Canon G3 - +1 for repairability

[Tim Watts]

We all moan about modern crap not being (easily) repairable.

So I think Canon are deserving of some positive press...

My ancient G3 camera with the swivelling LCD panel went wrong the other week. In short, the LCD only lit up in certain positions and was blank in the one position I like to use it.

Anyway, today - new set of precision screwdrivers arrived from Maplin, including the all important PH-000. Turned out to be the tiniest microswitch I've ever seen inside the back body of the camera was physically sticky (turning the LCD panel left-right operates this switch). Few pokes with a screwdriver and a couple of drops of isopropyl alcohol dribbled in for good measure and she seems to be working fine.

The camera was surprisingly easy to open and looked pretty well made inside. Canon had even been thoughtful enough to make all the plastic buttons on the back case section captive so I didn't have a fight putting it back together.

OTOH glad I didn't have to delve deeper into the guts - that looked rather less easy...

Cheers

Tim

[Peter Johnson]

I had one written off a few years ago, after I'd knocked it and the lens retraction mechanism stopped working.

[Tim Watts]

Peter Johnson wibbled on Sunday 31 January 2010 20:53

Next time (if), have a look at here:

first thing I got was one of those ali lens tubes and together with an (expendable) UV filter on the end has offered a lot of protection to mine.

Only downside is it obscures the internal flash slightly (though models of camera and lens tube vary). But it's quick enough to pop off.

[newshound]

I use one on an S2IS which mainly gets used outdoors, but keep my G10 "bare" so that it stays pocketable.

[robgraham]

The screen on my Panasonic FX01 somehow got broken. I found replacement ones on Ebay which also sourced instructions, and did the replacement in well under an hour.

I wouldn't really want go any further in the dismantlement, but my experience would indicate that screens are straightforward, if a little fiddly, to replace.

Rob