TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Can anyone suggest a source for Canon repair other than the factory? My son's 7D recently displayed a "no card found" message. On inspection, pins 1 & 50 of the CF card connector were bent (these are the 2 ground pins). I've attempted to straighten them without success. Canon has quoted $445 in addition to the $70 evaluation fee, essentially making the camera worthless as used 7Ds are selling in the $650-$700 range locally.

As an aside, this must be a fairly common problem. Upon inspection, I found that my own 7D has a bent pin 1 as well - fortunately, the other ground pin is still intact. Since discovering that, I've stopped removing the CF card to download images as I've previously been very careful in re-inserting the card yet still managed to bend a pin - there appears to be enough "slop" in the carrier to allow misalignment even with careful insertion. BTW these are Lexar professional CF cards so I wouldn't think out-of-tolerance receptacles would be the culprit.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Canon's quote seems quite high for what shouldn't be all that big deal to repair.

Since you are on the East Coast, I'd recommend a call to KEH in Atlanta, to see if they can fix it at a more reasonable cost. If you'd prefer more local service, call a few established professional photographers in your area and see who they recommend. Most pros have a reliable, local repair person lined up for emergencies. So long as the parts are available, Canon will sell any needed parts to anyone... whether it be an authorized repair facility, an independent repairer or even a private party who wants to try to do their own repair. (BTW, Nikon doesn't. They restrict sale of many parts to only a short list of authorized repairers.)

Factory repair facilities typically will just replace parts and modular assemblies with new (as long as supplies last, after a camera model is discontinued). Sometimes local and independent repairers can effect a repair at much lower cost, because they will actually repair, rather than just replace. For example, the Canon 20D through 50D are prone to the shutter release button getting dirty with finger oils, dust, etc., over time with normal use. Eventually it causes shutter release delays and even to fail to release at all. It's actually a relatively easy fix that usually just needs a cleaning. But if you send the camera in for factory service, they'll replace the entire shutter release switch assembly with new... at considerably higher cost. In your case, the local repairer might have a used card socket on hand, taken from a donor camera. Or they might even be able to more properly straighten the pin... Or maybe they can replace only the pin itself, within the socket.

Sorry you've had the problem. While it does happen, I wouldn't call it at all common. I've shot with two 7Ds for five years and have swapped memory cards in and out of them literally hundreds of times without any problem at all (knock on wood). While I use reasonable care, sometimes I'm scrambling to make a quick change. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never had a card socket problem with any other DSLRs either, using some 7 or 8 different models (all w/CF memory, which I prefer) over the past 10+ years to shoot between 25,000 and 50,000 images a year.

And, I'll continue to swap out my cards. Actually I'd be much more concerned about using the mini-USB socket a lot to download images. That socket also can and does get damaged. And, in most DSLRs the USB socket is an integral part of the main board of the camera, so would be significantly more complex and expensive to replace, if ever needed. In nearly all cases the memory card socket is a separate module that's more easily replaced, so should cost a lot less both for labor and parts. So, I'll continue to swap out my CF memory cards as needed... and hope for the best.

All that said, you're a little bit lucky if the cameras still turn on and are functional, aside from the bent pin in the card socket. I've seen instances where a bent pin caused a short that fried more of the circuitry of the camera, most likely turning them into an expensive paperweight.

Any chance that the same card was used in both cameras? You might want to inspect all your cards very closely, after seeing this happen with two cameras. It might be that the card was damaged too, at the same time the first camera's socket pin got bent. Then later using that card in the other camera damaged it too. Or, it might be that damage to a card outside the camera caused the damage to both cameras. I haven't had it happen to me, but have seen examples of damaged cards, with the corresponding pin holes misshapened or partly blocked, cards with broken-off pins stuck in the holes, etc. Hard to say which came first... damage to the card or damage to the camera. But two cameras with the same type of damage, I'd suspect at least one of the cards being used might be bad and the cause of the damage.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Good luck with that. There is a guy here that is a repair man but he's been in bad health of late. He could probably do it for half the price Canon suggests, but that's probably still too much. Actually, used 7D's are selling for less that what you think. Check Craigslist. I sold mine for $450. They aren't worth much now since the mark II has entered the playing field. As far as bent pins, wow!, that is really unlucky of you to have 2 cameras with damaged pins. Perhaps your son plucked your card and installed a card in your camera once or twice damaging the pin? I've been using Canon cameras for 5 years now and not once have I damaged a pin. I take that back, I damaged a pin in my computer card reader once. I know why too. I was getting hasty and inserted the card way too quickly without really being careful. Also, the card slot is low and I was too lazy to bend over to see what I was doing so I was doing it by feel and got a little frustrated when I couldn't find the slot.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Its a very common problem with many Canon models taking CF cards. The price quoted is quite high as I just had a customers 5D MkIII repaired at Canon for $240, and that is the dual card reader. The last 60D and 7D models needing the same repair were both just under $200.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've had several repaired by Canon and it was always just above $200. ( I work at a university where we have 12 loaner Canon camera kits)

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I just dug out my invoices and the 60D was $192, the 7D was $196 (Both in August this year). Maybe I am getting a commercial discount, but the invoices do not reflect that.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thank you James for the thoughtful and thorough reply. Actually we did not use the same CF card in both cameras although that would be my first thought as well. When my son showed me his, pin 1 was bent flat, and I couldn't tell if it was bent or was actually an intended bridge, so I looked in mine to check and was amazed to see my pin 1 bent flat as well. Assuming the pins are originally properly aligned, it's hard for me to see how 49 pins could line up and one pin not align correctly. I'm not sure if it wasn't misaligned from the factory and bent during the first card insertion. You're correct that it was luckily a ground pin (there are 2 ground pins on the connector) and that it bent away from the other pins!

Although I was able to straighten the pin, I wasn't able to align it perfectly without disassembling the body which I was and am reluctant to do. The connector is available, and while I'm a skilled elec tech, I have zero camera experience and fine-pitch soldering is difficult, even under a scope, so I suggested he return it to Canon, never guessing it would be so expensive. Judging from the # of YouTube videos and threads on the subject, it must be relatively common although I, like you have never bent a CF pin before in many hundreds/thousands of insertions.

Good advice on the mini USB connector - I hadn't thought of that. Maybe the E5 wireless grip is the answer. I've tried the Eyefi card, but the performance on raw files was too slow for me although I know many people (including my son) who love them.

Again, thanks for the detailed advice.

Cheers,
Chris

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions and comparison Canon pricing - We'll have a further conversation with Canon support to understand the pricing (and I'll be even more careful with CF card insertions in the future!).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Another reason why I don't like cameras that use CF cards. Besides, I don't want to have to stock two kinds of memory cards.

Whatever decision you make, get a good quality, large capacity card, and leave it in the camera. Use a cable to upload photos. You can also get an SD/CF adapter and use the new Eye-Fi Mobi

idrabefi Loc: Michigan

I originally purchased a card reader to download images from the CF card of my 7D. I immediately noticed the potential to bend pins and tossed the card reader. Instead, I use the USB connector. I'm not a pro and typically don't shoot more than 500 images per outing. My large CF card handles this without issue, and I shoot raw and large jpeg. When I do max out the card, I "gingerly" swap cards. Just my $0.02.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

This may require replacing the entire CF card assembly in the camera. Most times, the individual pins can be replaced without a problem. The 7D, however, has a very thin, three layered circuit board the pins are soldered onto. It's not all that expensive and the repair runs about $125.

Hi. My name is Rick. I’m the owner and lead technician at Discount Camera Repair and a member in good standing here at the UHH. I’ve been doing repairs for other members here at greatly discounted rates and would be glad to help.

I'd be more than happy to repair the cameras for you and keep the cost as low as possible. If you’re interested, please respond by private message or simply reply to this post.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

If you can get the pins straight enough to insert a CF card, suggest purchasing a CF to SD converter so you can leave the CF card in camera. Removing the SD card works as it does on most cameras, push it in and it will pop out enough to grab and remove only the SD card. I have straightened pins using a jewelers pick. It does take some patience.
BTW - Rick does have a good rep on this site for repairs.

FloydP Loc: Arvada, CO

For your consideration: Use a CF to SD adapter so you need not be inserting and removing the CF card

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Just a note to all of you proposing the use of an SD to CF card adapter to the OP, please be aware that the SD card inserts into the SIDE of the adapter and CANNOT be accessed without removing the adapter from the camera. Not much help when the idea is to prevent doing just that.
An alternative might be a CF to MICRO SD card adapter, these adapters allow the use of one OR two Micro SD Cards in the CF adapter and many are accessible with the CF Adapter remaining in place in the camera, no need to ever remove it.

Dual Micro SD to CF adapter


Standard SD to CF adapter

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Regarding both EyeFi and CF to SD or micro-SD converters... I think both will significantly slow down write speed and camera performance.

I kinda hate or dread those tiny, fingernail-size cards. I can just imagine myself fumbling with them in my stubby fingers... dropping or losing them left and right... or accidentally leaving them in a pocket when clothes go through the laundry!

I much prefer the size of CF cards. I wish someone would make a CF-sized card with an interface that doesn't rely on pins and sockets!