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Problem for Digital Cameras
Generic problem for all Digital Cameras
Dropped Nikon 500g laser rangefinder
Dropped Nikon 500g laser rangefinder and now lens is out of alignment. It only reads distances up to 20 yards instead of the 500 yard spec. Took cover and boards off, but can't see any way to adjust lens. Nikon wants $100-$200 to fix it.
Thanks for your help, Mark
Thanks for your help, Mark
Comments:
Jul 21, 2008
- $163 was the quote from Nikon direct. I can buy a Bushnell for that price so I'll try to fix myself. I have access to an electronics lab at work, but very limited optical equipment. Anyone have any instructions, diagrams, schematics? I'm not sure how the lens is fixed in the housing or how it is adjusted.Thanks.
Jul 22, 2008
- Understand it may be difficult. I don't have anything to lose though. Also I am an engineer (Mech) and have access to some equipment and a couple of guys who developed some of our optical tools at work. Thanks.Jul 24, 2008
- Thanks for all the suggestions however I think they apply more to optical lenses on cameras than laser rangefinders. It reads short distances, but not long. It's my guess that the either the laser is not outputting at full power (possible, but unlikely) or the laser receiver is missaligned. Looking down the reciver lens it looks like a partial eclipse of the sun. i.e. two non-concentric circles.I have tried to unscrew the lens from the front, but it won't come off. It may have had some expoxy applied to the threads. Also there is a set screw level with the receiver which I removed and tried to shock the unit to see if the receiver moved. It didn't.
Anyone familiar with rangefinders specifically?
Solution #1
posted on Jul 22, 2008
Yes
No
Yes
No
Solution #3
posted on Jul 21, 2008
The lens gear must be taken apart completely and reassembled, if there is some part that is not matching the other gears because of the shock, it must be replaced.
You can trying doing it yourself at your risk.
You should be able to have the job done at a local shop for about $100, I don't think you will find anything cheaper. This precision job may require several hours.
Regards
You can trying doing it yourself at your risk.
You should be able to have the job done at a local shop for about $100, I don't think you will find anything cheaper. This precision job may require several hours.
Regards
Yes
No
Solution #4
posted on Jul 22, 2008
With your access to help at work, this should be pretty easy.
Any repair is DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Consult with your work mates after reading this through.
Disassemble the parts in a row representing the order of assembly and take a picture of them from different angles.
Take each orbital gear and hold four fingers down on this at the ordinal points of a compass rose. See if you can slip a feeler gauge under any portion of the ring and where, mark the center of this area with a dot from a Sharpie.
All the ring gears that you can slip a feeler gauge under and have marked may need to be replaced but, you can try the below first..
Take a block of maple slightly larger than the largest ring gear, hold the ring down on an actual flat steel surface and then hold the gear down firmly with the maple block by another block of wood, Tap this firmly with a rawhide hammer until the ring gears are all flush and you cannot slip a feeler gauge under the previous dots you placed. Do this carefully and slowly so as not to crack the ring gear. Check the ring again with another run at it with the feeler gauge and repeat this process until you succeed with all rings and the feeler gauge test.
Now you have to address the mounting point at the camera. Run the same feeler gauge test on it. If this is not flush you really have a problem that you should consult with your work mates. I'd say reassemble the lens, mount and use your hands to re-seat the mount point so it is flush and perpendicular to the range finder body versicle axis. This is where your workmates come in, they may have a sensible solution for this point in the process
Regards,
Worldvet
If you've no doubt looked for and cannot find one, I wonder what Nikon felt they could do for you other than giving you a refurbished model for that price, which may be better than buying a replacement for this one.
Any repair is DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Consult with your work mates after reading this through.
Disassemble the parts in a row representing the order of assembly and take a picture of them from different angles.
Take each orbital gear and hold four fingers down on this at the ordinal points of a compass rose. See if you can slip a feeler gauge under any portion of the ring and where, mark the center of this area with a dot from a Sharpie.
All the ring gears that you can slip a feeler gauge under and have marked may need to be replaced but, you can try the below first..
Take a block of maple slightly larger than the largest ring gear, hold the ring down on an actual flat steel surface and then hold the gear down firmly with the maple block by another block of wood, Tap this firmly with a rawhide hammer until the ring gears are all flush and you cannot slip a feeler gauge under the previous dots you placed. Do this carefully and slowly so as not to crack the ring gear. Check the ring again with another run at it with the feeler gauge and repeat this process until you succeed with all rings and the feeler gauge test.
Now you have to address the mounting point at the camera. Run the same feeler gauge test on it. If this is not flush you really have a problem that you should consult with your work mates. I'd say reassemble the lens, mount and use your hands to re-seat the mount point so it is flush and perpendicular to the range finder body versicle axis. This is where your workmates come in, they may have a sensible solution for this point in the process
Regards,
Worldvet
Comments:
Jul 24, 2008
- I"d say from your latest comments this is an alignment issue. There should be internal set screws to align the receiver lens that you can adjust to adjust the long range laser return setting.If you've no doubt looked for and cannot find one, I wonder what Nikon felt they could do for you other than giving you a refurbished model for that price, which may be better than buying a replacement for this one.
Yes
No
Solution #5
posted on Jul 22, 2008
Click the estonian guide,then click Nikon camera,it will show one byone,dismantling, then in pentax manual,dismantling parts by parts andthe rest is a sample picture guide,for more referrences in dismantling;
Estonian guide
Bulgarianguide
http://www.sbszoo.com/ve6sbs/projects/hp620/default.htm
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/servicemanuals.htm
If your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can do is to take it to the nearest official Nikon repair shop and Canon should fix it for free.
If your camera is out of warranty, or if Nikon refuses to repair it for free (happens sometimes if for example they suspect the camera has not been treated properly) you can try some of the methods listed here to repair it yourself. These simple methods have helped a lot of people fix their cameras.
Before trying any of the suggestions, make sure your Canon has fresh batteries and it is in recording mode.
1) Remove the batteries from the camera, wait for a couple of minutes, then put them back in and turn the camera on.
2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it should function fine.
3) Another method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. It sounds so simple, but very often in works.
4) Try forcing the camera lens:
Turn off the camera. Place it on the back with the lens facing up and take a look at the spacing between the lens and the lens housing. If you notice that the gap is not even all the way around the lens, the problem should be easy to fix. This type of a problem usually occurs if the camera was dropped while the lens was extended.
Simply - VERY GENTLY - press down the lens on the side where the gap is the biggest. You should hear a "click" as it pops back into place. Try powering the camera back on.
If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, and then retracts again, do the following. Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently take one part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on.
Another version of this fix would be to pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. Focus should slowly start improving.
5) If that doesn't work, there is an online guide for dismantling Canon cameras and fixing the E18 error. (NOTE: Try this only if your camera is no longer under warranty!) It is a great guide with pictures and it can be found here.
There are 2 other guides, one Bulgarian and one Estonian with the take apart procedure for Canon cameras. They are not in english but have a lot of pictures which help with the process.
- Bulgarian guide
- Estonian guide
You can remove the epoxy glue by using an acetone ,its better you have a phone have a camera so take video when dismantling so it not hard to you when you assemble it again...
hope this may help;
Regards,
VOTIT
Estonian guide
Bulgarianguide
http://www.sbszoo.com/ve6sbs/projects/hp620/default.htm
http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/servicemanuals.htm
Comments:
Jul 24, 2008
- InstructionsIf your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can do is to take it to the nearest official Nikon repair shop and Canon should fix it for free.
If your camera is out of warranty, or if Nikon refuses to repair it for free (happens sometimes if for example they suspect the camera has not been treated properly) you can try some of the methods listed here to repair it yourself. These simple methods have helped a lot of people fix their cameras.
Before trying any of the suggestions, make sure your Canon has fresh batteries and it is in recording mode.
1) Remove the batteries from the camera, wait for a couple of minutes, then put them back in and turn the camera on.
2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and dry compressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and the camera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens. It should remove all dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it should function fine.
3) Another method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. It sounds so simple, but very often in works.
4) Try forcing the camera lens:
Turn off the camera. Place it on the back with the lens facing up and take a look at the spacing between the lens and the lens housing. If you notice that the gap is not even all the way around the lens, the problem should be easy to fix. This type of a problem usually occurs if the camera was dropped while the lens was extended.
Simply - VERY GENTLY - press down the lens on the side where the gap is the biggest. You should hear a "click" as it pops back into place. Try powering the camera back on.
If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, and then retracts again, do the following. Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently take one part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on.
Another version of this fix would be to pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. Focus should slowly start improving.
5) If that doesn't work, there is an online guide for dismantling Canon cameras and fixing the E18 error. (NOTE: Try this only if your camera is no longer under warranty!) It is a great guide with pictures and it can be found here.
There are 2 other guides, one Bulgarian and one Estonian with the take apart procedure for Canon cameras. They are not in english but have a lot of pictures which help with the process.
- Bulgarian guide
- Estonian guide
Jul 25, 2008
-You can remove the epoxy glue by using an acetone ,its better you have a phone have a camera so take video when dismantling so it not hard to you when you assemble it again...
hope this may help;
Regards,
VOTIT
Yes
No
Solution #6
posted on Jul 21, 2008
try here
http://www.advancecamera.com/repair/
http://www.advancecamera.com/repair/
Comments:
Jul 21, 2008
- I don't think this is fixable at home.Jul 24, 2008
- there are other solutions ahead of me, do request more assistance to see the solution posted by worldvet if not visible yet.Yes
No
Yes
No
Solution #8
posted on Jul 24, 2008
Well you can try fixing it your self for that you have to have the special screw driver to open it, go ahead and remove the cover then youll be able to access the lens aparture. Once its open you will be able to fix it bat to the bay which has been unalligned.
Yes
No
Solution #9
posted on Jul 24, 2008
Hello,
Thank you for using fixya.
I have no doubt that you are mechanical engineer. I am an engineer also, but i admit that engineers have its own field of expertise and most engineers have its own limitation. and we need to consult other expert to solve technical problems. Since we are an engineer we do not allow to depreciate our profession. Should we give chances to other expert to perform its duties.
If you want to use that camera, i will suggest to leave it to the expert. since all experts here cannot check personally the unit.
All there solution posted are invaluable. They spent time to do it. since time is precious so take a credit on that.
Nikon diagram so far is not available unless you contact the maker of the camera.
once again.
Thank you for using fixya
melnavz
Thank you for using fixya.
I have no doubt that you are mechanical engineer. I am an engineer also, but i admit that engineers have its own field of expertise and most engineers have its own limitation. and we need to consult other expert to solve technical problems. Since we are an engineer we do not allow to depreciate our profession. Should we give chances to other expert to perform its duties.
If you want to use that camera, i will suggest to leave it to the expert. since all experts here cannot check personally the unit.
All there solution posted are invaluable. They spent time to do it. since time is precious so take a credit on that.
Nikon diagram so far is not available unless you contact the maker of the camera.
once again.
Thank you for using fixya
melnavz
Yes
No
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