Repair or Rebuild a Canon Powershot SX10 SX20 SX1 lens

Due to experiencing one of the biggest near-failures of my short repair career, I decided to document and post the rebuild process for this elegantly simple and complicated lens.

I hope it helps somebody out, and if you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact me, I'll do what I can to lend a hand. Good luck!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Canon
• Powershot
• Repair
• SX10IS
• SX20IS
• SX1IS
• Hell

[sonyxploder]

If you haven't gotten your hands on another SX 20 to work on, I just purchased Jonathan Paula's SX 20. Currently the camera suffers from some microphone issues (motley crue blood canon from the Set they played at the sunset music festival.) There was also an annotation in one of his vlogs about there being a lens issue. Though from what i can tell from the video it works just fine. Im not sure exactly what the issue is atm. Do you think it's possible to replace the microphones?

[colorbroken]

@sonyxploder This part appears to include the front mics as well as the panel. You could look for the mic components individually on the web, but I think they'll be harder to find. The trouble is that if I recall, you'll have to disassemble the whole body to get to that area of the camera. I'm certain it's doable, I just forget how.

[colorbroken]

@sonyxploder This part appears to include the front mics as well as the panel. You could look for the mic components individually on the web, but I think they'll be harder to find. The trouble is that if I recall, you'll have to disassemble the whole body to get to that area of the camera. I'm certain it's doable, I just forget how.

[colorbroken]

@sonyxploder Dang links won't post: search ebay for CANON SX20 FRONT and there should be at least one panel in there someplace.

[tutubopeter]

Noisy zoom seems to be a very common complaint among other lens related issues like lens error. But for someone not familiar with disassembling this camera a video would be great help. PERHAPS the gears can be lubricated from the outside with out taking the lens apart. In the previous video I saw some channels, perhaps that is where the lens slides, and if you lubricate them the noise stops. But you would know more than me, so please help. Thanks.

[colorbroken]

@tutubopeter You have to disassemble the entire lens unit to lubricate anything, unfortunately. As per a number of suggestions, I'll try to work out a part 1 in the next few months.

[padlfut]

I have a sx30. The sensor has some very noticeable dust on it. Would this be an easy repair?

[truckmarty]

Hi,my second?? sx1 is has developed the infamous lens error restart camera, is the lens repairable with this method? I did not see you actually repair anything? the first sx also had the same problem but was still under warrenty.Unfortunatly this one is not.

[sonyxploder]

@colorbroken I've tried looking for the mic parts online with no luck at all. I've also never opened up a camera in my life. I'd much rather find someone else who is much more capable to do it than I. I tried looking for "CANON SX20 FRONT" on ebay and the search brings up nothing I'm afraid. How much would you charge for a repair like this?

[ReubenMRU]

Hello Colorbroken,

Thank you for this very well made video. I've got the previous model: The Canon S5 IS. The original lens would no longer come out (rocks back and forth then error beeps), a month after a fall... I bought some used spare part lens zoom unit off ebay but after installing it (see youtube v=0cadAjag9KY ) the new second hand lens is now stuck outside. Do you know if those lens are similar? Should I venture myself in trying this out?

Thanks,

Reuben

[kushalgaur]

can u plz let me know about the lenz for powershot a470 too...