I like fixing cameras. Well, I like fixing a lot of things, but I especially enjoy repairing cameras. There’s something so uniquely rewarding about taking something that is discarded and repairing it to working condition. The patient in this case is an Olympus FE-230 with a bad lcd screen.
I picked up this camera in a lot of cameras at a recent auction. I think I paid around $35 for 20 cameras or so, so $1.75 per piece. They are usually in need of some kind of repair, but the resale value of old, used cameras is pretty good. And I enjoy it, so that’s a plus. Luckily, I had a spare camera of the same model.
Tools used in this video:
Magnetic Silicon Heat Insulation Work Pad
115 in 1 Electronic Precision Tool Kit
The donor camera had body damage that prevented a battery from being inserted. It looks as though someone had sat on it and bent the case. It was also missing the tab which holds the battery in place. But, the screen was good. So I surmised that I could swap this good screen out onto the other camera and have a functioning unit. The rest of the donor camera I will save for parts in the event I come across another of this model.
Now, repairing cameras is not too much of a challenge. The types of repairs are usually pretty consistent. It is, however, usually a requirement to disassemble the camera to get at the components. In this case, a few screws hold the case body together.
Then, the ribbon cable for the screen is removed and the two leads for the screen are desoldered. Then, the screen can be extricated. This is repeated for the other camera as well. Then, it’s as simple as reversing the process to reinstall it.
And voila! We have a functioning camera again, ready for resale. You can find this camera, and other things we have listed on our eBay store by clicking here.