My beloved camera certainly has its shortcomings, but it’s still the best photographic tool I’ve ever used. Over the years, it’s had an intermittent issue, which was readily resolved with some sharp raps on a solid surface. Indeed, this doesn’t seem optimal for a precision optical and electronic piece of equipment, but it worked … until it didn’t. At last, no amount of banging would get it to turn on and focus properly.
I bought this thing used off Craigslist and one thing it came with (that I would never personally purchase) was a 3-year square trade warranty. It expired less than a month before the camera became inop. Oof.
I had several options:
- buy a new used one
- buy the replacement model new (Grace did not approve of this option)
- send it in to get it fixed, for about the price of a new used one
- fix it myself
Anyone who knows me knows option 4 was really the only option. I scoured eBay and found one of two lens parts available for sale. I scoured the internet for the repair manual. I scoured my drawers for my tiny screwdrivers.
In order to remove and replace the lens, pretty much the entire camera required disassembly. I got really good at it because it took three times to get it right and all working, until I realized that I damaged a very delicate micro ribbon cable, rendering the back buttons useless. I again scoured eBay for the ONE part available (from the same seller as the lens) and had it overnighted so I could fix the camera before a big trip. I finally got it all working, which was very gratifying and only a fraction of the cost of a “professional” repair.
