Lumix DMC-G3

Open Heart surgery ! ...

here we have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3..
symptoms:

A couple of camera complaints, that it can't read the SD-Card and informing me to reinsert the sd-card..Then about 3x days later, the Card got Jammed inside the camera.

I tried thin feeler gauges, Pins, Needles and heaps of patience trying to remove the card... in the end I was facing defeat..

faced with the choices of :
1. throw the camera away
2. sell it on ebay for spares
3. strip it down and hope..

Armed with precision screw drivers, magnifying glass, nice bright lamp and heaps of coffee..I went for option 3.

diagnosis:
the Sd-card had a Hairline crack ! and the read/write latch had fell off inside the camera and then jammed it SOLID inside the SD-Card rail.. also this had damaged the Card Guide rail.. The card guide rail is soldered on to the camera Motherboard !!! ouch !

Conclusion:
A pair of sharp wire cutters were used to cut off a small section from the damage guide rail.. filed all rough edges smooth.
Copy and Discard the damaged 16gb SD-Card, Ouch !!!
then rebuild the camera..

On my 1st attempt, everything worked fine apart from the kit lens, the camera was now complaining that the kit lens contacts are dirty.. (thats bullsh*t) but it was the cameras best guess.. remade 1x off the thirteen tiny ribbon connections and BINGO....

Camera is now resorted back to full functions....Phew..... !

I have possible plans at some later date, to get this puppy converted over to infrared sensor use.. so I am well pleased that I have managed to restore her back in to full working order..

Flickr set is purely for anybody who wants to see what's in involved in A strip down as I could NOT find a You-tube video and/or any online guide for this camera ...

Im smiling.... wide.





Advice....
take good care of your Sd-Cards and how you store them.
also take some time to inspect them for hairline cracks, something I took for granted...