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

Step 3 Figure out what is wrong with the lens mechanism

Now this is the tricky part. In most cases the lens is malfunctioning because you knocked it on a hard surface. Because of the impact force:

- some gears may be stripped (deformed, lost tooth),
- guide rails/grooves may be damaged,
- some little tabs, grooves or edges might be damaged leaving the lens loose.

If your lens have especially the first kind of damage, then you really need replacement gears/cogs which you can salvage from another damaged camera (i.e. with a electronic damage). This repair option is also possible for the second and third kinds of damages.

However, for the second and third kinds of damages, you can also use some other techniques, i.e. you can use epoxy putty to sculpture and replace the missing part (this is what I did). You can also use super glue to put broken bits together if you still have parts.

But before all that, you have to successfully (i.e. without breaking) put the lens assembly apart. You have to find out what is wrong and you have to decide what to do with it. Be patient and don't push/pull any part if it requires too much power. There may be snaps, clicks, grooves that you have to pay attention to, so watch out!.. :-)