S3 IS Canon Powershot Teardown and bsod (black screen of death) repair

Please SUBSCRIBE, like, and share if this tutorial helped you. Thank you!
WARNING! BEFORE attempting this repair, watch video at 42:55 regarding the aperture assembly! IF your aperture comes apart, see this video to reassemble: • Canon S series apertur... .
Complete teardown, stuck shutter repair, and re-ssembly of a canon power shot camera. The procedure for disassembling the lens assembly is the same for the S1, S2, S3, and S5 IS to fix the black pictures issue. The camera general disassembly differs on each one. If you decide to not do this yourself, or you tried and are stuck, look up www.bsodpowershotrepair.com They will repair this problem for you! If you have any questions or comments, please ask! QUICK INDEX BELOW
CASE DISASSEMBLY - 00:00 - 17:00
INTERNAL COMPONENT DISASSEMBLY - 17:00 - 28:00
LENS UNIT DISASSEMBLY - 28:00 - 48:00
SHUTTER CLEANING - 48:00 - 52:30
LENS UNIT REASSEMBLY -52:30 - 1:15:00
INTERNAL COMPONENT REASSEMBLY - 1:15:00 - 1:23:00
CASE REASSEMBLY - 1:23:00 - END

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Hi everyone! Good news! I finally made a video showing how to reassemble your aperture if it fell apart during your shutter repair. Sorry it took so long! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpvdeHRjZ7iHea8

[@salinehou3075]

Thank for the video. I like to see the repair for Powershot Pro 1. May I have your email adress?

[@gingerharper620]

soooo I wasnt super careful removing the inner lens and a small metal bracket and tiny metal ball came out. time to put it back together after cleaning and I have no clue where to put these pieces. please help

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@gingerharper620 There should have been an equally tiny spring with that ball. If you can't find both, you can put the camera back together without them. As for the bracket, can you describe what it looked like? Was it round or sort of "L" shaped?

[@gingerharper620]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance ok, no spring came out when the ball came out. The bracket is L shaped with one hole

[@gingerharper620]

The bracket came out first, then when I put the two parts of the lens down the ball rolled out from somewhere.

[@prateek2744]

Sir i recently fixed my canon powershot s3is using your detailed video although aperture fix was difficult part but your video helped alot or else i would have screwed up but at the end 2 machine screws were left found no hole for them there camera works fine like a charm thanks a lot for your effort. Took me almost 7 hours because i am not a professional.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So glad everything went well! It's certainly not for the faint of heart, but what a great feeling to know you did it all by yourself! Two screws left over is not too bad. The ones I usually miss is one that holds the shutter/zoom button panel and one that holds the front body panel from the side with the speaker. Happy shooting!

[@MrBananovitch]

2024 and reporting that this video saved another one of these (still very capable!) cameras from the landfill. Thank you so much!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Great job and thank you for commenting!

[@rinoadair1683]

Thank you so much. Mine stopped working about 5 years ago, just been sitting collecting dust with old film cameras. Today I decide to throw it out, but thought I would google it one more time. Boom... found your fantastic detailed and informative video, and I revived it. Thank you so much, the kids are going to have some fun with it over the holidays.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you so much for your comment! I'm so happy to hear you were able to revive your camera and introducing the next generation to traditional photography. AWESOME! :)

[@DanielP0906]

Mate! Thankyou so much for this video. You have saved another camera from landfill. TIP for othes, use an ice cube tray and log which "cubes" are for what section when you move through the video. Makes reassembly easier.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are welcome! Glad you got your camera fixed and thank you for posting your organizing tip!

[@fernandesbjp]

Wow! I can´t believe that I actually fixed my S3 IS! It feel on the ground and the lens was stuck. That was like six years ago! Now it works perfectly! Thank you so much for the excellent video.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So glad to be of assistance! Great job!

[@G3sgofast]

One of the best tutorials I've run across.... I wish I had found this before I tackled mine. It would have saved me a lot of time! (and more than a little frustration) In the end it worked fine but it took far longer than it should have!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you so much for the compliment! Kudos for getting the job done without any aid!

[@aldinelt7214]

I love watching videos like this to see how things go together and how they work. You did an amazing job of outlining and showing the entire process with ample warnings throughout. Cracked me up when your spring and ball went flying! Keep up the great work and thank you for doing this.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Al, thank you so much for the kind words! Yes, I can't believe it happened even after I warned about it, but am glad it did for the sake of the video!

[@WesleyG97]

I don't know anything about camera's, i stripped one screw and lost the spring and ball bearing but followed this very detailed video with success. Fixed my S3 IS. Thank you so much.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome! The lens will be fine without the ball and spring. I believe that is just used to keep the inner lens from rattling in place, so if you have steady hands, then it should be no problem! :)

[@journeyon1983]

Nice job and you indexed the times in the description to make things easier. I have the Canon Powershot S2 IS and this video will come in handy should I ever experience the BSOD. Thank you for posting this tutorial.

[@visualjayy5182]

Years later and this video is still helping people !! Thank you so much fixed the camera with just this video🙏🏼

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you so much for commenting! Glad you got yours fixed! Yes, I'm very surprised but happy to know folks are still using these old cameras. In my opinion, they take much nicer pictures than cell phone cameras. :)

[@ozyre]

It took me almost 3 hours to disassemble the camera and reach to shutter blades, then another 2 hours to reassemble the camera back, but finally got my S3 working again. Thank you so much for this tutorial.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+CENTURiO You are welcome! Glad to hear you had a successful repair.

[@Gabrielignaciooyola]

Last night I disarmed a Canon S2 with the obturator problem. The truth that I could do thanks to the video. The camera was perfect! Thank you very much for the tutorial! Gabriel from Córdoba, Argentina!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome! Glad you got it working again!

[@kiteglinton]

Superb tutorial - probably the best ever; you tell us clearly what we need to know and don't waffle around what we don't. You may have given me sufficient courage to tackle my S2 as my next "lockdown project"

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! Please feel free to ask any questions if you get stuck during your repair. Best of luck on your lockdown project. You'll do great!

[@johnmassey973]

Wow! What an amazingly patient video. I'm going to watch this about 2 more times and then dive in. Thank you so much!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

I know you'll do great!

[@newton6664272]

Thanks to your videos I've could fix my PowerShot S2 IS and now my son will enjoy taking pictures as I did many years ago. Thanks again.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Your comment just made my day! This is exactly why I love to share fixes with the world! :)

[@cliveharris493]

Thank you for such an excellent tutorial. Clear and re- assuring. I too now have my S2 working again.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome! Great to hear!

[@misel9411]

Excellent video, thank you so much! I just followed it to clean some sand from my S3IS USM gearbox. It was causing lens errors. Now my trusty companion is ready for another journey.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+Mise F So glad to help, and thank you for the compliment! Happy shooting! :)

[@86Antooo]

And one more time. Thank you for this video. I wached it closely and did everything exactly the same and it worked. So Im very glad that there is people like you. Thank you so much.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are quite welcome!

[@ddalenew7102]

Thank you so much for this video, I replaced my supersonic motor and now my camera works !

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome! Did you find the motor on ebay or somewhere else?

[@djkevoo1]

Brother .. this is the best video I have seen in long time ..the details are precise and your knowledge epic .. followed your instructions each step of the way .. took longer than hoped for but ey .. lil bro should love as he's been asking me to get him one thanks bro

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+kevoo baws Thanks so much for the compliments! I used to repair these regularly, but family and regular job takes up all my time now and I get my satisfaction by helping others in any way I can, so I made this video. :)

[@alvarosilvar]

Terrific! Incredible your patience and ability to make this video! Congratulations and best regards!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you for the compliment! I love to teach the world how to fix their broken things!

[@doorwhisperer]

Thanks for this! Followed your video and fixed my S3 IS! Ended up having to refit the iris assembly as it managed to escape. Also lost and found the ball and spring in the lens assembly and same with the battery lid switch after it disassembled itself most spectacularly.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So glad to hear! Amazing you found the ball and spring!

[@PGL-2024-Live]

Thank you for showing how to do this. Had the same issue and with your help fixed like 5 minutes ago :))

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome!!!

[@retrocam2550]

its really a big help! thank you so much for the detailed tutorial

[@speedy9310]

My daughter dropped the camera (3S, IS) on the floor and the lens went broken. I was able to disassemble and repair the lens. Thanks for the video!

[@gregpohl1057]

Powershot SX20 IS PRETTY SIMILAR. Thanks, this was a big help for me to replace the entire rear screen with rotator hinge, on a Powershot SX20 IS. (it didn't like getting wet in the rainforests of New Zealand). The SX20 body is a little different, but close enough that your video showed me the way - just a few screws in slightly different places. But the left side and then back came off the same way. FOR ANYONE TACKLING REPAIRS ON AN SX20, here are a few notes. Unlike this S3 in this video, when the back came off my SX20 IS, THERE IS A RIBBON CABLE CONNECTED TO IT. I was able to leave it connected, and change out the rear screen+rotator hinge. To do so, there are 2 ribbon cables, a single wire to a small metal plate (ground wire?), and a 2-wire plug. Take a couple of photos first, to refer back to, and it'll be easy. The whole job took me about 30 min being very slow and careful.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome comments! Thank you for your contribution, and glad to see you got yours fixed!

[@arturocuce4865]

Uno dei migliori tutorial mai visti. Complimenti e GRAZIE !

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sei il benvenuto! Spero tu abbia aggiustato la tua fotocamera!

[@arturocuce4865]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance Thanks, I'm still looking for where to buy isopropyl alcohol. I'll go to town tomorrow to pick it up and continue work on my S3 is. Even though it's an old camera now, it's fun to fix it.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@arturocuce4865 Most drug or medical supply stores should carry it. In the US, we have 70% and 90%. If possible, obtain the highest percent available. Feel free to comment with any questions on your repair journey. :)

[@arturocuce4865]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance Ciao. Tutto bene, Fotocamera rimontata e funzionante! Grazie ancora dalla calda Sicilia.

[@hubertsutnik5174]

Great video very very helpful thanks to you i was able to fix my S2. Internals of my camera are litlle bit different but the lens is built the same way so i was able to get the job done , camera works like new. Thank you!!!!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Glad to hear this helped and you got your camera fixed!

[@grahamchandler5696]

Using this video (the best online fixit video I've ever seen - perfect in its detail and possible pitfalls) I was able to restore (and now enjoying with CHDK firmware)my S3 after years of it sitting on a shelf. I just couldn't bring myself to throw it out. My only wish was that the vid was in HD resolution to see the detail better.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Graham, thank you so much for commenting - I am truly flattered! I'm glad to hear you are back up and running. I had forgotten about the CHDK fw. Enjoy your "new" camera! :)

[@kananah1]

Thank you, very helpfull detailed vedio, I was able to fix my black screen with this vedio, it helped me alot, again thanks and wish u all the best

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome! So glad to have helped!

[@robertpart5340]

Great video, I was getting ready to chuck the camera in the bin and buy a new one! Had to do the job twice as I mixed the springs up and put the short one in the lenze assembly, I should have realized the ball and spring went back together too easily. Anyway all is now fine and the camera is working OK. Just for others I thought I had lost one of the springs but found it stuck to the back of the speaker, it is worth a look if anything is missing. Thanks again.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+Robert Part Yes, that speaker has save me on many occasions! Glad it worked out for you. :)

[@user-ex7lx2rs8h]

Thank you so much! Is the best tutorial i ever see!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you for your very kind words! You've made my day. :)

[@okstuv]

Awesome directions! Thanks for helping me revive my camera!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome!

[@Golionel]

Thanks a lot, i follow the steps and the camera got fixed!!!, just left aside one screw, Thanls again for your tutorial!!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

I am so glad this could help you out! One screw is not too bad!

[@vladimirbohomol4491]

Hello. I have the same issue. I found your video, everything is available and shown in detail, will repair itself thanks for the video tutorial. Good luck !!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you! Glad to help!

[@mesol23]

Thank you very, very much. Thanks to your video guidance, I succeeded to fix my old camera (though as worthless long time ago), even though I am not a camera men. Wish you all the best… For some reason... I have spared a tiny spring and a tiny screw.. seem not so important...but that's my fault... I always remain with few "spare" parts that are no longer needed. :)

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So good to hear you got it working! The only two springs are the one for inside the lens barrel and the one that goes between the entire lens assembly and the metal frame of the camera. It will work just fine without either one. If the one from the lens barrel is missing, it MAY make some noise or experience rough operation.

[@wyattl7845]

Thanks for such a detailed video i got my camera working again 🎉

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

That's great news! Great job!

[@fperboni]

Thanks so much. A good job for a raining sunday (5 hours). Work perfectly! I saw the other video too (for S2 Is). A technician told me to throw the camera in the trash (idiot).

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome! Glad you were able to get yours fixed! Great job not listening to the "technician", lol.

[@krakengameshop4315]

Many many many THANKS. Worked for me. ¡2 thumbs up! Eventually i must to disassemble the camera obturator to clean it up too.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome! It's always great to hear success stories!

[@GideonLesson]

Did dissassemble myself first time without any hints, and unscrewd that third screw that holding lens assembly too soon and it's blow up. Can't thank you anought, your video helped me fix shutter and reassemble lenses module.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

That is great to hear! Glad the video helped you out!

[@volkergromling6041]

Thank you. Saved my life on S2

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Excellent! So glad to hear!

[@k.m.4234]

Thanks a lot! I followed every step and it works finally! :D

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

That's so great to hear! You are welcome!

[@lucidrj]

The best video repair! Thanks

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you! I hope it was helpful. 😊

[@lookup7318]

God! I thought I had patience... I think I'd jump out the window if that's spring and ball got lost lol but seriously I've been working on repairing any kind of electronic since the eighties I think I can handle that with that said keep up the good work.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Too funny and I know what you mean! Just today, I lost a surface mount resistor that was about 1/32" long and crawled around on the floor for about an hour using an S3IS lens housing as a magnifier...never found it. :( I've been messing with electronics since the 80's too and glad I stuck to it all these years! Thank you for your kind words. :)

[@fitzefatz5781]

Thank you very much for this video, my camera works!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are quite welcome! So glad to hear you got it working! :)

[@rosswel8203]

Чувак спасибо тебе огромное, оживил я своего S3 IS ! А думал в мусорку придется выбросить)))) Thanks you))

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Добро пожаловать! Так рад слышать, что у вас снова работает камера! (Извините, если Google не правильно перевел)

[@rosswel8203]

@@AS-sx8go там шторки затвора из-за масла слиплись. Шторки закрыты - на матрице нет света. Нет света - черный экран. У меня они залипали, постучу пройдет, а потом полностью слиплись. Только разборка, только чистка

[@rosswel8203]

@@AS-sx8go короче ремонт по-русски не помогал😂

[@ikwahcikwahc5936]

Very nice job. I'll try this experience with my BSOD s3 and let you know. THANKS

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you for the compliment! If you have any questions along the journey to fixing your camera, please feel free to ask any questions, especially if something is not clear in the video. Good luck!

[@ikwahcikwahc5936]

I did all steps and cleaned also the aperture (contaminated too) thanks to your other video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpvdeHRjZ7iHea8 and all pieces are well synchronized.The wrong thing I did is I accidently lost the spring at 33:38. I am not able to smoothly put rear back cover back (doesnt line up with screw hole: the one near camera mount and also the one in the top of battery cover) , but well put at the top siand buttons side, My s3 doesnt power on then. any suggestion ? Thanks For Help.

[@veedee8865]

for sure i went through your video. i liked and its very helpful one. will see and check the dirt.

[@wellingtonwebb7304]

Thanks for the info, I understand where to put some sealant on the screw hole, but where else, and do I need to put any lubrication on, if any where?

[@peterkristensen4811]

Thank you very much successful repair.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Awesome Peter! Glad you got it going!

[@LuisReyes-cf9di]

Great video

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you! I hope it helped you out. :)

[@stirlingarcher2141]

Great video, & boy did I get excited when I found it until I started watching it. I could hardly believe how much goes into these thing and I'm really impressed, unfortunately I've got an essential tremble so that had me licked from the start :-0 lol. I thought it was just going to be a simple unclip the lens and clean this type of fix. Live and learn eh. If I was 20 years younger I could have done it, oh well. A terrific job that was clearly & concisely explained. Six out of 5 stars :-)

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So sorry to hear you have the tremors. My father in law has the same thing. :( If we weren't in the pandemic, I'd offer to repair this for you. Thank you so much for commenting. :)

[@stirlingarcher2141]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance My dad got them in later life, followed by my elder brother, then me, luckily my younger brother doesn't show any symptoms yet :) . While I get a little frustrated at times I've had a great life in general. I feel more upset when I see young people with it than myself as they usually have the most extreme shaking :( Thanks for your kind thoughts and I hope your father in law gets some relief from any treatment he might be having. Keep up the great work as it's always a pleasure to watch clever intelligent people showing their skills. :-)

[@sparkywirenut]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance How much do you charge for a repair ?

[@brandiweed4570]

This was really helpful! Hopefully someone will like the camera when I donate it... I will suggest though that for people like me who have less experience perhaps than you-- a magnetic mat for all the little screws is mighty handy. The one iFixit sells has a dry-erase surface marked with sections, so you can set things in groups and label what goes where. Also I recommend having a microfiber lens cloth or three on hand. You almost certainly will get your fingerprints on lenses and other optic bits whether you like it or not.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

That is all good advice! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. I'm sure it will come in handy for many. :)

[@eliscomin1]

Okay, Things were going well for me and I as I tried to snap the top cover back on, the 2 half must have separated slightly because my iris is now screwed up. Do you have a video on assembling the iris? I don't know which way the 6 small pieces go in or if it should be open or closed in a shelf position.

[@RubenFletcher]

Awesome video, very detailed and informative. Sad to say though I would in no way have the patients to take on this task here in my home. I have the worst luck working on small electronic stuff. So my question to you would be this. What would you charge me to go through my S3 IS and give it a good once over and get it working right again? Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

[@schtromar]

Hey man, great tutorial i was (hopefully) able to fix my s2, but it gave me E18. Any ideas?

[@TheBuzzawak]

Hi Alsautoandappliance, First up great video, I was following along all going well and guess what, That's right to two half's of the aperture just came apart the smallest bit and all has got to shit. So did you end up making the "O crap the aperture" video ? if not could you help with some written instruction. Like do the blades lay over each other clock wise or anti-clock wise ?

[@maikdean8490]

I have p1000 lens I want to use it for a 20 megapixel camera is it possible for the lens to work on other camera boards ?

[@mahambaig7101]

Great video!! You are an amazing instructor. Well, i have encountered the same problem. I have done every possible way to unstuck my shutter. i cannot open my camera like you did, as a professional. Is there any other way i can do to resolve my prblem without going to the technician. Should i keep my camera to cool place? or maybe blow air in it to get rid of the contamination?

[@masoodtorabi8521]

Thanks for your excellent tutorial. Unfortunately during during disassembling the lens, interior lens came out and I found one tiny spring & ball bearing which I don’t know belong to which part. Please help me to fix it. Thanks

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you for your kind words. Those parts are best described at about 38:20 in the video kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYixiaBsZduVrZo They CAN be left out, but would be best if you put them in place. Let me know if you need further explanation. Glad you at least found those parts! They usually shoot out at high speed never to be seen again. lol.

[@shmelev7400]

Thank you for this video!!!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome!

[@deetheresa315]

Nothing shows up in my viewfinder or on the window door, when I turn on the camera. I have tried every mode and it's just black. Any suggestions as to why this would be? How I can correct this problem? There's no way, I will take it apart, like this video shows. Who should I take my camera to, to be fixed?

[@paulomartinschaves2847]

Fabulous video.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you very much!

[@dbenet2]

Awesome video! I love how you explain everything and go slowly! I have encountered a couple of issues - mostly because I am not careful enough. I, of course, am one of those that needed the separate video for the aperture blade replacement and what a ride that was! So now I am back to putting the lens back together and ....yep you guessed it. When we were taking the lens apart the ball and spring escaped. I thought I was being so careful and couldn't figure out what the big deal was until it was time to put it back together and....no ball or spring. So......is there a place I can order these or am I just goofed?

[@corinafoust143]

this happened to my son, when taking apart my camera. Did you ever figure it out?

[@kotsya1]

Thanks!!!! This video very usefull!!!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are welcome! Hope you got yours going!

[@paulwatson1844]

Very helpful video, though I'm trying to fix a different problem on a PowerShot S5 IS, and I'm trying to get the power board out (ultimately to replace the flash unit). The power board is connected to two battery connectors, one of which is easy to get out, and the other of which has me stumped. Can you provide any suggestions? Do I need to remove the battery cage to get the power board off? So close....

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

If I remember right, one is soldered to both sides of the board. It's best to use a solder sucker or solder wick to get all of it off. Otherwise, you can continue to heat the terminal while lifting the board at the same time.

[@paulwatson1844]

Ah - soldering. Thanks very much for the help, I'll give it a shot.

[@RenatoSantos-nq1xi]

You are very talented! I am wondering if you work with other brands and how much would cost for a repair in one of this bridge cameras. Among Nikon and Fuji, I have this Polaroid iX5038 that i use for some projects. It stop taking pics, i opened it and now the display lights in blank. I would be trilled if you could have it on schedule to be fixed, for a reasonable price!

[@selimsimsek4909]

Merhaba bu video çok işime yaradı emeğinize sağlık çok teşekkür ederim.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Hoşgeldiniz! Videomun size yardımcı olduğunu bilmek mutluluk verici!

[@Keskivertomies]

I managed to repair my S3 (replaced the ultrasonic motor). Thanks!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So great to hear! Congrats!

[@bobrosso9147]

Where did you get a motor? That's what I may need......

[@coryorr7719]

My S3 works almost at 100% but it won't zoom out once zoomed in. Can you offer some advice on how to fix this?

[@mscir]

Very well done, thank you. Did you ever consider using an old hdd neodymium magnet to magnetize your screwdriver tips? it would save time and often prevent screws from bouncing away.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Yes, I know about that trick, but never seem to have one around when I need it. This is a great tip. Thanks for sharing!

[@MADHUGLOBAL]

wow Great Job

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you! Hope it was helpful.

[@electropatagonico]

Hi! nice and really detailed video. I replace my S5 IS Shutter with one new but now i got Error Obj message... i did all the steps really slow and quiet, but cant start the zoom motor. I hear some noise, like shutter wants to open, but nothing happens. The replace part says that is for "S3 IS", i think it might be not compatible (the guy says me that it will be..." can you help me? Thnks!! (Sorry about my Argentinian English)

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble. Did the replacement part consist of the entire optical unit (motor, lenses, sensor, shutter, etc) or only the part with the aperture/shutter blades? Can you show the link to the part you purchased? Many of the parts are interchangeable, BUT many are not.

[@pulsar7314]

Thank you, repaired

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome!

[@bjh9501]

Excellent video. I am now ready to take mine apart. But before I go ahead, do you have any advice on my problem. Works fine until I operate the zoom, then it dies. My guess would be a mechanical blockage, causing a power drain, causing it to power down. Thanks

[@uploadJ]

Anybody reading this - My S3 IS works fine in 100 deg F weather, but will not work when cooled back to room temperature inside. I can turn it on and off and zoom out and back in while the camera is hot, but the lens gets stuck when cool and then the Lens Error message shows up! I'm going to try disassembly and reassembly at some point and see what that does, thanks to the positive results this video details!

[@hanoo_hanzo]

Thank you so much

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome!

[@seregawestfield5422]

Thank you uncle, I fixed the camera!!! like and subscription

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Congratulations on fixing your camera! :)

[@seregawestfield5422]

​@@AlsAutoandAppliance in procсes, six petals scattered, I collected, show them how to properly assemble six petals. I managed to stick the last petal ))

[@seregawestfield5422]

​@@AlsAutoandAppliance petals adhere to cotton wool stick wetted with alcohol, and installation

[@wellingtonwebb7304]

I bought a tube of Permatex Ultra Black #82180 RTV Silicone, is it going to work as well as a tube of your Permatex Black Silicone?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Any sealant will work, but I think now that as long as the lubricants are applied lightly on the parts (and not glopped on like the factory), you might not actually need any, although it doesn't hurt.

[@pmdanielm]

Hello! After going through the whole video I think I may be biting more than I can chew to take on this repair. The website you listed doesn't seem to exist any longer. Do you have any other suggestion of where I can send this to be repaired? Thanks!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So sorry for the late reply. I know it seems like a daunting task, but please don't be afraid to try. Worst-case, the camera will not function, which is the state it is currently in. If you get it working, you'll have a great feeling of satisfaction that you did it all by yourself and you can brag to your family and friends about it, lol. If you get stuck along the way and something isn't clear in the video, feel free to reach out and ask for help. Yes, I used to repair on the side, but it just isn't cost effective for you to send it, having the repair performed, then the cost of sending it back. Most folks like to use their phones now for taking photos, but they don't realize phone pictures really suck compared to those taken with an actual camera...if they only knew!

[@jaywanttakbhate2708]

I am getting a lens error after assembling back. I had a lot of trouble dismantling the thing. What do you suggest?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry this happened. This can be many things. Could be the motor cable is not fully seated, debris in the transmission or gear teeth on lens barrel, alignment pins for the inner lens or lens barrel not proper aligned. It could also be that the motor is going bad. I would recommend looking at motor/cable first and if all looks good there, check for debris in the gears. If everything looks clean, then I suggest taking the assembly back apart and reassemble. Good luck, and hope this helps.

[@daweskie88]

thank you

[@darkangel4647]

good work, i have the S2 Version with the the Same Problem, tomorrow , i want to repair it.

[@ladislavmandakmandesign2441]

I am very happy, because I have repaired my S2 yesterday. It was a difficult job, but I succeeded. :)

[@nanachickh]

Thanks you soooo much!!!!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome! Hope you got your camera operational!

[@phil9560]

Great video and all went well until the tensioner ball on the lens housing.I didnt catch either the spring or the ball bearing and theyve dissappeared.I don't suppose you know the sizes ? Thanks in advance

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

The size of the ball is 1.99mm / 0.0785in. Not sure on the spring, however, if you put everything back together without the ball and spring, you will be fine. The parts might just rattle a little bit more, but most likely won't be noticeable. If you have a magnet, that helps locate those tiny parts, especially if you lost them over carpet. Good luck, and thank you for commenting.

[@phil9560]

Thanks for the reply.Its landed on a wooden floor so has probably bounced upstairs and into a pocket of a garment in the wardrobe-as these things do 😂

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@phil9560 Well, let's consider that one never to be found again. :) I've lost a few in all of my repairs too. Enjoy shooting with your repaired camera!

[@tomasfugger1291]

Thanks!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are very welcome!

[@sararaemdonck4461]

Hello, I yesterday got a non working Canon powershot S3IS from a friend. The display is always completely white, while I see all the correct information through the ocular (= viewfinder?) If I take a picture the image is ok on the sd card . Any idea what this problem could be and how I could fix this?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Hello, and thank you for reaching out. The most common cause for this is the cables coming loose either from the screen or from the main board. The easiest to check is the screen. If you look on either side of the flip out screen, there are two screws each (4 total). You can unscrew those and the back cover comes off. Check to make sure all of the connectors are seated well and that there are no signs of water damage (usually white powdery crust - can be blueish and rust colored also). Then, check the ones on the camera by watching the portion of the video where you remove the back of the camera. Be sure all of those are seated well. Another possibility is that sometimes the screen is flipped upside-down/right-side-up too far that it breaks the part that stops you from twisting the screen too many times around and the wires actually get severed. Check all of that out and if you are still stumped, just comment back on here. Good luck!

[@sararaemdonck4461]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance Hello, I disconnected all cables and reconnected them. But the lcd is still permanently white. I saw nothing suspicious inside. Probably the lcd itself is broken?

[@nelabais]

how would you take a stuck sd card out with dissasembily?

[@veedee8865]

hello alsautoandappliance- i m having problem of E18 on my canon s2is pleas guide me.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+Vee Dee Hello! E18 is caused by the lens not being able to extend or zoom. This can be sand, dirt, or other contamination in the drive system (transmission), it can be an issue with the ultrasonic motor that drives the lens, a problem with connections to the motor, or an issue with the main board. If you are in a dusty environment, a simple cleaning might be all that's needed. If you follow the video through 14:40 to get the front body off, then skip to 30:00, you can remove the motor without taking the boards or lens assembly out. The part that gets sand or dirt is usually the large gear that is part of the lens assembly, and the gear in the motor/transmission that contacts the lens assembly. It helps to have a magnifying glass to check for and remove any debris. If everything looks clean, and the problem still exists, the next likely problem is the motor its self. There is nothing serviceable on the motor and it will require replacement if faulty. There are sellers on ebay that sell these, but most are used, which isn't necessarily a problem. Canon will not sell just the motor...you have to buy the whole lens assembly, which is very expensive. You can use a motor from an S2, S3, or S5. Hope this helps some!

[@redpost2380]

THANK YOU. Before I even attempt to take it apart, can I ask your opinion on the symptoms of my Canon. Turns on but no image shows. If I press the shutter it clicks but there is a black screen and in the centre a small black rectangle with a white border. Is this what you refer to as the black screen of death? My hat off to you for the patience, exceptional skill (how do you manage to remember what bits go where when you have a dish full of tiny components!)and desire to share your knowledge online.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry about the late reply. Are you looking into the lens of the camera to see if the shutter is indeed actuating? If you see the shutter working, but you still have black pictures, then there might be a problem with the CCD. As for knowing where the parts go after being in one pile, it is from doing the same thing over and over again. I've lost track of how many cameras I've repaired with this condition. I think it is the reason my eyes are bad now, lol.

[@CHRISTOPHER_LACK_CAMERA]

I’m using an s5 and have marks showing on the sensor How would I go about getting to clean that? Thanks

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

If my memory serves me right, you should be able to unscrew the sensor from the back side of the (see video at 28:25 and/or 35:20) and clean it off once you get the main board removed. If it's something you're seeing in your pictures, it could be dust on the lenses or even dead pixels on the sensor. Comment back on what you find and if you successfully get it cleaned up.

[@patrickfrench1339]

Thanks for this. I have been patiently trying to fix my camera for some time now. It is very sentimental since I used it 12 years ago to film my 2 internationally adopted children while in country with them. I have the shutter repaired but now I lost the ball bearing. Magnet did not find it. Can I reassemble without it or is it a key component? If so, do you know where I can get one? I could purchase the entire lens assembly but that would defeat the purpose of keeping this original. That may be my only option though. Thanks for any help.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Patrick French you can reassemble without the ball. Just make sure you leave the spring out too. What a great story...I hope you get it fixed!

[@patrickfrench1339]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance I was able to find a radial ball bearing assembly at my hardware store. I cut it open and took one of it's 3/32 ball bearing out of it and it worked perfect. Now my next challenge is replacing the other spring exterior to the lens assembly. I has been weeks since I worked on it last as I was waiting for another part. Guess things grew legs. Thanks again for this tutorial. I WILL fix this!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@patrickfrench1339 Wow, that is genius! I never would have thought to do that. As for the spring that goes on the back of the lens unit, I believe that one is to provide a ground for static electricity. It will operate without that spring as well but could be a risk down the road. Congrats!

[@swabygames]

I was just wondering if it would be possible to leave the shuttle blades off of this camera instead of having to take it apart to clean it? I know I wouldn't be able to use some features and it would be over exposed, I could just turn the exposure down to compensate having no shutter blades. I don't know if it would be possible to do that or if there is a sensor on the camera that won't allow it to work without those. I know I could just try it but would see if someone else had tried it first. I am saving up to replace it with a new camera. Thanks for any help if possible.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Wow. That is a VERY interesting question! I don't have the answer to that, but I would say that yes, you could leave them out and still have the camera attempt to take pictures, but I don't think adjusting exposure alone would be enough to make good pictures. I've had many that had the shutter blades stuck partially to fully open and the pictures always come out way overexposed. Never did try to adjust exposure, though. If you are to the point where you can remove the blades, you might as well just clean them off and be done, unless you wanted to experiment and report back to let us all know if it works! :)

[@swabygames]

alsautoandappliance yes I know it is a interesting question, I tend to have very unique questions but that's just the way I am. I have cleaned the blades once and as much as it is fun to take the camera apart and put it back together, I really don't want to take it apart. I might try and leave the blades off but I don't know yet. The best solution is just to keep saving up and replace the camera as soon as I can. Thanks for the comment though.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

So, you have cleaned the blades before? How much time passed since that last cleaning?

[@swabygames]

alsautoandappliance yes I have cleaned it before. I have used it a lot since I cleaned it, but then I went through some things and it ended up not used for about three to four years. I really enjoy photography but I'm not sure if it's something that I want to do with my life. It is difficult to figure out what to do with your life or try things when you don't have the equipment to do so or equipment that will allow you to see what it's like to do that type of job and see if you really enjoy it or love it, to have you invest in better equipment.

[@richarda5396]

Thank you! Great video...but I did something wrong. Black screen gone, success but am now getting grainy pictures highlighted with yellows. Did I loose the patient?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

It sounds like you don't have a good connection on the cable for the CCD. Take the back cover back off and re-seat the connections. Is the image you see in the viewer that way or on the SD card (or both)?

[@richarda5396]

Pretty much both card and viewer, hint of yellows and greens in viewer but much more so when transferred to computer. When looking through viewer yellows look pink but are yellow when transferred. I'll retry the connections. Again Thank You for posting a video we can all follow, so many cameras were fixed because of you!!

[@richardcollins5485]

Superb instructions. My S5 has non functioning aperture, shutter works. Is that likely to be oil contamination? Or is it possible its something else?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Richard, although I've never come across the situation, i'd think it's certainly possible to be contaminated to the point it no longer functions. With that said, the most common issue that causes faulty aperture is a poor connection on the cable that goes to the lens assembly. You can take the back off the camera body and disconnect and re-connect the cable from the main board. If that doesn't fix it, then it's possible the electric motor that drives the aperture blades is bad or weak, or, worst case, the mainboard is bad. Have you tried different shooting settings on the camera?

[@richardcollins5485]

It takes good photos on Sports mode. It takes shots on all modes but exposure can be dark or light The aperture blades are showing no movement on M going from f2.7 to f8. There is not even the slightest twitch from them holding button half way.The shutter blades work fine. I will do as you suggest and check the connections to the main board. Thanks, I will let you know what I find. Richard

[@Rienich]

Спасибо! Сделал за 7 часов, теперь как новенький...

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Добро пожаловать! Рад, что вы его исправили! (надеюсь, что google translate работает правильно)

[@johnpettigrewnztube]

Thank you - a well-photographed and clear video. I doubt I would do this task myself, but have noted bsodpowershotrepair in case I need it. However would you mind me asking you a question? I bought a second-hand S3-IS for my teenage daughter to graduate from phone photos. The tally light on the front is always dimly on, any time there are batteries inside (it flashes brighter on some on and off operations). I have seen a few people mention this online, but no-one seems to have an answer, and it’s not mentioned in the manual or in reviews. The current draw is about 0.25mA, which isn’t much but would take its toll over time. I presume it’s an electronic fault. Have you seen this in the many cameras you have fixed?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

John, thank you for the compliment! To answer your question, usually, when this happens, I find that the camera had been exposed to moisture (rain, dropped in water, etc) and some of the circuits, even after dry, are shorted by deposits left behind from the incident. I've had pretty good success with these situations by cleaning off the deposits with an alcohol solution and a toothbrush. If the camera was indeed exposed to moisture, there are usually tell-tale signs. Some of these include water marks in the lenses, corrosion on screws or battery terminals, water marks in the viewfinder or lcd display, or deposits on the circuitry (looks similar to battery corrosion).

[@johnpettigrewnztube]

Thank you for that. I will investigate.

[@kelseyhuls7147]

This is a really great video but unfortunately i lost the spring you removed at 33:37 Do you know of any place i could get one? And possibly what it is called or what it does?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

+Kelsey Huls So sorry to hear that spring decided to leave you. I am not exactly sure what the purpose of the spring is, as it only sits in a pocket and contacts the metal frame. It could be to keep any static generated from the plastic lens parts to a minimum. At any rate, I have worked on some that had this spring missing and experienced no ill-effects. If you have a large magnet, you could sweep the area you were working on it and possibly find it that way. Otherwise, I would say put it back together and keep shooting away! :)

[@OlGoodJoe]

+Kelsey Huls Just go to any ace hardware (or search goole) and find a pack of miscellaneous springs, they will come in all sizes and shapes. I had one I was going to use in place of the one that was in there. Its sole purpose is to put pressure on the ball against the shaft that the slider slides in and out on to simply damper the movement slightly. If it fits, basically it will work. The original was about 1/2" long.

[@luke_6990]

I lost the spring hahaha is there anyway to get a replacement spring or no?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

If you lost the spring, it will still function but may rattle a bit more than without. Just make sure you leave the ball out as well. If you wan't to still try to locate it, sweep the area with a magnet. :)

[@MrMacio484]

Can I use something else other than isoprophyl alcohol? I was walking around for 3 hours today trying to find it and couldnt.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Most grocery stores have it. It's usually labeled as "rubbing alcohol". The 90% stuff is usually with or near the pharmacy department. Good luck and sorry you're having a difficult time. :(

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry you are having trouble finding alcohol. Most grocery stores or pharmacies should have it. It's possibly just labeled "rubbing alcohol" and the 90% stuff is normally kept with the pharmacist. Good luck!