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Would a fool like me be able to disassemble and clean this Powershot 130's lens without breaking it?

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Panino Manino

Panino Manino

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Got myself an old cheap Powershot SX130 IS, and due to the age and price it has this little problem. I still need to see how much it affects IQ, but eventually I would like to have the lens cleaned and use it's full potential.

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Did some quick searches but didn't found anywhere obvious that explains how and have a manual explaining how to do this. Maybe it's something that should be done by "professionals"? Problem is where I live, I'm sure there's none. So if I don't do it myself it'll remain dirty like this.
 
Based on how you worded your question "Would a fool like me..." I would say no. ;-)
Panino Manino said:
... I still need to see how much it affects IQ, but eventually I would like to have the lens cleaned and use it's full potential. ...
Click to expand...
From your pics looks like camera well used (abused). To have camera cleaned by camera repair shop probably cost more than the camera is worth. My general rule for older cameras is if the repair cost is 50% or more than the camera is worth I won't repair. SX130 IS announced 2010—15 years old. Uses the older CCD type sensor.

I still have my SX130 IS, though seldom use. Image quality 'can' be good "IF" one takes the time to post process the images.
Panino Manino said:
... Did some quick searches but didn't found anywhere obvious that explains how and have a manual explaining how to do this. ...
Click to expand...
Some of the online searches I did:
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS Repair HERE
Take a look at the "ifixit Canon PowerShot SX150 IS Repair" HERE .
(SX150 just the SX13 w/ 14MP sensor)

At YouTube there are many videos on how to remove dust from a lens of a "fixed-lens" camera; e.g., IMO one of the better videos HERE .
Panino Manino said:
... Maybe it's something that should be done by "professionals"? ...
Click to expand...
Especially if one has no knowledge/ experience with repairing a fixed-lens camera.
Panino Manino said:
... Problem is where I live, I'm sure there's none. So if I don't do it myself it'll remain dirty13 like this. ...
Click to expand...
Serious consideration/ research that should had been done prior to buying any well used camera. ;-)
 
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Jon_T said:
Serious consideration/ research that should had been done prior to buying any well used camera. ;-)
Click to expand...
First time, was REALLY cheap and was the only one with "decent zoom".

Maybe I'll resell it and try to switch to another one if one does appear equally cheap.

Meanwhile...



















Super hard to photograph these things with this amount of reach. I still can't get close enough just wandering there casually.
 

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Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Serious consideration/ research that should had been done prior to buying any well used camera. ;-)
Click to expand...
First time, was REALLY cheap and was the only one with "decent zoom".

Maybe I'll resell it and try to switch to another one if one does appear equally cheap....
Click to expand...
Do not know how much you know about digital photography/ experience, or what image quality is "descent" for how you use your images.

Just a note that small sensors have a narrow exposure latitude, and with bright highlights will need to experiment with use -1/3 to -2/3 exposure adjustment.

Best results with post processing images to adjust the highlights/ shadows to your preferences.

Posting some of your images only as simple examples of what you can do.
Panino Manino said:
Meanwhile...

Click to expand...
89d0203a1bee42978b84c1020f503a2d.jpg


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The SX130 IS telephoto has a 35mm (full frame) "equivalent focal length" of 336mm.

Basically with 35mm camera 50mm around the same field of view as your eyes. Hence the SX130 IS at full tele will provide around 6.72x (336/50) magnification.

Just to give you a rough idea the 35mm EFL you may want buying your next camera.
 
Jon_T said:
Just a note that small sensors have a narrow exposure latitude, and with bright highlights will need to experiment with use -1/3 to -2/3 exposure adjustment.

Best results with post processing images to adjust the highlights/ shadows to your preferences.

Posting some of your images only as simple examples of what you can do.
Click to expand...
"Post processing is lying!"

I was testing, trying to understand how the camera works and what results it can give, so I uploaded "straight from the camera".

I already realized that just adding a bit of contrast can improved the quality a lot. Sometimes I do this with the photos from my phone (this very week I tweaked the GCAM I have installed because it allows me to increase "dehaze" and "minimum contrast", it does half the job automatically).
Jon_T said:
The SX130 IS telephoto has a 35mm (full frame) "equivalent focal length" of 336mm.

Basically with 35mm camera 50mm around the same field of view as your eyes. Hence the SX130 IS at full tele will provide around 6.72x (336/50) magnification.

Just to give you a rough idea the 35mm EFL you may want buying your next camera.
Click to expand...
Now this is something useful to remember.
In practice the actual "zoom" is about half as "advertised".
Actual 12x would be around 600mm.
 
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Just a note that small sensors have a narrow exposure latitude, and with bright highlights will need to experiment with use -1/3 to -2/3 exposure adjustment.

Best results with post processing images to adjust the highlights/ shadows to your preferences.

Posting some of your images only as simple examples of what you can do.
Click to expand...
"Post processing is lying!" ...
Click to expand...
That's a personal subjective perspective. :-P

Take pics of the same scene with different cameras and the results will vary depending on 'each' camera's metering of the scene and camera's internal "post processing".

As I previously posted the small 1/2.3" sensors have a narrow dynamic range; hence with daytime shots highlights will be overexposed and shadows will be underexposed; like your images.
... I was testing said:
Jon_T, post: 68252632, member: 1786834"]
The SX130 IS telephoto has a 35mm (full frame) "equivalent focal length" of 336mm.

Basically with 35mm camera 50mm around the same field of view as your eyes. Hence the SX130 IS at full tele will provide around 6.72x (336/50) magnification.

Just to give you a rough idea the 35mm EFL you may want buying your next camera.
Click to expand...
... Now this is something useful to remember.
In practice the actual "zoom" is about half as "advertised". ...
Click to expand...
Huh? Half of what?

Apparently you may not know how the "35mm Equivalent Focal Length" calculated and is just a "reference" value. The "35mm Equivalent Focal Length"will vary with a camera's sensor size.
Panino Manino said:
... Actual 12x would be around 600mm. ...
Click to expand...
By itself that statement is meaningless.

The "12x Optical Zoom" on the the SX130 is the lens "Zoom Range" from the lens WA focal length to the Tele focal length (5.0 - 60.0mm). It's NOT a multiplication factor as with binoculars, telescopes.

The 28-85mm, 70-210mm, and 100-300mm all have a 3x 'zoom range'.

FWIW I've been using film and digital cameras for over 50 years. ;-)

[/QUOTE]
 
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Panino Manino said:
Meant 12x in reference to the human vision.
Click to expand...
Not really, already posted that on a 35mm (Full Frame) camera the 50mm lens is close to the FOV of human eyes.

"... Basically with 35mm camera 50mm around the same field of view as your eyes. Hence the SX130 IS at full tele will provide around 6.72x (336/50) magnification. ..."

Basically that's why camera mfgs provide a smaller sensor camera's "35mm Equivalent Focal Length" to provide a common comparison with different size sensors.

Unfortunately the SX130 IS does not provide the 35mm EFL in its image's EXIF Data like other cameras do.

EXIF Data from Panasonic FZ200 :

d6c509fae22e44e7b8bb66171a76e6b7.jpg

FZ200 has the 1/2.3" sensor. At full tele the lens optical focal length is 108mm; 35mm EFL is 600mm using the native 4:3 aspect ratio, As previously note the 35mm EFL is for "reference" and will vary between sensor's size/ aspect ratio and method used in calculation of the EFL.

The FZ200 lens has a '24x Zoom Range':
35mm EFL 25-600mm.
Lens optical focal zoom range is 4.5-108mm.
 
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Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Serious consideration/ research that should had been done prior to buying any well used camera. ;-)
Click to expand...
First time, was REALLY cheap and was the only one with "decent zoom".

Maybe I'll resell it and try to switch to another one if one does appear equally cheap.

Meanwhile...



Super hard to photograph these things with this amount of reach. I still can't get close enough just wandering there casually.
Click to expand...
Not sure the various bits of dust entrained into the lens will cause significant visual effect, but that big dust bunny on the sensor (upper right corner) isn't going away. I have no idea if that can be removed (is the sensor accessible?). Makes no sense to take the lens apart for cleaning if you can't clean the sensor as well. I'd use the camera as is and simply clone out the dust spot as needed (shows up in the low contrast cloud shot but is lost in the detail of the foliage of the other shots). As you say, got it very cheap so I wouldn't break a sweat.

Nick
 
This camera have is limitations and shortcomings, of course, but I'm trying to learn how to use it best and the fungus turned out to not be a problem. Depending on the Sun's position is very visible in the center, but 90% of the times is invisible.


wish all birds were as carefree as this one species that doesn't care about getting close


because my phone actually have a considerable bigger sensor it can't make me as satisfied as the camera can in this scene because of it's much deeper focus.


my phone is surprisingly good at even 2x, but I'm glad that now I can get photos like this that are impossible with my phone



My biggest problem is thinking fast enough which are the best settings for the moment before the scene changes and I miss the shot (when hunting birds). This and the mediocre rechargeable batteries I'm using that don't last at all and forces me to decrease screen brightness making impossible to see what I'm actually photographing.
 

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Panino Manino said:
This camera have is limitations and shortcomings, of course....
Click to expand...
Which phone?

The SX130's CCD sensor technology is "ancient'" compared to sensors being used in current cameras and smartphones.

Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.

Apples to oranges comparison.

Which batteries ate you using? The Energizer Rechargeable NiMH batteries work well my SX130 IS, and other older cameras that use AA batteries.
 
Jon_T said:
Panino Manino said:
This camera have is limitations and shortcomings, of course....
Click to expand...
Which phone?

The SX130's CCD sensor technology is "ancient'" compared to sensors being used in current cameras and smartphones.

Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
Not if you use HedgeCam 2.

Camera on the phone is a 1/1.5" sensor with 24mm lens. When I purchased this phone I had another option with a smaller sensor, I purchased it knowing the shallow DOF would annoy me, but there's no escaping it.

In good like the PowerShot takes very good photos, I'm actually learning how good old cameras actually are while using it and browsing forums where people share photos from "vintage" cameras. Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, I'm really not a "bokeh" guy, I detest it (except on longer focal lengths).
 
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Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Panino Manino said:
This camera have is limitations and shortcomings, of course....
Click to expand...
Which phone?

The SX130's CCD sensor technology is "ancient'" compared to sensors being used in current cameras and smartphones.

Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
... Not if you use HedgeCam 2. ...
Click to expand...
Is that a app? If so then that's your prerogative.
Panino Manino said:
... Camera on the phone is a 1/1.5" sensor with 24mm lens. ...
Click to expand...
That does not tell anyone what smartphone you're using. :-( Does the lens use the entire 1/1.5" sensor surface?

To each his/ her own preferences. I use mainly smartphone as a "phone"; not a camera.
Panino Manino said:
... In good like the PowerShot takes very good photos, I'm actually learning how good old cameras actually are while using it and browsing forums where people share photos from "vintage" cameras. ...
Click to expand...
I've owned/ used a lot the older/ vintage cameras when they were new; since 1999.

My point is one really cannot do a apples-to-apples image quality comparison between an ancient CCD sensor vs. current BSI CMOS sensors.
Panino Manino said:
... Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, ...
Click to expand...
Your fancy smartphone does not allow to select different apertures/ shutter speeds? If not then its not much of a "camera".
 
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Jon_T said:
... Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, ...

Your fancy smartphone does not allow to select different apertures/ shutter speeds? If not then its not much of a "camera".
Click to expand...
When did I suggested my phone is "fancy"? Is a low end model.
Jon_T said:
Jon_T said:
Jon_T said:
Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
... Not if you use HedgeCam 2. ...
Click to expand...
Is that a app? If so then that's your prerogative.
Click to expand...
Smartphones cameras don't do a lot of "enhancements" per se, is the program that you use to take photos that does. Like I said in other thread while discussing GCAM I think of it like it were lenses.









Most of the time I would prefer less background blur.
 

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Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
... Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, ...

Your fancy smartphone does not allow to select different apertures/ shutter speeds? If not then its not much of a "camera".
Click to expand...
When did I suggested my phone is "fancy"? Is a low end model....
Click to expand...
Precisely why I ask which smartphone you're using. I asked you two simple questions that were apparently beyond your comprehension to provide a simple answer. :-|
Panino Manino said:
Panino Manino said:
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
... Not if you use HedgeCam 2. ...
Click to expand...
Is that a app? If so then that's your prerogative.
Click to expand...
Smartphones cameras don't do a lot of "enhancements" per se, ...
Click to expand...
Majority of the Smasung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Google Pixel smartphones in the USA have had computational image enhancements for "YEARS"!

They've all exceeded the the "AUTO" mode of the low-end P&S cameras for years.

Where are you at?

And ONCE again what smartphone are you using?
 
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Jon_T said:
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
... Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, ...

Your fancy smartphone does not allow to select different apertures/ shutter speeds? If not then its not much of a "camera".
Click to expand...
When did I suggested my phone is "fancy"? Is a low end model....
Click to expand...
Precisely why I ask which smartphone you're using. I asked you two simple questions that were apparently beyond your comprehension to provide a simple answer. :-|
Jon_T said:
Jon_T said:
Jon_T said:
Jon_T said:
Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
... Not if you use HedgeCam 2. ...
Click to expand...
Is that a app? If so then that's your prerogative.
Click to expand...
Smartphones cameras don't do a lot of "enhancements" per se, ...
Click to expand...
Majority of the Smasung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Google Pixel smartphones in the USA have had computational image enhancements for "YEARS"!

They've all exceeded the the "AUTO" mode of the low-end P&S cameras for years.

Where are you at?

And ONCE again what smartphone are you using?
Click to expand...
You also didn't understood what I was trying to say.
What phone it is is irrelevant, IMO. It's a 1/1.5" average to mediocre sensor made by Samsung, under a 24mm lens. The "camera" per se don't do a lot of enhancements, it's the software that uses that camera that does. That's why I mentioned HedgeCam 2 that does little computational photograph and instead uses "traditional" slower methods. That, the software, I can control, the hardware I can't. I can't make the sensor and aperture smaller and I wish I could.
 
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
... Wish my phone had a smaller aperture to get a deeper DOF, ...

Your fancy smartphone does not allow to select different apertures/ shutter speeds? If not then its not much of a "camera".
Click to expand...
  1. When did I suggested my phone is "fancy"? Is a low end model....
Click to expand...
Precisely why I ask which smartphone you're using. I asked you two simple questions that were apparently beyond your comprehension to provide a simple answer. :-|
Panino Manino said:
Panino Manino said:
Panino Manino said:
Jon_T said:
Plus smartphones do a "LOT" of intrnal computational enhancements to their images.
Click to expand...
... Not if you use HedgeCam 2. ...
Click to expand...
Is that a app? If so then that's your prerogative.
Click to expand...
Smartphones cameras don't do a lot of "enhancements" per se, ...
Click to expand...
Majority of the Smasung Galaxy, Apple iPhone, Google Pixel smartphones in the USA have had computational image enhancements for "YEARS"!

They've all exceeded the the "AUTO" mode of the low-end P&S cameras for years.

Where are you at?

And ONCE again what smartphone are you using?
Click to expand...
You also didn't understood what I was trying to say.
What phone it is is irrelevant, IMO. It's a 1/1.5" average to mediocre sensor made by Samsung, under a 24mm lens. The "camera" per se don't do a lot of enhancements,...
Click to expand...
No You posted:
Panino Manino said:
".... Smartphones cameras don't do a lot of "enhancements .."
Click to expand...
That is "smartphones" in general; you did not post specifically to 'your' "smartphone".

Hence the type of smartphone you have then it IS relevant as I'm not aware of any smartphone you're speaking of; nor if I did, I would not buy one.

Sorry I do not have any form of ESP to read anyone's thoughts as to what they meant to post. ;-)
 
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Common, rechargeable AA batteries are practically free today, buy 8 of them and you can literally shoot 300+ images at a time.

The only way you can have a problem is if you bought really low capacity batteries, like the ones used in cordless phones, which have capacities ranging from 300 to 600mah.

PS. No, you cannot disassemble the lens on these cameras, unless you are very skilled and find a way to reverse engineer the assembly process.
 
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Slowly I'm getting faster and making less mistakes.

Biggest hurdle is really not having time to "be patient" and spend an hour waiting for birds or going somewhere else different.
 
Totally understandable—sometimes if you don’t do it yourself, it just won’t get done. It might usually be left to pros, but with the right guide, you can probably handle it. Want me to help you find or walk you through the steps?

tutuapp 9apps
 
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