Cleaning Out a Digital Camera

G

Grey

Guest
Dropped it in a local river. Still works but images are now slightly foggy.
I assume that even though it is dry now, some contamination (algae?)
remained on lens or the CCD itself.

Anyone ever disassembled a digital camera and made it better rather than
worse? Are we talking a clean-room environment? Any other special
considerations?

Grey


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I bought one (Nikon Coolpix) which had been dropped on a hard
surface...freed up jammed lense assbly. gear train, reseated ribbons--works
great. Previous owner had attempted repair, so had to match various screws
to proper holes...nothing like your problem, however.

Still worth a shot. How did you 'dry it out?' Is it possible that moisture
still present?

jak

"Grey" <grey@overtheseas.faraway> wrote in message
news:eek:prx4f0obksg7eej@news.igs.net...
Dropped it in a local river. Still works but images are now slightly
foggy.
I assume that even though it is dry now, some contamination (algae?)
remained on lens or the CCD itself.

Anyone ever disassembled a digital camera and made it better rather than
worse? Are we talking a clean-room environment? Any other special
considerations?

Grey


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Click to expand...
 
You can try, but dust in the optical path will be your biggest problem
unless you can do the re-assembly in a clean room where you can keep all the
surfaces clean. As far as the disassembly and reassembly is concerned, if
you have the proper skills and tools, you can do this. If you need new parts
for any reason, the manufacture will most likely not sell them directly.
They will insist that you send them the camera for them to change the parts.

If it is an expensive camera, you should call for an estimate to have the
camera cleaned. It may be worth the labour cost, instead of you possibly
doing something where you will not be able to make it work again.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Grey" <grey@overtheseas.faraway> wrote in message
news:eek:prx4f0obksg7eej@news.igs.net...
Dropped it in a local river. Still works but images are now slightly foggy.
I assume that even though it is dry now, some contamination (algae?)
remained on lens or the CCD itself.

Anyone ever disassembled a digital camera and made it better rather than
worse? Are we talking a clean-room environment? Any other special
considerations?

Grey


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I've taken a couple apart, a cheap pocket digital (washing machine) and a
Canon A20 digital (cracked lens ribbon cable). I think there's still some
moisture in there that will not go away in a reasonable time without some
disassembly. The cheap camera was no problem, but wasn't very complicated.
I was just careful, used a hairdryer, dusted with a camel hair brush, and
reassembled. Works fine.

The Canon was far more complicated, as a ribbon cable inside the
extendo-lens had cracked, rendering the shutter/aperture unit inoperative.
I did a transplant from another dead Canon. I would not recommend taking
an expensive camera apart unless one is a very careful and experienced
worker-and willing to accept the loss if you kill it. I used my SMT
soldering station get some assemblies apart, and tiny gears went flying at
one point. However, I was careful, dusted all optics with a brush,
inspected it very carefully, and it works fine now.

I admit, if there is a film left on the optics, cleaning them may be a
problem, and I did not obsessively inspect or test for extreme
cleanliness. They looked clean under a magnifier. I didn't feel it was
worth it for a $40 pocketcam and a 2 Y/O, 2MP digital. I had nothing to
lose.

If it's an expensive camera, it may be better to get an estimate from the
factory.



In article <oprx4f0obksg7eej@news.igs.net>,
Grey <grey@overtheseas.faraway> wrote:
Dropped it in a local river. Still works but images are now slightly foggy.
I assume that even though it is dry now, some contamination (algae?)
remained on lens or the CCD itself.

Anyone ever disassembled a digital camera and made it better rather than
worse? Are we talking a clean-room environment? Any other special
considerations?

Grey


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-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
Click to expand...
 
On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 11:34:31 -0600, jakdedert <jdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I bought one (Nikon Coolpix) which had been dropped on a hard
surface...freed up jammed lense assbly. gear train, reseated ribbons--
works
great. Previous owner had attempted repair, so had to match various
screws
to proper holes...nothing like your problem, however.

Still worth a shot. How did you 'dry it out?' Is it possible that
moisture
still present?

jak
Click to expand...
I placed it in a 37C oven overnight then in a vacuum chamber, but only at
about half an atmosphere for another 24 hours. I am confident it is H2O-
free.

Thanks for your comments. They are encouraging.

Grey


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On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 12:51:00 -0500, Jerry G. <jerryg50@hotmail.com> wrote:

You can try, but dust in the optical path will be your biggest problem
unless you can do the re-assembly in a clean room where you can keep all
the
surfaces clean. As far as the disassembly and reassembly is concerned,
if
you have the proper skills and tools, you can do this. If you need new
parts
for any reason, the manufacture will most likely not sell them directly.
They will insist that you send them the camera for them to change the
parts.

If it is an expensive camera, you should call for an estimate to have the
camera cleaned. It may be worth the labour cost, instead of you possibly
doing something where you will not be able to make it work again.
Click to expand...
No, it's not that expensive, which is why I am considering cleaning it
myself. Not worth a hefty repair cost. But a modest investment in
accessories has me hoping it can be brought back.

I agree with the thought that dust will be a problem. I have an assortment
of equipment at my disposal, but nothing is perfect and with my luck... Did
I mention I fell into the river as well?

I am wondering what would clean the optics and CCD, if indeed it is algae,
without leaving a deposit of their own. Most tech-grade solvents are pretty
grim purity-wise. Lens cleaner can be used on the glass lenses but what
about the CCD? That's beyond my experience.

Thanks.

Grey


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"Jerry G." <jerryg50@hotmail.com> writes:

You can try, but dust in the optical path will be your biggest problem
unless you can do the re-assembly in a clean room where you can keep all the
surfaces clean. As far as the disassembly and reassembly is concerned, if
you have the proper skills and tools, you can do this. If you need new parts
for any reason, the manufacture will most likely not sell them directly.
They will insist that you send them the camera for them to change the parts.
Click to expand...
The dust issue really isn't a big as it sounds. Only near the focal
plane - the CCD or whatever - will dust be in focus. So, a speck or
two probably won't ever be noticed unless it lands in a bad place.
Make sure the cover glass on the sensor is very clean.

However, I do agree that if you consider it to be worth more then tossing
it in the dumpster if you don't succeed, DON'T START!!! Leave it to a
professional.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the Feedback Form at repairfaq.org. Thanks.
 
Grey <grey@overtheseas.faraway> wrote in
news:eek:prx4mhx06sg7eej@news.igs.net:



I placed it in a 37C oven overnight then in a vacuum chamber, but only
at about half an atmosphere for another 24 hours. I am confident it is
H2O- free.

Thanks for your comments. They are encouraging.

Grey
Click to expand...
Ordinary water will have minerals/contaminants which may have left the
film.You should have washed it out with 99% isopropyl first,-then- dried it
out.And the isopropyl would have aided in water removal.(then relube)

Now that you've dried it,that will not work.Disassembly of the lens and
thorough cleaning & relube is necessary,IMO. Take it to a good camera shop
that does camera and lens service,or return to factory service.


--
Jim Yanik,NRA member
jyanik-at-kua.net
 
You should have washed it out with 99% isopropyl first,-then-dried it
out.
Click to expand...
It didn't occur to me at the time. That would probably have been a smarter
thing to do.

Grey


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I recently did the same with my Nikon 3700. Yours is better off than mine;
mine is completely dead and I am trying to find out how to revive it. If
anyone knows anything about what water would do to completely shut down this
camera please let me know. Meanwhile, I think I can help with your problem; my
lenses and viewfinder were foggy even after heating with a lamp. I have a
vacuum pump that goes down to near zero pressure, so I hooked it up to a
tupperware container, then heated my camera up under lamps til it was very warm
to touch, put it in the container and put it under vacuum for about 20-30
minutes. This absolutely got all the moisture out.

tw from Seattle area
 
oops, it is a nikon 4300. Apparently have the 3700 on the brain.
 
"Ddwmtbc" <ddwmtbc@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031105234207.06012.00000194@mb-m28.aol.com...
I recently did the same with my Nikon 3700. Yours is better off than
mine;
mine is completely dead and I am trying to find out how to revive it. If
anyone knows anything about what water would do to completely shut down
this
camera please let me know. Meanwhile, I think I can help with your
problem; my
lenses and viewfinder were foggy even after heating with a lamp. I have a
vacuum pump that goes down to near zero pressure, so I hooked it up to a
tupperware container, then heated my camera up under lamps til it was very
warm
to touch, put it in the container and put it under vacuum for about 20-30
minutes. This absolutely got all the moisture out.

tw from Seattle area
Click to expand...
There could be a surface mount fuse that blew, however I'd say the chances
of this camera ever working again are minimal at best.
 
I recently did the same with my Nikon 3700. Yours is better off than
mine;
mine is completely dead and I am trying to find out how to revive it.
If
anyone knows anything about what water would do to completely shut down
this
camera please let me know. Meanwhile, I think I can help with your
problem; my
lenses and viewfinder were foggy even after heating with a lamp. I have
a
vacuum pump that goes down to near zero pressure, so I hooked it up to a
tupperware container, then heated my camera up under lamps til it was
very
warm
to touch, put it in the container and put it under vacuum for about 20-
30
minutes. This absolutely got all the moisture out.

tw from Seattle area

There could be a surface mount fuse that blew, however I'd say the
chances
of this camera ever working again are minimal at best.
Click to expand...
I am curious to know how you know if the images will be clear if the camera
doesn't work anymore? I am getting foggy images even though there is no
visible moisture remaining on the lenses and viewfinder.

BTW I hope you took the batteries out of it before you 'dried' it.

As I said earlier, I believe I got all the water out. I think the foggy
photos are due to a deposit left on the lens or the CCD. It wasn't just
water. It was river water. I would still be interested to know if anyone
knows how I would go about cleaning a CCD if I did take the camera apart to
clean it. I am not going to bother dismantling it if I don't have a
reasonable plan for cleaning it.

Grey


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