Canon EOS 620 stopped working

[wallacjm]

My uncle was an avid photographer and when he passed18 years ago, I received all his camera equipment. I have his Canon EOS 620 and it worked fine until recently. I when to load it and it would not turn on. I put in fresh batteries and it still won't turn on. I don't have the funds to send it in to get repaired. I don't know who repairs film cameras. Could anyone please help me figure out what is wrong with the camera and how I can repair it?

 

[xkaes]

There are LOTS of things that could be wrong, but here are some prime suspects. First, do you have an owner's manual. If not, maybe you are doing something wrong, and it might help you figure it out. Have you dropped it or banged it recently? Also, did you buy cheap batteries. They can often be over-charged that can cause SOME electric cameras not to work. Are the battery contacts clean. Are you sure they are the correct battery and adequately charged? Even some new batteries can be duds.

 

[Mike Sowsun]

Is the grip properly installed? Is the retaining screw, screwed all the way in?

Either one will cause the camera to not power up.

 

[neilt3]

The most common issue is the battery power.
Even some new batteries have problems with some cameras .
Get some more new batteries of a different brand and try them .
Make sure your using disposable batteries for testing and not rechargeable, as they typically have quite a difference in voltage .

 

[wallacjm]

My uncle was an avid photographer and when he passed18 years ago, I received all his camera equipment. I have his Canon EOS 620 and it worked fine until recently. I when to load it and it would not turn on. I put in fresh batteries and it still won't turn on. I don't have the funds to send it in to get repaired. I don't know who repairs film cameras. Could anyone please help me figure out what is wrong with the camera and how I can repair it?

I was able to fix the camera. I seems that with the 620/630 the backlight drains the battery and it won't turn on with fresh batteries. You have to cut the black and white wire under the mount. When you do it should work.
While I was removing parts a part fell out. I did not notice it while I was taking of the front plate and bottom plate. If you know what this is and where it goes, message me.

Thanks you all for

 

[Mike Sowsun]

That part is part of the latching mechanism for the film door. That part alone won’t stop the camera from working.

The EOS 620 does have a history of the backlight circuit draining the battery. Cutting the wire eliminates the battery drain, but it will never prevent the camera from turning on.

It seems that you caused some other damage when you opened the camera to modify the backlight circuit.

Here is a video that shows a EOS 620 disassembly.

 

[benderscameracorner]

I have a '620 too, and quickly learned to (a) not use the backlight unless absolutely necessary and (b) take the battery out when the camera isn't in active use. In terms of longevity it's great that Canon went the lithium route instead of AA/AAAs like Nikon, but replacing 2CR5s regularly gets expensive.

Otherwise it is a great historically relevant camera that still holds its own today and can access arguably the biggest lens library with lots of quality affordable options available. Being able to pair with a Canon DSLR and share lenses is quite useful... mine travels with my 6D. That said its AF in low light is surprisingly weak - Nikon F4 absolutely creams it in that regard - and Canon didn't quite have the UIX and handling nailed at that stage. I think I'd still like an EOS-1n ;-) Of course they're 2x-3x the price though.

 

[Big G]

I have this camera. It cost a whopping $5 from a junk store in Japan. It had the usual backlight problem that quickly drained the expensive battery. I opened it up (using excellent instructions from IFIXIT) and cut the two offending wires. Seems to work fine now. It's got a solid feel and the controls are wonderful -- a good take anywhere camera that won't let you down or cause you to worry about theft.

 

[MattKing]

Thread moved to the Camera Repairs sub-forum, because that is what its about