Repair a broken digicam lens mechanism (Panasonic FZ10) - a failed attempt.

This instructable is giving a step-by-step guide fixing broken lens assembly of a Panasonic FZ10 digital camera. I acquired the camera in broken condition from Ebay (34GBP including shipping) and fixed it in a few hours (total) with just 2GBP cost. Panasonic FZ10 is a classic digicam (well, at least for me, not for so many maybe), and I am sure in near future there will a few people out there with broken ones. If you like your camera, and if you want to fix it for fun then this guide is for you.

When switched on, this FZ10 will try to extend the lens and then will give SYSTEM ERROR. Just like here:

Even though the procedure I'll describe now is specific for Panasonic FZ10, I am quite sure the lens mechanisms of other Panasonic series (especially FZ series), and even maybe other camera makes are designed with similar features. So you may find this guide useful for finding out your way to fixing another digital camera. You need to be skilled in disassembling an electronic device to follow the next steps.

All photos are taken by me, sorry for the lousy lighting and maybe some blur. Well, when you are concentrated on the job it takes a lot of determination to take good photos of the steps.

For this instructable you need:
- 00 Philips screwdriver
- Super glue (crazy glue, etc.)
- Epoxy putty
- One 3V lithium battery with two thin cables connected to terminals (if you want to test the lens assembly before putting it in the camera)

No disclaimers, except:
- there is a slight risk of receiving a strong electric shock from the flash capacitor if you poke your screwdriver here and there,
- risk of battery explosion if you don't follow my instructions,
- a risk of rendering the whole camera useless...

So I don't accept any responsibility for your bad luck in those issues (from my hindsight, talking from experience).

Before starting, a rich repository of service manuals for many Panasonic digital cameras can be found here (as of instructable publish date).

Step 1 Disassemble the bastard...

This step is quite straightforward, but of course there are tricky parts. Look a the photos on this step, I am providing tricks and hints as an overlay notes on each photo. Please read them carefully...

Comments

[kei1977]

Hi, the link to Panasonic Service Manual : http://lumixdmc-free.blogspot.com/ is no longer working.

Do anyone has the service manual for Panasonic DMC-FX8 ?

Thanks.

[fummelfritz]

Perfect!!!! It workted exactly the way you told!! Just glued the broken part and did not touch the grease slide. Thank you so much!!!

[thearchitect]

OMG! Awesome! We saved one more camera!.. I am glad that you managed it, superb. K.

[flyrod4wt]

I just want to add that Panasonic does sell all of the replacement parts for their cameras on their web site. They also sell the special lens grease mentioned, although, it is extremely expensive $50.00 plus. Even though some problems were encountered, this is a good and useful instruction article. Thanks for the effort.

[thearchitect]

Thanks! I didn't know that, could you please provide the URLs? Cheers, K.

[peach_fart]

Will this work on a HP Photosmart M417 with the lens part that takes the pictures is moved about a quarter of an inch to the right?

[lancem79]

thank you for your instruction. do you have any advice for a lumix fz10 that was working well until i tried to charge it. there was an unprotected power surge and now the camera is as dead as a doormouse thanks lance

[thearchitect]

OMG, same thing happened to me once. I had to find a replacement board and fix it that way. I got the board off ebay. I'll send a private message to you, I may help you. K.

[wangisme]

Appreciate if you could provide us the method. Thanks.

[thearchitect]

Well, you search for a broken camera on ebay (or a replacement board), and fit it in the camera. Read this instructable above on how it is done. K.

[BobS]

Too bad it did not work!! But this is one of the clearest instructables!! I think the methods might work in many areas of delicate instrument making/ repair.

[thearchitect]

Thanks BobS! It actually worked for a day or two. But without the original grease it didn't go on any further and gave another system error. This instructable was written just after the repair process, because I was quite confident that it would work. But then I didn't publish it and waited for finding the correct grease, and yeah I couldn't find it. :-/ Anyway, hope this helps someone.

[GorillazMiko]

Whenever I get a system error, things do not turn out well. Fists fly, cameras break, the world goes for cover. Just kidding, haha, good pictures!

[thearchitect]

...exactly! :-) Thanks!.. K.