5Dc LED display mod

Have thought about changing the color of the LED display on the top of my 5Dc from amber to blue or red. Anyone done anything like this before? I have all the tools necessary to disassemble a camera.

I'm no EE, but I'm pretty sure different colored LEDs have different voltage specs, so it's not a matter of just swapping the LED.

I dunno about you, but I wouldn't do it if there was nothing else wrong with the camera.

It's likely a SMD LED, so if you don't have experience working with tiny components, it may be harder than you expect.

I think the amber color was chosen for the best readability at night. Blue would be too harsh, however, red may work well.

I would still stay away from messing with it when there's nothing wrong with the camera and it's just a small cosmetic difference.

I worked as an SMT repair tech for two years at an electronics firm. I got a nice Weller setup wouldn't be a problem for me to do it. I was just curious if anyone else here had undertaken such a project. It looks like I could just remove the top of the camera off and access it that way. I'm no novice to camera repair I did a shutter replacement in my 400d.

If its a standard 0603 or 1206 (most likey 1206) SMD led with two terminals then should be a 2 min job, does the current one only ever give one colour? if it gives multiple colours then it'l be a 3 terminal one and thats more difficult as you have to stand the new LEDs on their sides.

Go for it since you beleive you have the knowledge. You'll be the first person to have a diffent color display. You will be the coolest kid in POTN. Post some pics when you're done with the project.

Do some before and after pictures and post them here. Maybe some step by step photos as well. I'm sure someone here might undertake this task if it's not that hard to do.

Lemi know if you're in the UK and need any leds, I have a dozen different colours in both sizes from back in the day when I used to replace the dull green leds in nokia 3310/6310/8310's etc to hyper blue or hyper whites

edit: I'v just looked at a 350D I have open here and the upper info screen is lit with orange leds, hmmm blue or white? I wonder

equach206 wrote in post #12663175
I think the amber color was chosen for the best readability at night. Blue would be too harsh, however, red may work well.

The 1D(s) Mk III uses blue, and is pretty readable.

Amber and green suck, I like the 1D3/1Ds3's blue - that looks "RADICAL DUDE"

I personally think red would be awesome, and silver as well. Silver would be awesome

Havent seen a silver LED, I'm replacing it now with a nice bright blue, pictures soon.

Note that most blue led requires a lot higher voltages than a red, amber or green LED.

A red might need 1.6V.
A green or amber may be just above 2V.
And a blue LED may need almost 4V.

So if the LED is powered from 3.3V, you may get zero light with a blue LED.
If it is powered from 5V, the series resistor will be too large, resulting in very little light.

Here you go...

Before with stock LED..

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My first advice would be not to tamper with anything that you don't need to. But I have to admit, I love that blue LED, it really suits the camera!