mike dixon Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 A couple of weeks ago, the reflex mirror in my Canon 5D became 'unstuck' from the mechanism that lifts it upduring exposure. Fortunately, the mirror didn't fall out and break. I took my camera to the Canon servicecenter here in Busan, Korea, to have them repair the problem. Their only option for repair was to replace theentire mirror box mechanism for approximately US$500. Given that I would need to pay $500 to replace the entire mechanism anyway, I figured nothing would be lost bytrying to repair the problem myself. So, I bought some cyanoacrylate ("SuperGlue"), put a few small drops on themounting points for the mirror, carefully put the mirror back in place, and waited a few hours for it to dry. The result: the camera is back to functioning as well as it was before the problem. Focusing accuracy doesn'tappear to have suffered. Cost of repair: less than $3, and about ten minutes of effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_daalder Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 This is an excellent post, Mike!<p>It really made me wonder as to what extend we have been brainwashed, in recent years, with regards to the actual <i>delicacy</i> of our digital equipment.<br> No doubt, all DSLRs are indeed complex mechanisms, in some ways, not unlike a portable computer. However, it appears that they might just be a lot more robust than we have been led to believe.<p>One question... With the dislodging of the mirror, was there any sign of tiny particles that might have dropped down into the sensor area, or rather, did you find a need to do a sensor clean after your self repair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_osullivan Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I bet they told you that because they cannot get reimbursed from Canon for the "labor" of gluing your mirror back in. Hope it holds. Good for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitmstr Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Well, if the box and the anchor points weren't damaged the glue is NOT the only thing that holds it in place. If it were, I don't think it wouldn't last long. The reason a manufacturer charges more than a DIYer is to cover their repair warranties, pay salaries, equipmetn costs, insurances, etc... If you are in a hospital (in the US) and they bring you a simple little Aspirin you will be charged at least $20.00 per pill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitmstr Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Grrr...the PC auto correction can be annoying. That should read " I don't think it WOULD last long.." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 I needed to clean the sensor before the mirror problem, though I haven't seen any increase in 'spots' since the repair. The area behind the mirror isn't sealed anyway (though the shutter covers the sensor), so stuff can easily get back there even with the mirror in place.<p> I only made the repair a few days ago, but so far, so good. I bought the camera in December, 2005, and it has about 60,000 exposures on it. If the repair last even half that long, I'll be doing well. And I still have the rest of the glue . . .<p> <i>Well, if the box and the anchor points weren't damaged the glue is NOT the only thing that holds it in place. If it were, I don't think it wouldn't last long.</i><P> The box and anchor points aren't held by glue; I suspect they are bolted to the chassis. The mirror is held by glue onto the mechanism that raises it during exposures. If there was anything else holding the mirror, I saw no evidence of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagesax Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 How old is the camera? This should be covered under warranty. I actually walked into the camera store I bought mine at and got a free new camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 My 5D is almost three years old (bought in early December 2005), and has seen a lot of heavy use. The warranty was long expired when the problem occurred. The repair is still holding up after a few weeks of use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerald_wallace Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 At the time, three years ago, when my 5D mirror fell out the first time I removed the body cap, I thought that was a unique fault with only my canon 5D. The mirror capture mechanism was missing the tabs that hold the bottom of the mirror in place. I sent the camera back to canon for no cost repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesca_martinetto Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 <p>Thank you so much...I'll start gluing right now! </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felipe_mena Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 <p>Mike,<br> Does it still working after this time? Any problems due to this solution?<br> Yesterday the mirror of my 5D fell off. The canon service told me they fix it for free, but in 15-20 days, and I can't stay so much time without the camera. In fact, I need it tomorrow, so I guess my only option is to try with the glue as a provisional fix...<br> Thanks<br> Felipe</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 <p>The repair is still holding after 8 months of fairly heavy use (including a few international plane flights and some travels on very bumpy dirty roads through Cambodia).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felipe_mena Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 <p>Well, it's done! Just few seconds to put a small glue drop on every of the 4 monting points. I've take a look through the viewfinder and everything seems fine.<br> Tomorrow I have a heavy portrait season, I expect more than 2000 pictures, I hope it holds in place!<br> Many thanks!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate_tunin_vasilj Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 <p>Hi,<br> I just got a camera from Adorama, I bought it used in 9+ condition and guess what, when it arrived the mirror was dislodged!? So I started searching the net and bumped in to this thread, I wonder if I should give it a go as it would take a while for me to send it to the US and to find a way to get it back to Europe... What exact glue did you guys use? The back of the mirror has four points and the glue that is still on the back is a bit rubbery!? What glue could that be? Thank you for any input.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felipe_mena Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 <p>I did use super glue gel. I had an opened tube overthere, and as they said is more resistant to vibration etc, I thought it would be ok. Anyway I think any standard cyanocrylate, as the original post said, should work.<br> Now is 3 months and more than 20.000 shots from my reparation and the mirror still hold in place. :)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 <p>My 5D is still working fine almost a year after I repaired it myself. It has travelled many thousands of miles and taken tens of thousands of photos in that time.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbkissel Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 <p>There is a certain satisfaction in knowing you've made repairs which actually work. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland_gooday Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 <p>This happened to me, and so, inspired by this post, I super-glued the mirror back in place myself. Nerve-wracking, but it worked. Still holding several thousand shots on. Thanks!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland_gooday Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 <p>It's still working...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_grigorian Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 <p>Thanks Mike and everyone else here! you guys just saved me $165 in repairs. I will try this myself. I just can not believe that the mirror came off! I am lucky though that it's not broken or anything. Happy Holidays!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_grigorian Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 <p>would you please tell me though "exactly" what kinda crazy glue you used? I don't want to experiment! :)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland_gooday Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 <p>Hi, yes it was 'Loctite Super Glue', which is a fast acting cyanoacrylate based glue (other brands are available). I used the standard - fairly runny - glue, not the 'gel' variety, just four very small spots. Regards Roland</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 I think that the super glue I used was a Japanese brand that I picked up in a dollar store. Repair was still working when I got rid of the camera in early 2010 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_grigorian Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 <p>thanks Mike :) you saved me $150! I did it myself too even though I was a bit scared... but I did it and worked beautifully. thanks again! my other camera (canon 20d) is out of commission too due to the shutter needing to be replaced so I was really desperate being left with no cameras. Happy New Year and happy holidays.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaakov_asher_sinclair Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 <p>Thanks Mike.<br> Same thing happened to me this afternoon! Could I ask you - did you put the glue in the four corners of the mirror or on the little black circles? Or did you put the glue on the camera itself? And did you use tweezers?<br> many thanks<br> yas</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now