Saw a whole row of broken digital compacts at a flea market in Austin

It was at the Barton Creek market, maybe 15 of them all lined up. Every single one had a lens error or a dead screen. The seller said he gets them by the box from a local e-waste place for five bucks each. Makes me think we're hitting the point where fixing these isn't worth it for most people. Anyone have a good source for those tiny ribbon cables, or is it just not worth the hassle?

3 comments

3 Comments

maxm632mo ago

Ever wonder if the ribbon cables are even the main failure point? I bet the flexing from zoom motors kills the boards first.

gavine412mo ago

So you're saying the constant vibration from the motor itself could be cracking solder joints on the main board before the ribbon cable gives out?

the_piper2mo ago

Yeah, that reminds me of the time I found a whole bin of those at a thrift store, all with the same lens stuck out. I opened one up and the ribbon cable looked fine, but the board had a hairline crack right near the motor mount, kind of like what @gavine41 was getting at. Felt like a total waste of time after that.