I have an Elan2 body with a broken film compartment latch (of all things!). The slide/release portion (small plastic piece) broke and now will not secure the door. I can get to the part through a couple of screws on the side, but don't know where to get spare parts or details on how to replace the part. Any ideas?

-- Chris Rake (car@technologist.com), November 01, 2001

Answers

I can't help you on those parts , but if you can't find the parts a fix may be to get the accessory battery holder. I believe that is a BP-50 it holds AA cells or the 2cr5 . Works as a vertical grip with its own shutter button . The origional battery door stays open with this accessory .

-- Dennis Connell (dmconnell@charter.net), November 02, 2001.

The battery grip won't help with a broken back door latch - only a broken battery cover. That's something I've been concerned about myself with my Canon cameras - the latch is made of plastic and not metal. I'm not surprised to hear that yours broke - must be frustrating.

For that reason I close the camera back with the latch open, then slide the latch back once the back is shut, thereby minimizing the strain on the latch itself, particularly in cold weather when plastic becomes more brittle. Dunno if it'll help, but I figure it can't hurt.

Anyway. Have you phoned Canon or any local repair shops for an estimate? In my experience they won't sell you components to fix the problem yourself. I suppose it's conceivable a small local camera repair shop might if they happen to have the piece available - perhaps on an old body that's no longer economically repairable.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), November 02, 2001.

Canon USA sells parts to anybody. I don't have the phone number handy, but they do take credit card payments & ship right away.

I'd order a battery door, a viewfinder cushion piece, the little cover for the remote port and anything else you think you might need while you're at it, the shipping is likely to be more than the part cost

Looks to me like the Elan II latch parts come off about the same way as most of the other Canon mid range bodies. Just remove the two screws on the left cover. It's spring loaded, so pull it apart slowly and watch that the latch doesn't fly off somewhere. This is a real easy job. Replacing the flimsy battery door is a bit more tricky though.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 04, 2001.

>Canon USA sells parts to anybody.

Cool. Glad I was misinformed!

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), November 06, 2001.