DOH!!!.. bent CF pin on my rebel :-(

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/19/2005 06:25:45 PM · #1

I was taking pictures of some friends' graduation ceremonies today and tried to change my CF card because I had run out of space... but upon entering the second card, I ran into a slight resistance and (not thinking) ended up bending one of the pins in the CF reading slot. I have no idea how I could bend only one, given the shape of these things, but that's what happened.

Now I can't read any CF cards until I get the pin straightened out... but it's such a narrow slot, I don't know how to get it straight again. If you open up your rebels (maybe other cameras as well?), it's in the corner and looks as if it's slightly bent underneath that other metal piece that is on the side. Any tips or advice would be appreciated... I can't believe I did something so stupid!

RebAl

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/19/2005 06:26:55 PM · #2

Ouch, a hemostat may work

carlos

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/19/2005 06:43:10 PM · #3

Getting down to were the pin is from the card door will be tricky, so if you're adventurous enough (and I mean A LOT!) you'll want to see these step-by-step disassembly instructions

good luck anyhow.

Edit: Hey, I'm not the guy who did this, nor am I endorsing it in anyway, It's just informational FWIW. LOL

Message edited by author 2005-06-20 03:44:22.

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/19/2005 06:45:37 PM · #4

When I was an undergrad in the R/TV program, we used a lot of equipment with pins. One of the professors used to joke that "college students were very strong" and that we could bend those pins ONCE...not twice. ;) Be very careful. If your warranty is still good, I'd send it in for that. Yikes. Good luck! :o)

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

06/19/2005 06:55:22 PM · #5

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Originally posted by carlos:

disassembly instructions

CorySmith

06/19/2005 07:37:26 PM · #6

Originally posted by carlos:

hahaha canon uses sony LCD screens
who'da thought?

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

06/19/2005 07:51:51 PM · #7

Originally posted by carlos:

haha that's one way to void the warranty

tsheets

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/19/2005 08:18:11 PM · #8

As Laurie said, you will be lucky if you can bend it back without it breaking off. I think your best bet is to get the slot assembly replaced by Canon.

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

06/19/2005 08:56:25 PM · #9

I had the same thing when my rebel was less then one week old. I sent mine back to Canon and they replaced the assembly under warrenty.
I would not try and do it myself if I was you, even if its not under warranty its not worth the hassle.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/19/2005 10:17:50 PM · #10

Shucks :( - any idea how much this will cost? It's definitely not under warranty anymore.. I bought it used, actually - so I don't even have the warranty information.

taterbug

Nikon D300

06/19/2005 11:16:40 PM · #11

Don't know if this is real great help or not, 'cause he's on vacation for a few days, but this member, my bud Toocool had the same problem with his rebel not too long ago. If you want to pm him, and havn't solved the problem, I'm sure he'd let you know what he had to go through exactly to resolve the issue.

photodude

06/19/2005 11:19:24 PM · #12

Originally posted by brianlh:

Shucks :( - any idea how much this will cost? It's definitely not under warranty anymore.. I bought it used, actually - so I don't even have the warranty information.

Brian,

Your profile says you're getting out of school... Welcome to the real world - that's where the paycheck goes instead of keggers

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/19/2005 11:56:20 PM · #13

Originally posted by taterbug:

I did have the same problem. I just took the camera back to CompUSA and they sent it in to their shop. Don't think they fixed it right though. I haven't swapped a card out of it yet for fear of bending the pins again. If they DO bend again, I'm gonna break 'em off so they HAVE to fix it right...

taterbug

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/20/2005 12:44:56 AM · #14

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by taterbug:
Don't know if this is real great help or not, 'cause he's on vacation for a few days, but this member, my bud Toocool had the same problem with his rebel not too long ago. If you want to pm him, and havn't solved the problem, I'm sure he'd let you know what he had to go through exactly to resolve the issue.

I did have the same problem. I just took the camera back to CompUSA and they sent it in to their shop. Don't think they fixed it right though. I haven't swapped a card out of it yet for fear of bending the pins again. If they DO bend again, I'm gonna break 'em off so they HAVE to fix it right...

Doh ! Sorry Dude, I thought you was up north right now...

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/20/2005 01:48:20 AM · #15

Haha photo- that is true I suppose.. just wish my first expense didn't have to be on something as 'trivial' as this!

I may try to bend it back anyways, since it sounds like when they fix it they should just replace it. I hope this costs maybe $30 or so, but by the sound of it I highly doubt it. Thanks for the advice/comments everyone, I really appreciate it. I'll keep you guys updated on what I decide to do, so that everyone will know again for the future.

snackwells

Canon EOS-20D

06/20/2005 02:29:24 AM · #16

I've bent a pin similarly. The solution which worked for me was to get the pin generally in line by using a tweezer or hemostat, then carefully insert a CF card until it fully seats. The CF card actually straightened out the pin perfectly when it seated itself. Good luck.

jrhendri

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/20/2005 11:19:04 PM · #17

There is a trick, depeding on the severity of the bend, that might help us straighten out this problem.

Sometimes a pin will bend on my monitor connection when I attempt to reconnect my monitor. The pins happen to be about the size of 0.5 lead in a lead pencil. I use a metal tipped leadpencil to place around the bent pin and bend it back straight. Pentel and Zebra lead pencils often have this extended(non retracting) metal tip.

I understand that the pin in a CF card may be significantly smaller and more difficult to access, but a 0.2 or smaller lead pencil may fix your problem.

You may need to sacrifice the $7 lead pencil to fix your $1500 camera. It appears that it would be tough to get the pencil into the cf slot. Flattening the pencil with vice grips or some other method may help fit the pencil into the slot.

I have not tried this with a cf card and you you may the damage the camera.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

06/20/2005 11:35:39 PM · #18

For what it's worth, the pins aren't brittle and do bent fairly easily.
(Don't ask). They can be straightened. Just don't be in hurry and be gentle.

mahobbes

Fujifilm FinePix S9000

06/20/2005 11:46:45 PM · #19

When the pin on my card reader bent, I slowly bent it back in place using my little swiss army knife keychain. Worked like a charm and the reader has worked perfectly since. Not sure if that'll be the same as the camera, but it's worth a shot if the warranty is up.

Just my two cents

aKiwi

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

06/21/2005 04:23:07 AM · #20

Try viagra! Powder it and disolve it in a little water till it is concentrated. Take a cotton bud and dip it in the mixture, then rub this gently but repeatedly on the bent pin.

I had a bent pin in my Canon A70 ince, and managed to straighten it with various tools including a surgical pair of long nose plyers.

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

06/21/2005 04:39:12 AM · #21

Originally posted by aKiwi:

HaHaHaHaHa..... and I thought a bent one was normal..