EEVblog 1428 - Sony RX100 Camera Repair and then WTF!

[EEVblog]

Dave "repairs" his Sony RX100-IV camera only to go WTF?!
A long video that is mostly disassembly and reassembly, so use the time markers if you are bored.

00:00 - Sony RX100 Mk4 Repair
04:30 - Teardown
14:44 - Dave gets ZAPPED!
23:19 - Processor Board
25:51 - Lens assembly
30:00 - Finally IN to the power button PCB!
34:49 - I was hoping...
36:24 - Reassembly
45:00 - WTF is THIS?!

[WizardTim]

Schematic of the suspect pin I mentioned.

[golden_labels]

Answering the question about the viewfinder: because it’s much more natural and convenient to aim, in particular if you must do it quickly. The camera follows directly your head, so it works just the same as you would want to look at something. With an external display there is no natural synchronization between what your brain wants to look at and what your hands do. This is why all DSLRs still have a viewfinder, even if nowadays it’s sometimes an electronic display which offers quality no better than the external one. The same goes for many professional camcorders, unless they are so big that your head basically fits the back of the device or at least moves in-line with the camcorder

[thinkfat]

That was also my first guess when I saw the display rolling, V-sync signal missing. Knackered display flex PCB or slightly misaligned in the connector.

[EEVblog]

Part 2

[pickle9000]

I realize everyone likes a happy ending but I really troubleshooting / teardown videos. Perhaps just putting teardown in the title would get more hits. A tip indication would be nice a well. Maybe an overlay that just has tip up in the corner.

[WizardTim]

On page 19 (Power (1/3)), it looks like the backup rechargeable lithium battery powers IC8400 on BACKUP_VDD which appears like it could handle the wakeup of the main DC/DC converter IC5101 and others through XWAKE which then powers IC8400 taking over from the backup battery through EVER_VDD and D5100.

It’s feasible that a dead backup battery (or shorted battery) could prevent IC8400 from starting the main DC/DC. I didn’t see you measure if the backup battery was good so it’s worth checking. It wouldn’t be the first soft power on device I’ve seen where a dead backup battery bricks it. When you left it overnight did you leave the battery in it? As that will recharge the backup battery.

I do note that IC8400 has an input for BATT_UNREG but it isn’t labelled a VDD input and it also has a nearby input for USB stuff so it could be that’s just measurement stuff to tell the SoC. It also has the RTC crystal and digital data interfaces on page 18.

Can’t say for sure but I’d say the power on fault is related to something around IC8400, possibly that backup battery.

And you forgot to include that link to the schematic!

[floobydust]

Really neat to see state-of-the art electronics ala 2015ish. It's still current and for sale USD $1,200. Wonder how RX100 does with macro pics of PCB's.

So many connectors and flat flex ribbons "mountain bend" or "valley bend" I'd run out of patience. With really small equipment, it's hard to be gentle and these flex connectors are only rated for like 10 insertion cycles.  You have to send it to a camera repair hub in Asia.
Nikon not so great admitting defeat fixing a switch whereas it's a routine repair for a shop in Taiwan. The NA repair centers know bad connections can be impossible to warranty so they are inclined to not do the repair, and advise just buy a new camera    like you're made of cash.

Sony can be dickheads with data stored in NVRAM so disconnecting that small lithium battery, clearly never to be replaced for the life of the camera, may have erased some config involving the LCD and MEMS sensors. I know the Sony larger camera batteries are like that, cells out and the BMS gets cleared and the pack refuses to work again. You have to connect a DC power supply to keep it alive when replacing the cells.

[EEVblog]

And you forgot to include that link to the schematic!

Links added.

[Ranayna]

I really like the repair videos.
The end-result almost does not even matter, but of course a successful repair is better.

It's the process though, the way of thinking about possible causes, and how you get around testing and verifying each possible issue. That is my biggest takeaway for me personally.
That a repair video usually also includes a teardown is just another added bonus

[Jan Audio]

I had to cover my eyes with this video sometimes.
Those flat "ribbon" cables are the equivalent of nails on a schoolbord.

Ribbon cables are something else by the way.

Thanks for remembering me to not mess with 200v AND cameras with flash.
*i also learn the hard way normally, 200 volt no thanks.

[EEVblog]

Part 3:

[Unixon]

Dave, I thought you would go for redrawing a broken FFC in CAD and ordering an ideal replacement