Broken pins - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/01/2003 11:21:41 PM · #1

Thread also known as: NEVER let your girlfriend near your camera!

EOS 10D, compact flash card put in the wrong way, a little harder than one should (she swears there was no hammer involved!).

Three or four pins where the card slots in got bent. Two very minor, seemed to straighten back ok. The wother two, one in the middle, one at one end, snapped off completely.

Everything seems to still work fine, have taken a bunch of test shots, messed around with camera settings etc. I am assuming that any camera processing takes place before the pic reaches the card, although even with messing around with those I can not see a problem.

Obviously I want to get it fixed, but a) I bet it is going to cost an arm and a leg and b) I don't want to lose the camera for weeks with Canon. Also, everything actually seems to be 100%.

Does anyone know for certain if all the pins are used, or it is possible that the two missing pins may be redundant, as you get in many electronic items ... though I have no idea about compact flash.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

11/01/2003 11:27:42 PM · #2

Dude.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/01/2003 11:28:40 PM · #3

Here is the pinout for the CF card. you can see that there are some pins that are certainly not necessary for proper functionality. Since you know which pins are missing, compare them with the table and then decide if it's worth getting it fixed.
BTW, I certainly agree, it is likely to cost $$.

Hope this is a help.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/01/2003 11:45:19 PM · #4

Great link there Kirbic, thanks.

Assuming I am looking in the right way ... as in I am looking INTO the card ... However, it is not clear from that diagram which way the card faces.

Looking into the little holes, with the good looking cover on the top (as in the logo etc), I have pin one botton left.

I have either lost:

Pin 13: VCC
Pin 25: !CD2

or if I am looking at it the wrong way up:

Pin 38: VCC (again)
Pin 26: !CD1

I am not much the wiser though really *laugh* Other than a little reassured at least that not all pins are used.

cvt_

Canon EOS-20D

11/02/2003 12:09:33 AM · #5

theres several power source, it should be ok unless its a power-munching model, then you may damage the camera by causing too much current to go through some tracks, but I don;t know how "overdesigned" they are, it may be fine.

the !CD2/!CD1 .... no idea.

bad luck man, hurts when that happens eh :(

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/02/2003 12:16:38 AM · #6

Well, natator, you appear to be one lucky Hombre. the designation "Vcc" means that this is the supply voltage, and as you've seen, it is duplicated. This is prolly partly for redundancy, but very likely also to increase the current carrying capability.
I have no idea what the !CD1&2 lines are. In either case neither one is crucial for 16-bit IDE operation which is the mode the camera uses to talk to the card. Your results (operation seems OK) seem to confirm this.
The only thing I'd be worried about is that you have certainly lost half your current capacity (like going from a 20-amp fuse to 10-amp). I don't really think this will have a great effect, but of course that's pure conjecture!

sleekr

Minolta DiMAGE A1

11/02/2003 12:34:04 AM · #7

Hiya Simon

You can download the specs for the CF cards from Compact Flash Association with a quick registration.

I just checked it out... yes, pin 1 is bottom left looking into the card with logo on top. So, you've lost 13 and 25.

Pins 25 & 26 are 'detect', grounds - "These Card Detect pins are connected to ground on the CompactFlash Storage Card or CF+ Card. They are used by the host to determine that the CompactFlash Storage Card or CF+ Card is fully inserted into its socket." So, as long as you've got one, I think you're fine.

Pins 13 & 38 are power, "+5 V, +3.3 V power." Not sure if this is 'either/or' or 'respectively'. If 'respectively', then you've lost the +5V power - but the Canon uses the +3.3V, I think. So again, I think you're fine.

Lucky you (in some ways, I suppose).

11/02/2003 12:49:48 AM · #8

Thanks for all the GREat info here folks.

I've just run a heap more tests and all does seem ok.

I think I'll watch everything very closely indeed for a while, look for even the smallest abnormality, and if all continues to be ok I'll leave things as they are, as I really don't want to fork out potentially a heap of cash and lose the camera for weeks.

I guess the repair cost would depend on if the whatsit with the pins is a permanent part of anything expensive, like the ccd *shudder* or a cheap whatsit that they attach to the main parts, which I think it more likely. Not going to be cheap no matter what the option.

Moral of this sad tale is, and this goes along with her wiping out the contents of my PDA 2 weeks ago .... pick your favorite:

1) Don't ever never ever ever never let your girlfriend near your camera

2) Become gay so you never ever ever never have a girlfriend

3) Don't ever never ever ever never let your girlfriend near your camera

jmritz

Fujifilm X30

Custom Made Pinhole

11/02/2003 12:52:02 AM · #9

Or you could forgive her?:)

11/02/2003 12:54:34 AM · #10

*laugh* That seems a little extreme to me jmritz

jmritz

Fujifilm X30

Custom Made Pinhole

11/02/2003 12:55:38 AM · #11

OK I understand.:)