5Dmk2 Compact Flash pins bent and now broken

arad85

arad85

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Andy
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I have inserted the CF card into my new-to-me 5Dmk2 slightly awkwardly and bent a couple of pins. I tried straightening them gently, but unfortunately, they broke :( The camera powers up but thinks the CF is not formatted and cannot format it (unsurprising if the pins are bent) and the rest of the camera seems fine (can change all settings, take photos but not store them etc...).

Speaking with different repairers, I've been told that it requires replacement of damaged cf unit assy. and have been quoted around £200 as this (obviously) requires opening of the camera and they want to do a full setup/sensor clean as well.

It sounds like a reasonably common problem - if so, anyone had this repaired recently and know if this is a representative cost?

Recommendations for a good value repairer (i.e. not "Joe around the corner", but someone who will do a competent job)?

I also have to ask whether this is the record for breaking a camera. 20 test shots and I've broken it :( (but I am very impressed with the test shots !!)
 
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Ring Canon - theres a few post's on the WEB where this has been done for free under warranty - you may / may-not be lucky.
 
Canon seem to be the most difficult - they couldn't give me a price for this being fixed :( I've tried the freebie under warranty but they said no - although I think a system that is easy to break shouldn't be in a camera of this value....
 
Have a look at this he got it done under warranty in the States, it looks like a common issue
 
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Thanks. I'd already seen that....
 
Don't power the camera up :nono:

If the broken pins have dropped inside the body you could end up shorting the whole thing out....
 
arad85 said:
although I think a system that is easy to break shouldn't be in a camera of this value....
Click to expand...

It is an inherent weakness of the compact flash design and the price you pay for having the most robust, fastest and largest memory cards available. It's also probably another reason cameras lower down the range are moving over to SD as there are no pins to bend.
 
a1ex2001 said:
It is an inherent weakness of the compact flash design and the price you pay for having the most robust, fastest and largest memory cards available.
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Robust?????????

Not arguing on the other points, but it would seem it should be possible to devise sliding cover for the pins which would support them as the CF card is being inserted.

I'll be more careful next time (although I've now got a 450D with a couple of nice bits of L glass to play with....).
 
arad85 said:
Canon seem to be the most difficult - they couldn't give me a price for this being fixed :( I've tried the freebie under warranty but they said no - although I think a system that is easy to break shouldn't be in a camera of this value....
Click to expand...

where are you talking to canon? are you a CPS member?
 
arad85 said:
Robust?????????

Not arguing on the other points, but it would seem it should be possible to devise sliding cover for the pins which would support them as the CF card is being inserted.

I'll be more careful next time (although I've now got a 450D with a couple of nice bits of L glass to play with....).
Click to expand...

The cards are alot more robust than any other design, the interface as you have discovered is a bit of a weak spot! I think the trouble with the support you suggest is it wouldn't allow the pins any flex which is essential given the variations in manufacture to allow the pins to slide home.
 
arad85 said:
Canon seem to be the most difficult - they couldn't give me a price for this being fixed :( I've tried the freebie under warranty but they said no - although I think a system that is easy to break shouldn't be in a camera of this value....
Click to expand...

... and what would you prefer? SD cards in pro bodies ain't going to happen for a while. You just need to be gentle and guide the CF card in before pushing it. It could happen to any CF card slot.
 
Chaz Photos said:
where are you talking to canon? are you a CPS member?
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Canon in Elstree. CPS - no. I don't have the equipment for that. Just a (broken) 5D :bang: and a couple of pieces of L glass...
 
User Name said:
... and what would you prefer? SD cards in pro bodies ain't going to happen for a while. You just need to be gentle and guide the CF card in before pushing it. It could happen to any CF card slot.
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Don't worry - I will from now on. Just a shame I had to learn with my new pride and joy :(
 
its a pity that this happened. but really its down to user error. pretty much anything would break on a camera in jammed in the wrong way.
 
hsuffyan said:
its a pity that this happened. but really its down to user error. pretty much anything would break on a camera in jammed in the wrong way.
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Jammed may be a bit harsh ;)

The problem is that if the pins get caught slightly off, as they are so small, they only offer slightly more resistance than if it goes in normally.
 
Was it due to operator error or could it have been that the CF card may have had an obstruction across the front preventing the pins from entering the correct access.

I know the cheaper card readers (USB Type) are prone to bent pins...but to be honest, has anyone else had this problem with a camera body ?
 
Tugster said:
Was it due to operator error or could it have been that the CF card may have had an obstruction across the front preventing the pins from entering the correct access.
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I took the card out (it is a SD->CF adaptor and put the SD card in the reader, then reinserted the SD card into the CF adapter and put it back in. The previous owner has used this adaptor for a few months.

Tugster said:
I know the cheaper card readers (USB Type) are prone to bent pins...but to be honest, has anyone else had this problem with a camera body ?
Click to expand...
Other people have had this problem - I know from ringing around that it isn't unheard of....
 
Andy have you tried to put all you kit in CPS site, not sure if you need 2 or 3 bits of L glass or not to get basic CPS registration.

Sadly I think your going to have to stump up though.

Got to say I've never bent a pin in a cf socket yet on 5 dofferent Canon bodies but I do feel for you m8.
 
Ta for the thoughts. For CPS, you need 2 bodies (40D and above) and 3 lenses. I'm short of 1 body and 1 lens.... (and probably will be for a long time!!)
 
An update...

Camera in for repair and the estimate was £370 :eek: as it needs a new main circuit board (at £190+VAT) and this isn't covered by warranty. I think even Canon were embarrassed by this price as they reduced the price to just under £300 as a gesture of goodwill. Oh well, it's only money.....
 
Try a third party repairer. That price is taking the ****.
Only the connector should need to be replaced, but maybe Canon don't do solder repairs.
 
User Name said:
Try a third party repairer. That price is taking the ****.
Only the connector should need to be replaced, but maybe Canon don't do solder repairs.
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No, they don't apparently....

Will give a couple of third party repairers a shout and see if they do solder repairs.
 
Thanks - will do...
 
arad85 said:
I took the card out (it is a SD->CF adaptor and put the SD card in the reader, then reinserted the SD card into the CF adapter and put it back in. The previous owner has used this adaptor for a few months.

Other people have had this problem - I know from ringing around that it isn't unheard of....
Click to expand...

I taught photography in the middle east and we had this problem frequently. many students had never had 'proper' cameras and tended not to recognise the value of the equipment and be ham-fisted. Quite a few Nikons and card readers had this inflicted upon them...
 
BlackCloud said:
I taught photography in the middle east and we had this problem frequently. many students had never had 'proper' cameras and tended not to recognise the value of the equipment and be ham-fisted. Quite a few Nikons and card readers had this inflicted upon them...
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I taught 'Special Army Soldiers' basic camera handling and we went through about five D100s every six months due to bent/broken pins.
"If it doesn't fit - f*** it!" seems to be their unofficial motto...:shake:

It isn't a rare occurrence by any means, but it is down to user-error rather than any inherent design-fault.
Any ham-fisted idiot can break anything if they try hard enough.

I mean, you'd think by now people could tell the difference between a green or blue fuel pump-nozzle and a black one wouldn't you?
 
I'll certainly be more careful when I do get it back ;)
 
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