You Can Repair Your Canon SD Series Lens Barrier Covers Yourself!

Many people have asked about repairing their front covers/flaps on their Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, so I’ve written up some instructions. Our lens barrier repair kit is a little tricky to replace on Canon SD series cameras but definately not impossible for you to do yourself. You will need patience, a good eye and a steady hand as well as a small screwdriver. We’ve been using dental picks for some time, they do a good job!

To start, you will need to turn on the camera and extend the lens, then open the battery door to turn off the camera and keep the lens out. This allows you to easily work on the lens barrier assembly.

The first part that goes in is the barrel drive ring; it has a small part sticking down into the lens. Most cameras have a drive ring, but some do not. If you don’t see one in your kit then your camera does not need one. Make sure it rotates slightly once it has been inserted, otherwise it’s not in properly and can jam the lens.

Next we will install the barrier plates or ‘flaps’ with the springs attached. Put one spring on each of the flaps, there are little tabs to hold them on. They are TINY, they are hard to hold and if you drop it… please take my advice and don’t drop it, ok? If you do lose some springs, we have them available on their own in our store for you to purchase.

Gently put the flap in the hole with the spring laying towards the post that the free end will mount on; then with something with a very small tip (we use dental picks!) gently grab the loop of the spring and stick it on its post.

Do this with the flaps in the open position, they will stay in place if you get them seated properly. If everything pops off, just start again. Try not to stretch out the springs, they need to remain tight for the assembly to work properly.

Then gently put on the barrier cover, it’s a flat plastic ring. The tabs on the outer barrier cover match up with small slots in the lens housing and it will lock into place. Be gentle, don’t force anything too hard or you will break it and the parts will not hold it place.

Now you may test your repair prowess! Now we put the battery in and while crossing our fingers, turn the camera on! Is it working? Did it go *SPROING!* and all the parts flew across the room? Yeah I hope not, but I’ve been there myself so you’re not alone.

Once you have it working smoothly …you’re almost done with your first digital camera repair!

Next put the dual sided tape on the barrier cover. VERY IMPORTANT: Peel the tape off the yellow backing paper but DO NOT remove the paper from the side that is cut to match the shape of the tape!! Removing the small paper part will cause the tape to fold up on itself and stick together. Bye bye tape!

The tabs fold over the edge, don’t let them stick out or the lens cover won’t fit and the lens will jam. The tape lines up with one tab at about the 11 o’clock position, then fold the tabs over and press them in so they don’t stick out.

Now put on your chrome or black lens cap, line up the cap with the small indentation at the bottom, you’ll see how it goes on easily.

Fire up the camera again and admire your handywork! Good for you! You now know how easy… and yet still hard digital camera repair can be, and the “Geek Squad” said that it was either unfixable or would be two hundred dollars and take several weeks to complete. Whatever Geek Squad… Whatever.

Hmm… I think I’m seeing the beginning of something big here; affordable do it yourself Canon digital camera repair