small percentage of the total number of all works, but, nevertheless, it has a place to be. This type of damage occurs when liquid is spilled onto the control panel or when it hits a hard surface. The consequences can be quite deplorable, because it is with the help of the board mechanisms that all the numerous functions of the software of any digital camera are controlled. The lack of response when pressing the camera control buttons or their inadequate operation most likely indicates a malfunction of the control board caused by moisture or heavy condensation inside the camera body. Some panel buttons may fail, or the camera does not turn on completely and does not respond to any actions of the owner, you must contact the service center. In this case, you simply need the help of a qualified specialist who, as a result of a complete diagnosis of the camera, will be able to accurately determine the cause of the malfunction and repair it. If it turns out that the problem is a malfunction of the control board, then the wizard service center eliminate the damage by component repair of this element, or replace it with a new one.

Malfunction of the power circuit or power connectors of the camera and its repair.

Most modern digital cameras are equipped with rechargeable batteries that allow for a long time use the device without additional power supply. Over time, they either wear out or become unusable as a result of the negligent attitude of the owner. As a result, the camera power system may require technical diagnostics. We carry out all types of work on the repair of cameras and the replacement of power connectors and other circuit components.

The reason for the repair of the camera is a broken microphone.

Modern digital cameras have all the features of a real camcorder, capable of producing continuous recording, in a volume that allows a memory card, and at the same time record sounds. In most cameras different models, manufacturers and price category, today there is a built-in microphone, which, like other electronic and mechanical elements of the camera, tends to break. And, instead of children's voices, looking through the record New Year's party, You hear a hiss at best and an oppressive silence at worst. To prevent such a malfunction, it is enough to replace the defective element (repair the camera microphone), in our case it is the camera microphone, and enjoy the happy moments of life.