Disassembling a Canon A410 digital camera.

1. About the Fasteners More than one size/style of screw is used in the camera assembly. Fortunately each of the main assemblies uses only one type and length of screw which makes things simpler, but it is important to keep the screws for each assembly separated. A pill organizer is an easy way to do it.

2. Remove the rear casing. Remove the 5 screws. 3 are on the bottom of the case and one on either end (the right hand end screw is underneath the data connector cover.

Once the screws are removed the cover can be withdrawn, but note that 2 flat cables are attached from the main circuit board to the LCD screen. Once the cover is removed discharge the flash capacitor, which can give you a fairly substantial electric shock if you inadvertently touch it. The LCD data cable (the wider one) can be disconnected from the circuit board by gently levering up the connector, using a small flat screwdriver tip between the circuit board and the brown contact clamp, and then withdrawing the cable from the connector. The LCD power cable must be unsoldered from the circuit board. There are 3 connections that need to be unsoldered. You will need a soldering iron with a fine tip and a steady hand. If a de-soldering pump is used to remove most of the solder, the cable should be easy to remove once it has been disengaged from the 2 lugs/pins that are used to position and provide strain relief for the cable (see picture).

3. Remove the main circuit board. The lens drive cable (the wider one) can be disconnected from the circuit board by gently levering up the connector as shown, and withdrawing the cable from the connector. The CCD cable (the narrower one) uses a different style of connector. For this one gently pry each end of the fastener using the tip of a fine flat screwdriver, and then withdraw the cable from the connector. Unsolder the 2 wires for the date battery.

Remove the 2 screws that attach the circuit board to the chassis. Withdraw the flat cable from the Main PCB using needle nose pliers and then remove the screw that retains the power and shutter switches PCB.

Remove the screw from the flash housing. The circuit board can now be removed along with the flash unit, and the battery terminals. The right hand edge of the circuit board is held in place by the chassis. Great care is needed to ensure you do not damage the lever of the switch engaged by the battery compartment cover.

Once the circuit board is clear, disengage the 2 battery leads, noting how they are routed for later reassembly, and then remove the battery terminals, by prying them over the locating lugs.

4. Remove the front casing. The front casing can be slid off the chassis.

5. Remove the Lens Assembly Undo the 3 screws that hold the lens assembly to the chassis.

6. Remove the Viewfinder Unclip the flat cable from the 2 lugs that locate the indicator LEDs next to the viewfinder. Remove the 2 screws that retain the viewfinder and remove it.

7. Remove the lens outer casing Remove the 4 screws that retain the lens casing.

If the lens is oriented upwards when the casing is removed, the 4 drive cogs should remain in position which will allow the assembled cog configuration to be noted.

8. Reassembly Notes Reassembly is largely a reversal of the disassembly process with the following exceptions. The pictures below show the correct reassembly of the lens gears.

Once the four gears are in place the lens outer casing can be installed, but make sure the small motor cable is correctly positioned as shown in the picture below:

The viewfinder must be properly registered with the lens barrel. There are two lenses in the viewfinder that have pins that need to be registered in the lens barrel grooves. To do this the metal cover of the viewfinder must be removed by unclipping the 3 spring clips that hold it in position.

The two lenses are connected by a spring. It is best to keep them separated by a tool during reassembly. It can be simply fabricated from light cardboard, about 10mm wide. With the lenses separated by the tool and the front lens all the way forward reposition the viewfinder assembly on the lens barrel and then insert the two screws. This should be done with the camera lens in the fully retracted position. If the viewfinder is tilted during this operation the prism may fall out, but it can easily be relocated. Check the viewfinder by looking through it to make sure it is correctly focused, before replacing the spring metal cover.

The pictures below show how the battery wiring is routed.