Camera Won't Power On
No response from the camera when the power switch is in the 'On' position.
Check Batteries
Install new batteries in the camera to ensure that low battery voltage is not the issue.
Battery Contacts
Check the contacts in the battery compartment, both internal and external. If there is any sign of corrosion, they should be thoroughly cleaned.
Stuck Mirror
The reflex mirror in the body of the camera is stuck in the up position blocking the viewfinder. Pressing the shutter button doesn't move the mirror or moves it very little.
Mirror Motor Gear
Most likely, the mirror motor gear has failed. This is a plastic gear press fit onto the shaft of a small motor near the mirror box. It drives a lot of the core functionality of the camera including mirror movement, charging the shutter and stopping down the aperture. When the gear fails all of these functions will stop. Pressing the shutter button will usually results in a whining sound as the motor shaft spins free but little else happens. To fix the issue see the repair guide for the Mirror Motor Gear on the ZX-5n device page.
Mirror Drive Lever
The mirror drive lever is located in the same area as the mirror motor gear and is responsible for moving the mirror during an exposure. If this breaks, the mirror will be stuck in the up position but everything else should function normally. When the shutter button is pressed you can see and hear the shutter firing. The repair guide for the Mirror Drive Lever can also be found on the ZX-5n device page.
Intermittent Autofocus
Autofocus works intermittently when half pressing the shutter button.
Change Lens
If you have access to another lens, try changing the lens. If the problem goes away the issue is with the lens not the camera.
Electrical Contacts
The issue may be caused by dirty contacts between the lens and camera body. Take the lens off the camera and clean the contacts on the lens mount and in the camera body.
Shutter Button
The contacts inside the shutter button/switch can become oxidized over time causing intermittent contact. Remove the top cover to access the switch, which can be disassemble and cleaned.
Intermittent Shutter Release
Pressing the shutter button all the way doesn't fire the shutter consistently.
Shutter Button
The contacts inside the shutter button/switch can become oxidized over time causing intermittent contact. Remove the top cover to access the switch, which can be disassemble and cleaned.
Flash Doesn't Pop Up
Flash doesn't fully pop up when the button is pressed.
Flash Pivot
The spring that drives the pop-up flash is mounted on a small plastic pivot. The pivot is prone to splitting, which relieves the tension in the spring and it no longer provides enough support for the flash. A repair guide for the Flash Pivot can be found on the ZX-5n device page.
Camera Selects Wrong Exposure
Camera only selects the fastest shutter speed and/or smallest aperture in auto exposure modes.
Bad Metering Cell
The metering cell that measures the intensity and distribution of light in the scene may need to be replaced. It can be accessed by removing the top plate and is located between the eye piece and the prism.
crwdns2944067:010crwdne2944067:0
I’ve successfully completed the mirror motor repair before but when i tried on another camera it resulted in it constantly firing the shutter without fully pressing the button. I was wondering if you knew what was going on and how you would go about fixing it.
Whenever i have the batteries in and close the battery door it automatically fires about 10 consecutive shots and whenever i change the dials or turn the camera on and off it happens. I’m lost.
Thanks in advance the guide was great!
Eddie Xia - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I've had one camera do this to me so far. My guess is that the camera is cycling and trying to find its "home" or "ready to fire" position. The feeler contacts on the green gear are part of this. But it can't find home and keeps cycling for a set amount of time before it stops. I took it apart, checked it, and put it back together three times without any improvement. I chalked it up to some other electrical failure in the system and declared it a "parts" camera.
Sam Gustafson -
Your guess was correct. I took apart the camera after I commented and found that the contacts on the green gear was bent out of place so I bent them back and reassembled the camera which solved the issue.
But when I tried the autofocus it wouldn't work. I confirmed with another camera that the lens wasn't the issue. Cleaning the contacts didn't work. Do you have any clue on what the problem might be? Otherwise the camera works fine. I yet again lost.
Eddie Xia -
Oh awesome! Glad you worked out that issue.
Regarding autofocus, the repair for the mirror generally stays away from the autofocus system so I doubt that you messed anything up with the sensors or the motor. It's always possible that a wire got resoldered in the wrong spot so I would double check that. I have had several cameras with shoddy shutter buttons that would fire the shutter and/or engage autofocus inconsistently. But the switch is cleanable. Desolder it from the flex (be careful not to melt all the plastic nearby), and pop the metal top off. Use some IPA to clean any oxidation from the copper contacts and it should work like new.
If you have a cable release for the camera, that can also help diagnose the issue. Connect the cable release and half press the button. The autofocus should engage. If it does, then the shutter button on the camera is likely the issue. If it doesn't, then the problem is elsewhere.
Sam Gustafson -
Before I try anything I should probably properly explain the situation. The camera shoots fine but whenever it takes picture it doesn't correct the focus and instead just takes blurry pictures. The autofocus never engages. Otherwise the camera works fine. I was wondering if that would be a completely different problem from the solution you gave.
I'm just speculating at this point in order to avoid taking it apart for the fifth time and causing more problems.
Eddie Xia - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0