D70 Bent CF Pin ???

[Alpha_7]

Hi All,

Feeling generous I lent my D70 and a few lens to a mate at work, it has now returned today, and at least one if not 2 of the CF pins are bent, so bad the CF door doesn't want to close and the Camera displays CHAR on the LCD.

Whats the prognois ? I don't think I can fix it myself so I guess I'll have to take it in for repairs ?

I'm also not sure if I could claim it insurance wise (probably not), a but frustrating really, as I was trying to do someone a fair and now my 2nd body is out of action.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[bloop]

I'd make him pay for the repairs (if he is a true mate, he won't have a prblem with that). I can't comprehend how someone can bend the CF pins, you have to either be really dumb or are trying to f#@! it up on purpose.

[gstark]

you have to either be really dumb or are trying to f#@! it up on purpose.

One of those.

If you try to insert the CF card sideways, you'll get a flat side pushing against the pins. I've seen it done to a 300D. 1 pin bent, and then they tried to straighten it up. 1 pin broken off.

And a 300D FUBAR.

So, Craig, no, my recommendation is that you not try to straighten them, but do draw this to your mate's attention, very gently ...

And take the camera to the doctor. If these are at all fragile, then a new CF connector will probably be the order of the day.

[Mr Darcy]

I agree with bloop.
I explicitly state whenever I lend anything: "You break; you (pay for) fix!"
I rarely need to enforce it as they tend to take extra care then.

If you want to have a go yourself, a lot of care and gentle persuasion can get a pin back to straight, but they are high tensile (springy) & therefore brittle, so there is a real risk you will break the pin in the attempt. The best option is if you can get a tube (possibly a hypodermic needle) of the correct internal diameter over it, and use that to straighten it.

I spent many years in the computer industry & had to do this sort of thing often. At best my success rate was about 70%.

Personally I would send it back to base & present the bill to your friend.

Greg

[Alpha_7]

If I do take it to the doctors, where in Sydney is the place to go (I've managed not to need any repairs till now) And any idea how much it would cost ?

[radar]

If I do take it to the doctors, where in Sydney is the place to go (I've managed not to need any repairs till now) And any idea how much it would cost ?

Have a look at:
http://www.nikon.com.au/servicecentres.php

When I dropped my D70s, Poraday were very helpful. They are in Bondi.

Good luck,

André

[gstark]

where in Sydney is the place to go

Nikon Oz.

Or Poraday, on Bondi Road.

And any idea how much it would cost ?

What's your bank balance?

Seriously, not a clue.

[Katie G]

Being the good wife that i am, i have organised for the camera to be couriered to Poraday tomorrow for a quote on being fixed.

Thanks all for your help

[Alpha_7]

Thanks Katie, your the best!

[Geoff]

Well done Katie!
Hope it's not too problematic and it doesn't cost (your mate) too much in repairs

[stetner]

Hey, wait a minute, this wouldn't be the 'mate' that bent the CF pin would it?

[Alpha_7]

no Stetner, my mum wouldn't even know how to access the CF card, let alone bugger it.

The guy came over and apologised, he thinks his wife might be to blame, and has offered to pay for the repairs all on his own accord, so atleast I don't have to feel bad asking him to cover the costs.

Should be shipped off the the Doctors today.

[gstark]

The guy came over and apologised, he thinks his wife might be to blame,

The old "blame the wife" ploy, eh?

[firsty]

The old "blame the wife" ploy, eh?

"Old" and I thought I invented that one... live and learn

[Yi-P]

Craig, I hope the bill doesnt come back to give your mate a heart attack

[Alpha_7]

Things have transpired now, where I don't feel comfortable charging my mate, he's got enough problems on his plate but I just got the quote, and I guess it sounds resonable, but I thought I'd double check with you guys.

Technicians Report
DISMANTLE CAMERA. REPLACE CF CARD UNIT ASSEMBLY. ASSEMBLE,
ADJUST AND CLEAN. UPGRADE FIRMWARE. CLEAN CCD SENSOR.
GENERAL CHECK AND CLEAN.


Charges

Labour: $ 140.00 Parts:$ 62.00 GST: $ 20.20 Total:$ 222.20

[gstark]

The quote doesn't sound too bad at all.

I think a part of the main thing here is that your mate accepted responsibility for the problem, and what you do beyond that is entirely up to you.

If he comes back to you and asks again, perhaps round it down to something like maybe $50, which allows the principal to be respected, but your friend hopefully doesn't feel like he's being ripped off.

The one question I have is ... what problems does he have on his plate?

[Alpha_7]

He has a new born (why I loaned him the camera in the first place) and they were trying to renovate their house, which had previously been renovated by the last owners (it appears now, they cut ever corner and screwed up a lot of things structurely etc).
Anyways the same day the camera came back broken part of the ceiling collasped barely missing the mother and baby (she was breastfeeding at the time). The builders come in to inspect the damage, and the old owners layed down, non sealed, non reinforced concrete directly ontop of all the plumbing, so it all has to be ripped up, and lay new footings, before they can start to repair the ceiling and the damage there. So mum and baby have moved out to stay with family, he's home alone, and he's car has just blown something major in the engine.

So right now my and my camera feel like a trivia issue, to the fortunes of my mate.

Also Gary he gave us $50 to courier it to the repair shop, at the start, so I'm planning on just not accepting anything else.

[losfp]

Fair enough Craig. At least the issue sounds like it is a relatively straightforward, minor fix - plus you get a general clean and check thrown in for good measure.

Here's hoping you get it back in one piece soon

[Onyx]

Craig you're a good friend.

I can't help but wonder how much that labour component might have been reduced had you done the firmware upgrade and CCD cleaning yourself. Trivial, but time consuming tasks IMO.

I'm wondering whether or not it's worthwhile repairing the failed flash on my D70...

[Jonesy]

Good on you Craig.

Good to know there are some kind hearts about!

Also one would hope that the firmware upgrade and CCD clean was a freebie, as unless you asked for it they just upsold you with out even asking!

Other than that it still seems a fairly reasonable price. My D70 has just gone in as the BGLOD got it, so I'm keen if a clean is done as well!

[Alpha_7]

Well I actually thought it had the lastest firmware, I certainly wasn't aware of any new firmware for the D70 otherwise I'd have installed it myself, and yes, I was assuming the clean is free.

[Yi-P]

Its good to hear that your camera got back done quickly, and the price is not that bad for a digital SLR.

I had the F80 on repair like a month ago (before xmas 06), it came back last week, but it appears that they did not do any cleaning and left more than whats acceptable debris in the viewfinder, they took it back for a total cleaning, still have not got any call for a pickup yet.

I've got quoted for $159 on the mirror box and focusing screen replacement and labour plus a complete clean around the box and fiewfinder.

[Alpha_7]

Sorry Yip, it isn't back yet, but should be today or tomorrow (I expect).