DP1 stuck lens problem (I'm intending to DIY it!)

Well, a few weeks back I posted about an auction purchase I'd made of an original DP1. I'd intended to buy a DP1s but the seller had made a mistake on the listing.

Anyway, I kept the camera and was very pleased for somewhere around fifty shots, when the lens came out and stayed out. It is now unfortunately totally unresponsive, and I can hear a little clunking noise when I move it.

Since Sigma have quoted more than the cost (to me) for the repair, I'm considering taking it apart and fixing it at home. I've already found a fair bit of info on the matter on this forum and a couple of other websites. I'm just curious to hear from anyone who actually managed to fix this issue at home, or even from someone who tried and failed.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

One thing I will point out is that assuming I go ahead with my plan I'll be filming the whole process. That should make it harder for me to mess up the reassembly, and also enable me to provide some assistance for anyone else in the same position.

Afterswish:

I would love to do not agree with SigmaTog but unfortunately he is right. The same thing has happened to me in December of 2012 during our vacation at the Island of Madeira when my DP1 stopped working with its lens pulled out. I had 3336 clicks on it.

Repair wasn't easy and worth of the money asked so I ended buying brand new DP1x for $300 (in the USA). I have a little over 500 clicks on it so far and so far I like it very much.

I am pretty sure that you can find a brand new or slightly used one on e-bay in decent price.

If you want to repair it anyway and you are patient and have some skills, you can find a whole procedure on youtube. Just type Sigma DP1 disassembling or something like this.

Good luck anyway.

jack

I had "repaired" many struck-lens compact camera at no cost. Eighty percents are caused by some fine cloth debris, a single grain of sand, etc. that was suck-in in the previous power down.

Sorry that the steps in my blog is in local language. I try my best to translate into English

WARNING : the 'repair' process MAY destroy your camera.

1. Charge the battery to the full.

2. While waiting, use small, clean paintbrush (the real one!! not from photoshop!) to brush out all the debris around the lens barrel. Try looking at the barrell minutely. Magnifying glasses help. Please be .. slow, patient, and carefull. 
IF you have luck, you may find that fiber. Good luck here. Else ....

3. Find helping hand.

Insert battery. With right hand on the body and left on the stuck lens, ask the third hand to power on the camera.

Once you hear the internal motor try to drive the lens barrel out, help pulling the barrel out with gentle force. 
How much force, I don't know. Have to consult the lucky angels around you.
If not success, power down and repeat from step 2 as much as you want.

DP lens has internal focusing mechanism. But to work, the lens barrel must be fully extended. 
GOOD LUCK.

PS: For every owner of non-merrill DP1/2, I suggest you buy HA-21 tube and a filter. Permanently attatch to your DP prevents this misfortune.

Make sure you purchase a replacement for the flex cable in your dp1 since most if not all issues with a stuck lens can be traced back to this broken cable.

the original dp1 was the first of its kind and it was just too cramped inside.

good luck!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-DP1-shutter-flex-cable-/140788061060