Dead Canon PowerShot A75

[Dallas]

I guess the little camera is 5 years old or so... but last week skiing
at 11K feet it worked fine for 2 days then it crapped out.

This thing is dead like someone took the batteries out... press the on
button and nothing happens. (Yes, I tested good batteries.) I'm not
used to things dying so abruptly, they usually give you a hint.

Anyway, just wondering what it could be and if there was anything to
gain by taking the cover off and messing with it?


--
Dallas

[Jon Elson]

Yeah, electronics can croak like that. It might have been ESD
when you are out skiing. Lots of synthetic fabrics and no
humidity, you can build up big static charges.

There are outfits that will fix these cameras for $50 or so.

Jon

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:56 -0600, "Dallas"
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:

>I guess the little camera is 5 years old or so... but last week skiing
>at 11K feet it worked fine for 2 days then it crapped out.

Get it fixed for free under the recall:
<http://www.computerbob.com/wp/canon-camera-recall.php>

--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[Peter Hill]

On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:48:22 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:56 -0600, "Dallas"
><Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:
>
>>I guess the little camera is 5 years old or so... but last week skiing
>>at 11K feet it worked fine for 2 days then it crapped out.
>
>Get it fixed for free under the recall:
><http://www.computerbob.com/wp/canon-camera-recall.php>

That's only for 1 particular CCD fault.

I've had it on an A85 and got it fixed for free. Here's what the
photos look like - as you see it still works. The OP's doesn't. You
may even be be able to make out the road, grass verge and a lamp post.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/skyshack/?action=view&current=IMG_3567.jpg
--
Peter Hill
Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header
Can of worms - what every fisherman wants.
Can of worms - what every PC owner gets!

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:51:00 +0000, Peter Hill
<peter....@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:48:22 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:56 -0600, "Dallas"
>><Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:
>>
>>>I guess the little camera is 5 years old or so... but last week skiing
>>>at 11K feet it worked fine for 2 days then it crapped out.

>>Get it fixed for free under the recall:
>><http://www.computerbob.com/wp/canon-camera-recall.php>

>That's only for 1 particular CCD fault.

True. However, it has many symptoms, including a black screen. It is
possible that failure to turn on might not be covered under the
recall, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

>I've had it on an A85 and got it fixed for free. Here's what the
>photos look like - as you see it still works. The OP's doesn't. You
>may even be be able to make out the road, grass verge and a lamp post.
>http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/skyshack/?action=view&current=IMG_3567.jpg

So, what are you suggesting? That he tear apart the camera and try to
fix it himself? That might be useful if he had some experience in
camera repair. I'm suggesting that he try to get it repaired under
the recall. If that fails, then do the Learn By Destroying(tm)
exercise.

[Dallas]

Peter Hill wrote:

> That's only for 1 particular CCD fault.

Actually... it's made the round trip for the CCD fault and if I
remember correctly some here might have told me about it.

The only reason I'm trying to save it is that it's got an optical
viewfinder which is nearly impossible to find in a true pocket sized
camera nowadays.

--
Dallas

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:11:55 -0600, "Dallas"
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:

>Peter Hill wrote:
>
>> That's only for 1 particular CCD fault.
>
>Actually... it's made the round trip for the CCD fault and if I
>remember correctly some here might have told me about it.

That was probably me.

>The only reason I'm trying to save it is that it's got an optical
>viewfinder which is nearly impossible to find in a true pocket sized
>camera nowadays.

<http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMW-VF1-External-Optical-Viewfinder/dp/B001GNC7Q0>
<http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-VF-1-Optical-Viewfinder-Digital/dp/B002CGSYNA>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2a9pwYoEo> (worth viewing)


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com je...@cruzio.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

[Jon Elson]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:


>>The only reason I'm trying to save it is that it's got an optical
>>viewfinder which is nearly impossible to find in a true pocket sized
>>camera nowadays.

And, why is that so great? You don't know what the imager is
actually seeing, especially if it has optical zoom. With close-ups
you get a lot of parallax.

Jon

[Dallas]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> That was probably me.

Muchos Gracias.

--
Dallas

[Dallas]

Jon Elson wrote:

> And, why is that so great? You don't know what the imager is
> actually seeing, especially if it has optical zoom. With close-ups
> you get a lot of parallax.

In direct sunlight the LCD turns into a black mirror.


--
Dallas

[Dallas]

For the archive if anyone's looking up the subject, here's an
interesting camera repair site.. Didn't help me but it might help you.

http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/11/simple-fix-for-dead-cameras-tha
t-wont.html

--
Dallas

[Dallas]

Geez.. here's a silly happy ending. Pretty much gave the camera up
for dead, then as a last resort I cleaned the battery door contacts
with alcohol and a toothbrush.

I don't know about you, but this has never worked for anything I've
tried to fix... until this time. Pressed the on button and bing,
back to life.


--
Dallas

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:31:54 -0600, "Dallas"
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:

>Geez.. here's a silly happy ending. Pretty much gave the camera up
>for dead, then as a last resort I cleaned the battery door contacts
>with alcohol and a toothbrush.

Nicely done.

>I don't know about you, but this has never worked for anything I've
>tried to fix... until this time. Pressed the on button and bing,
>back to life.

Many digital cameras have an external DC power connector. I have a
univeral camera power supply. Something like this:
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/230711142835>
Whenever I suspect a power related problem, I try the external power
supply. The last one turned out to be a piece of paper that had
fallen into the battery cave, and had blocked the battery connector.

The external power supply is also handy for using a digital camera,
with the all too common broken LCD, as a security camera or webcam.

[William Sommerwerck]

> Geez.. here's a silly happy ending. Pretty much gave the camera up
> for dead, then as a last resort I cleaned the battery door contacts
> with alcohol and a toothbrush.

This is more-common than you might think. Contacts can get shmuztik, from
junk in the air, or outgassing from the battery. This is particularly true
for products using button cells.

[Peter Hill]

On Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:39:45 -0600, "Dallas"
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote:

>Jon Elson wrote:
>
>> And, why is that so great? You don't know what the imager is
>> actually seeing, especially if it has optical zoom. With close-ups
>> you get a lot of parallax.

A85 you see the 3x optical zoom in viewfinder, it's fine for most
shots. OK there will be parallax in macro mode. There is a stop in
zoom, then it will go to digital zoom for 11x. Dunno about A75.

>In direct sunlight the LCD turns into a black mirror.

You wanna try it under water.
http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/skyshack/Antigua/?action=view&current=ray.jpg

Couldn't see screen to zoom and the optical was impossible with a
snorkel mask on.

[Cydrome Leader]

I've not fixed an a75m but on many there are contacts from the battery
terminals soldered to the board that break. Resolder and you're done. This
happens on the rectangular shaped Elphs alot.