Broken flange, m4/3 mount! replaceable??

P

peytons

Member
So my af100 hit the deck with ef24-105+Redrock live lens adapter on the camera.

Since the camera booted up right away, my thoughts turned to the lens, which was also fine, though I am getting it checked.

what wasn't fine was the ef mount in the Redrock adapter, it was buckled.
it took a bit of work to remove the lens, and the adapter needs to be repaired, hopefully just the ef connection plate.

But then removing the adapter from the camera revealed the next problem: the flange on the camera was also bent. Since we needed the camera to shoot, I took the flange off of the body and tried to straighten it. I wasn't expecting much and that's what I got, no dice.

today I took it in for repair to digitron here in Los Angeles.
they said that the flange, that I had removed with 4 screws, was not a replaceable part.
Therefore they would have to replace they while head unit to the tune of $2000+


So after all that, anyone have any ideas where I can find this simple metal piece?
 
I don't own the camera, so I don't know what it looks like exactly, although I have seen some pictures.

But if it is just a simple metal flange you have 2 options, that I can think of.

Option #1, you could try emailing Panasonic and seeing if that is a part that they sell to their parts distributors, and which ones. If not, ask if it is a part you could buy directly from them.

Option #2, you could always see if a local CNC shop could mill you a new one. I am guessing this is probably the route you will end up having to take. It shouldn't cost much. Especially if you provide the blank material, maybe $10 for a piece of 0.5"D x 3"W x 12"L aluminum from onlinemetals.com

6061 aluminum rectangle bar http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=997&step=2&top_cat=60

I can't begin to guess how much the CNC shop would charge, but I can't see it being more than $100.
 
One more thought:

Option #3 - See what panasonic would charge for the same servicing. It's not often, but not unusual, for third party places to charge more than the manufacturer for pro level gear.

I've had Nikon gear serviced by Nikon for less than some other guys. And, for what it's worth, Panasonic's techs in Secaucus are great at what they do, and honest about it when they miss the mark.
 
thanks AF-100 Peeps!

Great suggestions, and those are all on the list for tomorrow.
I did look on ebay for a dead AF, no luck there yet.
The AF Flange Has 4 screws so unless I customise one of the macro tubes thats a miss (but what a great cheap idea!)

Anyone know if the Flange (i keep calling it that) from a GH or other panny M4/3 might work?

thanks again
I'll see what tomorrow brings
 
How about just taking it to a machine shop where they could heat it and bend it back into shape?
 
Perhaps the mount off of an older Panasonic M43 stills camera like a gf1 could be scrounged.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top