Olympus C-725 - Sticky Zoom Control

Once my camera warms up, the zoom control becomes sticky. After moving
this control to the right or left to zoom in or out, it should
immediately move back to the centre position once it's released.
However, it moves back too slowly resulting in the lens continuing to
move. In addition, the shutter button (part of the same control)
sometimes sticks. I assume that something was spilled into the control
at some time. I've removed the screws releasing the control but there
is nothing obviously wrong to the naked eye.

Before I take it in for a costly repair ($120 CDN), is there anything I
can spray in the mechanism that may clear the problem but not harm the
circuitry?

Thanks in advance.

Clark Martin

Clark wrote:
> Once my camera warms up, the zoom control becomes sticky. After moving
> this control to the right or left to zoom in or out, it should
> immediately move back to the centre position once it's released.
> However, it moves back too slowly resulting in the lens continuing to
> move. In addition, the shutter button (part of the same control)
> sometimes sticks. I assume that something was spilled into the control
> at some time. I've removed the screws releasing the control but there
> is nothing obviously wrong to the naked eye.
>
> Before I take it in for a costly repair ($120 CDN), is there anything I
> can spray in the mechanism that may clear the problem but not harm the
> circuitry?
>
> Thanks in advance.

Hi Clark...

If I may, I'd not even consider paying 120 dollars to repair it,
because you could replace it with much better for the same or less.

I think I'd guess that your camera has had a little sip of
something like coke, or else possibly been operated by a
small person with with chocolate-y fingers

Given that both the zoom and shutter portions are sticky, I think were
it mine (I have several c-7** cameras, I'd try cleaning it with
a bit of isopropyl alcohol.

I'd put an older towel on the table, then moisten a q-tip a
little. Holding the camera in portrait position, with the
shutter button at the lowest point, I'd let just a little
of the alcohol work it's way into the space between the
zoom control and the case, while moving the control back
and forth. Camera off, batteries removed, of course. I'd
make sure that the camera position was off-center just a tad,
so that the excess liquid dripped off onto the table. I'd do
this many, many times, until any "run off" was absolutely clear.

Then I'd do the same with the shutter release, over and over,
pressing and releasing the shutter while washing it lightly.

Finally, I'd set it down on a dry part of the towel, shutter down,
and let it sit overnight. With any luck at all you'll find it
fixed, but if not you may still find it better.

If this doesn't help, then before you completely dis-assemble
the camera let me know, and I'll be happy to send you
photos of it apart, and cautions about the flash capacitor
(very dangerous).

Take care.

Ken