Canon A70 Repair (E18 Error)

[Drbeagle]

So, my camera has been smitten by the E18 stuck lens error. (After a friend of mine dropped it while open. Grrr.)

THe camera is out of warranty anyway, so that hardly matters. I got a free quote online from a Chandler, AZ camera repair place. $196 bucks. I can replace the camera with a brand new one for that.

I can't find a Canon-authorized repair shop in ABQ, NM to try to talk my way down to a decent repair price.

So, I was hoping to fix it myself. (if I mess things up further, no biggie; its useless as is.) I found an online guide for fixing ELPH cameras and was hoping to use it as a guide.

But, I can't get the case off of the A70. I can get the part loose almost all the way around, but I can't get the top edge free. THe bottom and side are loose and the covers where the shutter release button is is off. But, the edge right above the optical view finder is still tight.

Does anyone know how to remove the outer case or have access to an A70 repair manual?

Thanks a bunch,
David

[S45_fornow...]

Have you removed the shutter button assembly yet? It's impossible to separate the two main body halves if it is still in place...

There are two screws in the bottom of the battery compartment, and a screw inside the CF card slot that hold it in place.

If you have already removed it, then it is just a matter of carefully "forcing" the halves apart as they are also secured with small snap-type tabs around the edges where the halves meet.

hope this helps.

[Drbeagle]

Thanks, for the reply. Knowing that applying some force was neccesary, I was able to separate the halves rather easily.

But, getting into the lens unit is going to be tough.

I've got exploded-view diagram from a replacement parts catalog that shows all the parts and screws.

But, some of the screws are really tight so I'm having trouble with them. Also, I'm not at all sure about getting springs back in if I happen to loosen one (and hopefully its loosen and not loose).

Just buying a new one for 200 buck may be the better option. (And then not letting my friends touch it.)

Thanks,
David

[S45_fornow...]

Well... you really have nothing to lose if its going to cost you the amount of a new camera to have Canon fix it, so why not go for it?

The lens mechanism can be a pain to deal with once you've cracked it open, so document what you are doing and where everything goes. It helps to have the lens slightly extended when you take it apart and put it back together, too. I use a small flat-bladed screwdriver to turn the main lens barrel gear teeth to do that. Be careful not to break any teeth though. The gearbox is exposed once you open the lens up also, so crack it open carefully or you will end up having gears fall out.

Tell me, is the lens stuck in an extended or retracted position? If so, you might be able to unjam it by simply applying a little twisting/pushing/pulling force to the lens barrel as you turn the camera on.

[Drbeagle]

The lens is stuck in an almost closed position. I have tried using pressure while turning it on but that hasn't worked.

My biggest problem now is all the foil motherboard pieces. Do those tabs unplug from their ports on the green PCB pieces and if they do, how will I get them back in?

Thanks,
David

[S45_fornow...]

The lens is stuck in an almost closed position. I have tried using pressure while turning it on but that hasn't worked.

My biggest problem now is all the foil motherboard pieces. Do those tabs unplug from their ports on the green PCB pieces and if they do, how will I get them back in?

Thanks,
David

There are three types of connectors used on the boards for attaching the foil tabs. The most obvious just snaps on. The other two connectors utilize a tab (on the foil) that is inserted into the connector on the board which either opens by flipping the latch upward on its hinge, or by moving the small tabs on each side of the connector outward (parallel to the surface of the board), away from the connector. Closing the connectors is simply the reverse.

[Drbeagle]

Thanks for the info about the connectors. I was able to remove enough to remove the Lens/ccd unit.

Do you have any suggestions on getting the lens unit open to see the gears without having bits and pieces go everywhere. The exploded view diagram i've got just documents removing the lens cover and its 10 tiny pieces. it doesn't cover opening the lens unit.

Thanks,
David

[S45_fornow...]

If you look carefully around the sides of the lens unit, you will see a long gear that is exposed. This gear is the last gear that engages the teeth on the lens barrel for extending/retracting. I can't remember for sure, but I think you should be able to get to the shaft holding that long gear in place. Remove the shaft, then the gear, and it should expose the teeth on the lens barrel enough so that you can "pick" the teeth to extend/retract the lens barrel.

Often, a hard drop with the lens extended will cause the mechanism to jam up hard enough that the only way to correct it is to take the whole thing apart, clean it, then reassemble it.

If you open the lens assembly with the CCD end on top and the lens end down, you will minimize the chance of having gears pop out on you. The gears/motor will be at the top just under the CCD unit.

Its been quite a while since I've had one torn down, so that's about all I can remember.

Oh, and be careful about getting fingerprints on any exposed glass. The last thing you'll want to do is redo the whole process to clean fingerprints off the lense(s) inside the assembly if they show in your images.

[Drbeagle]

Well, I was able to get the lens retracted manually so I put the camera back together.

Tried to turn it on and nothing happens. (The batteries are just fine.) So, I guess I must have messed up something else. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

Now I'm without a digicam for a while. Darn.

[stopbath]

Oh well, now you really have nothing to loose by opening it up again...

Open it up and see if you can spot a cause. A wire off, a connection or something amiss. A thingy too wonky...

Good luck...

Weekend coming up... Gonna be hitting the stores this weekend?

[Drbeagle]

Seems the electric system is gone for good. I thought I discharged the flash cap when I opened the camera but maybe it didn't empty completely and the contacts brushed against something. I probably should have put electrical tape over them. Oh well, I'll chalk that one up as a lesson learned.

I ordered a new A70 from amazon. It should be about $140 after rebates, discounts, and other money-saving wheeling and dealing. Not too bad (although I'd rather have continued saving for a better camera. But heh, the A70 the perfect size for all my backpacking, so I can't complain)

Thanks for the help. I'll keep the old one for spare parts in case something craps out in the new one after the year of warranty is up.