As DIY repairers we don't have to worry about how a camera circuit works. The camera designers have already done all of that for us.
Some people who want to repair their cameras themselves are put off by the electronics they contain:
That's what I often hear when I talk to people interested in photography about my repair projects.
We do not need special mathematical knowledge for our practical repair attempts.
As is often the case, there are
Two sides to the truth
Yes, it's true. Electronics is complex, the basics are not easy, and mathematics also plays an important role. Calculating even simple circuits requires some work, understanding more complex circuits requires prior knowledge and usually training. Nothing is given for free.
Basic electronic knowledge is helpful to better understand processes. But you don't need to be an electronics technician.
But the other side, the one relevant to DIY camera repairers, is that you don't need all of that to fix an electronic problem in a camera.
You don't need to have training as an electronics technician
nor do you need to be able to decipher circuits and do calculations. The camera designers have already done all of that for us. As DIY repairers, we don't need to worry about that.
We just need to recognize errors, be able to use a soldering iron - which is easier than many people claim - and accept that we have limits.
Dirty, oxidized or corroded contacts are often the cause of electronic problems in cameras.
The good news is
that most errors do not occur in electronic components that need to be located using measurements, but are simple contact problems that keep recurring:
- Dirty, oxidized or corroded battery contacts caused by dirt, humidity or leaking batteries,
- brittle solder joints,
- worn or unreliable contacts,
- and particularly leaking electrolytic capacitors are the usual spoilsports that can be dealt with with patience and a little skill.
Electrical contact problems can often be solved easily.
The skills required for such repairs can be learned, and very few tools are needed.
A word of caution 
What we as DIY repairers without electronics training should definitely not do is work on devices with high voltage.
This includes all electronic flash units, cameras with built-in electronic flash units and devices that are powered by mains voltage.
This poses a potential risk to health and life.
Try it, do it!
I would therefore like to encourage anyone interested not to be too impressed by the word „electronics“ and to try to repair it themselves.
Working on electronics requires few tools. A good soldering station and a simple multimeter are the biggest investments.
You have a good chance of success with cameras from up to the 1980s.
The cameras that followed are already too highly integrated, ie the electronic circuits are located in ICs that are difficult or impossible to replace.
Electrolytic capacitors that leak after decades are the first suspects in electronic problems. They can be replaced.
It's worth getting into the subject of electronic repairs on cameras. It's fun, keeps your head and hands busy, and some problems that seem unsolvable turn out to be easy to solve
Further information
Electronic repairs: Are we giving up too soon?
Problems with camera electronics often seem difficult or impossible to solve. But that is often not the case. „Electronics fault!“ the cry of horror of every camera owner who needs batteries for their device. Because if the electronics don't work anymore, what can you do? As if a mechanical...
www.photrio.com
Educational kits - the playful approach: Basic electronic knowledge for camera repair
To repair newer cameras, you almost always need a basic knowledge of electronics. It's not about unravelling complicated circuits, but rather understanding how and why electricity flows, what electrical voltage and resistance mean, and what functions electronic components perform...
www.photrio.com
Getting started: Practical Electronics by Andy Cooper
There are many introductions to analog and digital electronics, but not all of them are written in a way that makes them clear and easy to understand, without assuming prior knowledge or leaving important things unexplained. A book that, for me, meets these requirements is Practical...
www.photrio.com
Troubleshooting the camera electronic: Simple measurements with the oscilloscope
Troubleshooting instructions in camera repair manuals make it possible to find and fix problems without detailed knowledge of a circuit or mechanism. To do this, you work through decision diagrams with yes and no and carry out the instructions, e.g. in the form of voltage measurements or...
www.photrio.com
A hopeless mission? Service and repair for newer electronic cameras
Anyone who owns a Nikon F5 or a Canon EOS-1 has reason to be proud. These, and other professional cameras from the 90s onwards, are high-performance machines that perfect the interaction of mechanics and electronics. Built for load and long-term availability. It's still a dream to work with...
www.photrio.com
Repair - Electronics - Basics of Mathematics
Demonstration of an electrolytic capacitor charge (excursus for those interested in electronics ;-)
The flash capacitor removed and discharged from a Minolta Auto 132X fascinates me: I'm thinking about what I can do with it that's safe. I have access to my laboratory power supply with a maximum output voltage of 20 VDC (= volts direct current) for charging. This should be a safe voltage...
www.photrio.com
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All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
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