A better family camera - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 01:38:37 pm
content: For many years we have been using the Panasonic DMC-FS37, 16MP with a Leica 8x optiocal zoom. But during holidays at the beach and very windy, fine sand and debris managed to get into the lens. I opened the camera up trying to see if I could somehow clean the sensor and/or lens, but the lens is very hard/impossible to open (with the intention to put back together again) as I'd need to desolder leads around it. The sensor was easy to remove and it was contaminated and the bad news was that the lens was also full of sand/debris and I cannot open it up to clean it.I would welcome suggestions for a new camera that will not suffer this problem if possible.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 01:46:03 pm
content: You're in an electronics forum and you don't have a soldering iron?All cameras with moving lenses, except perhaps those odd ones that use a bellows, are not immune to sand ingestion. You may be able to make a suitable bellows with a transparent plastic bag.Anyway you can easily find a service manual for that model with Google, and it contains the procedures for disassembling the lens.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 02:15:24 pm
content: Buy the next one and a water resistant case as well, so that you can use it at the beach.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 03:23:28 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 01:38:37 pmSo what's the problem?

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 04:05:25 pm
content: It's very flimsy I do not think it was intented to be opened ever. All other PCBs inside the camera are interconnected with ribbon cables on miniature connectors, including the ribbon cables of the lens, it is quite straight forward to disassemble it. However the lens itself has soldered cables on it and over it, which were placed after it was put together, sort of sealing it. One such connection has two rows of 8 pins each, try to remove the solder would melt the ribbon cable. Too much hassle.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 05:38:04 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 01:38:37 pmyou can buy a $5000 camera and a $5000 lens if you like or...http://www.ebay.com/itm/WATERPROOF-HOUSING-CAMERA-CASE-FOR-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS35-DMC-FS37-DMC-ZS10-/110825289148Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 04:05:25 pmor maybe you are doing it the wrong way?this also might help...http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-waterproof-camera/

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 06:20:31 pm
content: The Panasonic is badly made. Allows dirt to deposit on the sensor even though the sensor is separated from the lens. The lens got contaminated too. I saw finger prints on internal surfaces. Will not buy Panasonic camera again.*********************"this also might help...http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-waterproof-camera/"*************************I have just been reading reviews on Amazon about very unhappy customers - the camera's compartments have the tendency to flip open "Check the USB/HDMI compartment catches before purchasing or accepting delivery"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/RL42JI610I7FJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00VWJYJPKI think I will give it a miss!So I went ahead and got the runner up :http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TFLQUKO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:19:29 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 06:20:31 pmSeriously: Why not try a forum/website which is for cameras?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:35:38 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 06:20:31 pmbuy canon then, good brand!and promise to yourself not to submerge a P&S camera in sand again...

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:36:44 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 08, 2015, 07:19:29 pmAre you seriously suggesting that there is no camera tear down in this forum? :-)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 07:46:47 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 07:36:44 pmYes, but we don't turn them on so it's not really a good recommendation.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 09:45:12 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 08, 2015, 07:46:47 pmthe badass advertisement ever that haunts eevblog fans forever.... we are bunch of people who turned on the device before taking apart so later we know what state we are at:1) as it was2) fixed3) fcukd up

author: true
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 11:11:12 pm
content: Did you like the Panasonic interface?Do you intend to use your camera at the beach again?With your old camera, was indoor performance (lower light) acceptable to you?If yes to all, maybe something like this?http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FT5EB--Compact-Camera/dp/B00BET0R0Y/But honestly, look toward camera sites and forums, and keep in mind everyone will have their fanboy brand or model to pitch at you, whether it fits what you need or not. (Happened here already too, right?) I am assuming you are doing that already.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2015, 11:42:10 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on November 08, 2015, 07:35:38 pmHonestly, do you think that that Canon would survive that sort of treatment? I have a Canon 40D and whenever I am going to the beach with it, I have to open it up afterwards and clean fine dust from the inside, despite not changing lenses. Those cameras were not meant to be dust-proof.If you want to see how to protect a camera from dust, look at this:http://www.gettingstamped.com/2015/03/13/how-to-protect-your-camera-during-the-holi-festival-or-a-color-run/(color runs are those running events where people throw loads of color dyes at each other - so it getseverywhere).Look here at what that sort of stuff can do even to pro-level camera and lens with weather sealing:http://petapixel.com/2013/05/08/photographing-a-color-run-will-destroy-your-camera-gear-dont-do-it/

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 01:29:15 am
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 04:05:25 pmRibbon cables are usually made of Kapton which is quite resistant to (de)soldering heat.Besides, it doesn't appear that you need to desolder anything to open the lens assembly:https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/the+Panasonic+Lumix+DMC-FX01+Camera+Lens+Replacement/3863

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 04:51:14 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on November 09, 2015, 01:29:15 amAhh, even though my camera and lens are diffrerent, I have observed a few more screws which I think I could mess with. But I have already got the Nikon AW130, it should be arriving any minute now.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2015, 06:49:13 pm
content: Quote from: akis on November 08, 2015, 07:36:44 pmIn this forum, I think this topic would probably be more appropriate in either "Repair" or "Other Equipment & Products," or "General Chat"My Canon S90 ended up filling up with lint and dust from being carried in my pants pocket. Canon cleaned it out the first time under warranty. After that I used part of a tyvek mailing envelope to make a small pouch for it to keep it from accumulating gunk as quickly without adding the bulk of a traditional camera case. It still got gunked up over time, so I opened it and cleaned it out myself.