DCDC subcircuit repair

Big_Mac · Sep 1, 2016

Hi folks

Newbie post!

The shutter on my Chinon CP-X refuses to fire. I can see through the viewfinder it's powering on fine, but there's no response when I depress the shutter release. I tried replacing the batteries and googling to problem with no luck, so I put it in the shop for an estimate.

They came back saying the problem is electrical (no surprises there). The DC-DC subcircuit needs repairing. They quoted me £180 (around $240) for parts and labour.

What I'd really like to know is, am I being ripped off? Should I try another shop? Or is it just worth saying goodbye to the camera, which only set me back £50/$70 four years ago?

I'd certainly be sad to see it go but don't have a huge amount of money to throw at repairing it.

Thanks all.

AgX · Sep 1, 2016

Welcome to Apug!

I don't know that model at all. But in general exchanging ICs means dissambling the camera for a part, desoldering cables, desoldering the respective IC, soldering-in a substitute, then maybe recalibrate things. And that all on a tricky flexboard that takes utmost care to work on. That likely is not done in one hour. You can fill in your local tarif for an hour in a specialized electronics workshop. Plus costs for that part, that may be or may be not a generic part.

The situation on the camera market today is that just substituting a broken sample for a working one often is more economic.
Though some members would say they rather have a checked and repaired sample than a sample no one knows about.

In case of doubt you might ask at another workshop what just such repair would cost.

StephenT · Sep 1, 2016

I believe I would retire that body and begin watching eBay for a replacement.

Dan Fromm · Sep 1, 2016

+1

Two are now on offer on ebay.co.uk, one with a 35 quid opening bid, the other BIN for 45 quid.

shutterfinger · Sep 2, 2016

Buy a working body then, if the one you have has significant sentimental value swap the circuit boards necessary to get yours going.

benjiboy · Sep 2, 2016

Put it in the bin it's uneconomic to repair, cameras are made by machine, but have to be repaired by hand which is expensive, you can buy a much better camera a Nikon, Pentax or Canon for less than it would cost to repair, second hand film cameras have never been cheaper.

AgX · Sep 2, 2016

I never ever saw that model before, but just today I saw one for sale in the window of a tiny-town camera shop...

John Koehrer · Sep 3, 2016

I go along with benjiboy on this one.
I'm surprised they wouldn't replace the circuit board. Faster & easier for them, cheaper for you. Two
problems I think they'd have is finding parts. The board has likely been discontinued and the
possibility that the converter is unmarked or proprietary and thus unavailable.

DCDC subcircuit repair

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