Bent CF card pins

[Cal Walters]

I have a Canon Rebel (fortunately not my primary) camera where one of the Compact Flash pins has gotten bent slightly - not sure how. Of course, the card does not go in anymore and I do not want to force it. Is there an easy fix for this or is it destined for the Canon repair facility? :confused:

[Shawn P. Carey]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but CF cards do not have pins. The "pins" are in your camera.

[john crookes]

Cal,

No easy way to fix and if you tried and broke contact internaly the pin would not carry information which may be vital best to send in and be safe

John

[Cal Walters]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but CF cards do not have pins. The "pins" are in your camera.

Yes, the pins are in the camera.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

If you have very small pliers and a steady hand you might try it yourself, otherwise Canon repair might be the better option.

[Ed Cordes]

I agree with Axel. Why not try to gently straighten the pin with very small needle nose pliers. If it breaks or doesn't work you are no worse off than you are now. 85% to 90% chance you will fix it yourself and save time and money.

[John Chardine]

The pins are made of a fairly malleable metal so if it's not bent too much you should be able to bend back. Use either pliers or just a small screwdriver and slowly move it back into place.

[Lance Peters]

The pins are very fragile once bent - nothing much to loose trying yourself - It is not a cheap repair (At least here in OZ - $450 Aus)
Good luck

[Cal Walters]

Well, it was worth a shot but it is off to the factory! Thanks for the advice. Pliers were far too big for the slot - a dental tool at least fit, but however they were bent they seemed to have been knocked loose. Barely touched them, but the slot is so thin it is hard to say when contact was made. Seems it popped off at the base or pulled out of the hole. While this was a donated camera, I have found these pins way too easy to bend - I guess part of the reason SD cards started to emerge - plus size.

[arash_hazeghi]

Try sharp tweezers like these, you also need a bright LED flashlight to see what you are doing. It is the first time I hear pins have came off, these are usually very tough gold-plated pins but looks like Canon has cut some corners in the Rebel :D

[Daniel Belasco]

Simple!
Buy a pin straightner. They sell them at computer store--ones that sell a lot of small tools, parts etc.
Since the pins are in the camera you'll have to get one with the spacing the same as on a cf card. You can buy one with proper spacing that's longer than the cf pins and cut the pin straightner to fit.
I worked in electronics for 40 years and we had a whole kit of different sizes for straightening pins on varrious equipment.
dan

[Michael Eckstein]

A tube such as a metal ball point pen ink tube usually works. Once you get the pin nearly straight inserting a CF card slowly can complete th job.

[Brian Grant]

THe ideal tool is a pin straightener but, most folks learn after thefirst time :)

The internal diameter is just about right and the flexibility makes it easy to see and control how much pressure you are putting on the pin.

[Terry Penney]

Had this same problem on a Canon 20D.
Used tweasers & a cocktail stick - very carefully - & fixed the problem.
Still using it several years later.