It Died..so I dissected it.

[brewmaster15]

Catchy Title isn't it ? Sorry to have mislead you, but couldn't resist. I didn't dissect a dead fish here for this thread. I actually dissected a Dead Digital Camera...a Pentax K2000 that finally gave up the ghost and was not worth repairing. So rather than have an expensive paper weight or selling it as is for repair on ebay, I opted to learn a little bit more about how this marvelous thing called the Digital camera works. Never know when I might need to actually fix one of these or modify one. Now I have taken apart many film cameras over the years and put them back together fine. I knew this would be difficult so even though I didn't plan on re-assembling it, I acted as if I did, for the most part. Laid out the parts and screws as I took them out, made notes, and snapped phone pics along the way.

Have to tell you,I knew they were complicated pieces of technology, but WOW..

So rolling up the sleeves and get to work now...


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[brewmaster15]

Getting to the good stuff now...

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[Second Hand Pat]

I did think you were referring to an animal...figured chicken. I have actually done taxidermy as a teenager. So where is the rest.

[rickztahone]

Very cool Al. A friend of mine once did something similar but he laid out the parts as an exploded view of the whole thing. It laid out about 4ft each way and it looked sweet. I've never taken one completely apart, but I had to fix skipping wheel once and replace a thumstick in the rear and an LCD. Easy enough if you take your time and be methodical with what you do. TFS

[brewmaster15]

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[brewmaster15]

One thing about electronics is they don't need to be plugged in to give you one heck of a shock. Even without batteries, cameras like this have one huge capacitor that stores electricity. I have read on the DIY sites that if you depress the camera shutter button several times it will discharge the capacitor. Not wanting to get knocked on my butt or worse, I discharged it with an insulated screw driver by touching both terminals in case the DIY sites were wrong. Guess the capacitor didn't read the DIY sites, because that thing made a snap crackle and pop like you wouldn't believe. I've no idea how much juice it stored, but its the size of a AA battery!

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[brewmaster15]

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8630/16150806729_1e1da02785_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBc79Z)[/url]

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I ran into my first technical glitch at this time. I wanted to get to the image capture sensor.,.. but Pentax has it sandwiched between metal plates, that have tiny hex heads, and my particular version was cemented/glued in place as well. Whats a guy to do when he really doesn't have the right tool or alot of time, and isnt planning on reassembling? Have Dril will travel! ;)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/15714564214_b50f8feec9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTujNt)

Of course if I was trying to put this back together, I'd have to be real careful here and see if I could free it up another way..I have a feeling its designed to not come apart, but be replaced as an assembly. Once the screws are drilled out the plates come apart with a little force. They are held together by a perimeter of magnets...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8632/16335225311_6d7aa57982_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWDfsj)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/16151107677_6ae7a98613_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTuinH)

Here are the magnets...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8563/16335229711_bb478d5758_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBdDBK)

and here is the back of the sensor...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/15714565134_38b7e95ef7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTujFz)


and this was the GEM I was seeking... What you are looking at is the "film" of the camera. In this case its a 10.2 megapixel CCD. The light you are seeing is reflected from my phones flash. Not sure what exactly causes it but its beautiful.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16149406708_1e2747cc48_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWDfJb)


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7579/16336118252_39e20ecf6d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qB4VYG)


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7579/16336118252_39e20ecf6d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTySPf)


To protect the sensor from infrared (IR) light theres a special filter on top of the CCD that allows normal light in and blocks IR light which the digital cameras are sensitive too. Its blue in color.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8586/16336113852_1de685e8f2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTySPf)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/16336988925_546ea1fe8d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTyRvo)


and here is the CCD without the filter...again, really pretty colors there..

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7581/16311049826_2ec62b301e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTDkCR)


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8574/16311050066_7263653287_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qRmoR1)


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[brewmaster15]

And heres what the patient looks like exploded out...:)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/16311045636_d77017a4b7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qRmnAL)

[Discus-n00b]

Now, how fast does it go back together? Readyyyyyyyyyyy.....GO!!! ;)

Pretty interesting to see. So what you are saying is if my camera dies I at least have a very fancy taser?

[brewmaster15]

So what did I learn after spending 3 hours taking apart a dead camera... well actually a lot!.

The Pentax camera has a dust removal system that relies on shaking the sensor. From what I can tell the sensor actually "floats" in between those magnet bound plates... I could move it around a bit and can see how that mightbe how the dust removal works Pretty ingenious at the time it was developed.

The IR filter is something that alot of DIY hackers remove..This allows you to do Infrared photography, which was the main reason I did all this. I wanted to see how hard it was to get to that IR filter. On Some cameras its easier than others, but not this model! I found a company that will make this modification on this camera for $350. http://www.kolarivision.com/pentaxconversionservice.html


Of course they definetly know a heck more than I do and may know better ways than I could find, but tell you what. $350 is not unreasonable! OUT of my Budget, but if I had it..why not. I have a huge interest in IR photography and this little exercise was time well spent!

If I was to do this as a DIY on my other cameras I also need to de-solder a few wires from the circuit boards and re-solder when I re-assemble. Not too difficult.. In this break down I cheated and cut the problem wire.

The capacitor in the DSLR is massive, relative to the camera size.! I did not expect something that big in such a small camera... but I should have. Also noted..discharge , do not assume its discharged.

The IR filter is easy to remove and exchange any filter I want with.

Lastly theres one heck of alot wires,screws and circuit boards in the camera. Do yourself a favor, don't drop one!


Don't know if this was interesting or not for anyone, but gives you a better understanding of the "magic" that goes on when you try and take a picture with a Digital SLR camera.

al

ps.. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME AND IF YOU DO.... DON"T ASK ME FOR ADVICE ON IT.. I like to try and figure out how things work. It doesn't make me an expert, just inquisitive.

[brewmaster15]

Now, how fast does it go back together? Readyyyyyyyyyyy.....GO!!! ;)

Pretty interesting to see. So what you are saying is if my camera dies I at least have a very fancy taser?

Yep.. Biggest I have seen yet... but I've dug bigger ones out of microwave ovens if you really want a taser.lol

[Discus-n00b]

Haha I bet!

IR photography has peaked my interest before. Not enough for me to pursue it yet, but If I could find a cheap extra Canon body I've thought about sending it in to one of those conversion places before and having it done. There seems to be quite a lot of different types of IR filters you can use for this type of photography. http://www.lifepixel.com/

[brewmaster15]

Haha I bet!

IR photography has peaked my interest before. Not enough for me to pursue it yet, but If I could find a cheap extra Canon body I've thought about sending it in to one of those conversion places before and having it done. There seems to be quite a lot of different types of IR filters you can use for this type of photography. http://www.lifepixel.com/
Great minds think alike.;)

[brewmaster15]

Forgot to mention that this camera was released to the market 2008/2009 so its 5-6 years old.Technology wise with DSLRs thats pretty old..much has changed since then I am sure...But I bet much has not.

If anyone is interested in the specs of the deceased camera here..http://m.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk2000
al

[Second Hand Pat]

Al, this is a pretty cool thread. Even I learned a bit and I don't really take things apart to learn about it (which is more of a guy thing IMO). Thanks to Tom and working on test equipment for a number of years I do understand some basic electronics.

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Pat, I can read a tech manual and get a feel for something, but until I actually see it in front of me, It doesn't really click into that mode where you really understand something.:)

al

[rickztahone]

They sell sony a100s for about $100 regularly on CL. This is the easiest body to modify for IR. Including the camera, the whole project will run you about $250-350 depending on your DIY skill. Just fyi.

[nc0gnet0]

Yep.. Biggest I have seen yet... but I've dug bigger ones out of microwave ovens if you really want a taser.lol

Try a fly-back capacitor on an old tube tv some time lol

50 bucks says you cant get it back together without spare parts! :)

too many dam ribbon cables...I hate 'em!

[brewmaster15]

Try a fly-back capacitor on an old tube tv some time lol

50 bucks says you cant get it back together without spare parts! :)

too many dam ribbon cables...I hate 'em!


Piece of Cake Rick, Thats why I took so many pics along the way. It actually went back together much quicker than apart. Of course I can't test it as it was broken before I took it apart but it looks pretty good now, doesn't it? You can send that $50.00 here....http://forum.simplydiscus.com/misc.php?do=donate lol.. Heck anyone can send me a donation there! I'm short a camera now! LOL:bandana::jester::jester::jester::jester::jeste r::jester::jester::jester::jester::jester::jester: :jester::jester:



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[nc0gnet0]

Posting pics in reverse order does not re-assembly make!

[brewmaster15]

True..but you have to admit..I did put it back together with no spare parts. :)

[nc0gnet0]

LOL, nice try!

[pauline]

I liked seeing your camera get dissected. Incredible amount of "stuff" inside there. Helps me understand why they cost as much as they do too.

[brewmaster15]

I liked seeing your camera get dissected. Incredible amount of "stuff" inside there. Helps me understand why they cost as much as they do too.

Thanks Pauline!

[SMB2]

Just don't let Homeland Security see this site!


(Have converted an old Nikon DSLR to IR. It is a lot of fun and the B&W conversions are cool.)

[Keith Perkins]

Shoot, I didn't realize you had so much free time Al. You should think about taking up discus keeping. :D

Interesting little project though. I learned just enough to know when mine breaks down to take it directly to the trash can and not my wifes dining room table.

[brewmaster15]

Shoot, I didn't realize you had so much free time Al. You should think about taking up discus keeping. :D

Interesting little project though. I learned just enough to know when mine breaks down to take it directly to the trash can and not my wifes dining room table.

Keith, Its not time on my hands, its Doctor ordered Stress reduction. Studies show taking things apart relieves stress.;) The Thought of keeping Discus though is really intimidating to me. I heard they are really hard to keep and time consuming ...I don't know ...maybe I will try someday.:bandana:


and not my wifes dining room table. that obvious hugh? Dining room table here often doubles as my workbench in the winter...The woodstove is right there.:)

al

[brewmaster15]

Just don't let Homeland Security see this site!


(Have converted an old Nikon DSLR to IR. It is a lot of fun and the B&W conversions are cool.)
lol.. They just called. They want Matt's contact info:( J/k:bandana:

I definetly will be playing around more with IR Stan, its amazing some pics I have seen.

thanks,
al

[SMB2]

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/SMB%201_zps2kg2xdzn.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/SMB_zpsra1ykklb.jpg


These were taken with an old Nikon D70 converted by Lifepixel http://www.lifepixel.com/

[brewmaster15]

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/SMB%201_zps2kg2xdzn.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/SMB_zpsra1ykklb.jpg


These were taken with an old Nikon D70 converted by Lifepixel http://www.lifepixel.com/

Very nice Stan!, Thats what I am looking to do!

thanks,
al

[pcsb23]

...
and this was the GEM I was seeking... What you are looking at is the "film" of the camera. In this case its a 10.2 megapixel CCD. The light you are seeing is reflected from my phones flash. Not sure what exactly causes it but its beautiful. ...
It's called a bayer filter - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer_filter