After Hours

Cracking open a digital camera

By · September 26, 2007, 12:33 AM PST · erikeckel

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  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705

    by Erik Eckel

    Digital cameras are everywhere. From family vacations to office functions to holiday celebrations, digital cameras are almost always present. Just what makes these devices work? Learn how a digital camera is put together as we disassemble a common Vivitar model.

    Learn how digital cameras are put together as we disassemble this 3.3 megapixel model.

  • Rear View Of The ViviCam 3705

    The Vivitar ViviCam 3705 features a simple set of user user controls, as shown here.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705

    Here's the Vivitar with its lens shield open (revealing the unit's lens and macro/landscape/portrait switch).

  • Side View Of The ViviCam 3705

    The ViviCam's 3705 right side (when viewed from the back) features a door allowing access to the unit's battery.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Bottom View

    The bottom of the ViviCam 3705 features a tripod mount.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Top View

    The ViviCam's top is very straightforward and simple. All that's found on the camera's topside is the shutter release button.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Left Side View

    The ViviCam's left side holds the mount for the camera strap. Also found on the unit's lefthand side are power and USB ports (covered by the protective door shown here).

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705 Battery Compartment

    In addition to possessing the port for the camera's secure digital memory card, the battery compartment holds the two AA batteries required to power the camera and its integrated flash.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Left Side View

    The Vivitar ViviCam 3705, minus the protective door that covers the DC and USB ports.

    Also seen in this view are two Philips head screws. Some eight to ten of these screws secure the Vivitar's top and bottom plastic halves.

  • Inside The ViviCam 3705

    Once the Philips head screws that hold the camera casing's two halves together are removed, the top and bottom shells can be separated, as shown here.

  • The ViviCam 3705's Top Shell

    Here's a look inside the Vivitar's top shell. Among other functions, the orange, brown and red wires shown here work with the slidebar selector to power the device and select portrait, landscape or macro modes.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Bottom View

    Disassembling the ViviCam 3705 requires that the two screws holding the tripod mount be removed, as shown in this image.

  • ViviCam 3705: Inside The Bottom Half

    The bottom half shell contains the unit's main circuit board, as well as the electronics that power the camera's flash.

    The large gray plastic piece, meanwhile, is the backside of the battery compartment. At the top right corner is the flash itself.

    The photo flash capacitor, which stores the energy needed to fire the camera's electronic flash, is the black cylinder-like element seen at the bottom left corner.

  • Inside The ViviCam 3705

    Here's a view looking at the top edge of the bottom case. Clearly visible is one of the ViviCam's several printed circuit boards.

  • ViviCam Back Case

    Here's what the ViviCam's back casing looks like once the circuit board and other electronic components (including the one-and-a-half-inch LCD screen) are removed.

  • ViviCam 3705 Main Circuit Board

    The ViviCam's main circuit board holds the device's LCD screen. In this image you can also see the unit's viewfinder (it's positioned toward the top left side).

  • LCD Closeup

    Here's a closer view of the ViviCam's one-and-a-half inch LCD screen. This particular LCD display is manufactured by AU Optronics.

  • Side View Of The AU Optronics LCD

    The AU Optronics LCD screen is very thin, as can be seen here.

    Reaching from the screen's bottom to the right is the ribbon cable that connects the LCD screen to the main circuit board.

  • Main Circuit Board Minus The LCD

    Once the LCD screen is removed from the circuit board, here's what's left in its space.

  • ViviCam Printed Circuit Board

    The ViviCam's printed circuit board contains chips manufactured by Samsung, Sharp and Premier. It's these chips that power the camera's image capture, video setting and other controls.

    Here you can see two of the Samsung chips.

  • Photo Flash Capacitor

    Here's a close up of the ViviCam's photo flash capacitor. This specific model is manufactured by Miwecon.

  • ViviCam Photo Flash Assembly

    The ViviCam's photo flash assembly, including the circuit board, flash and photo flash capacitor, is shown here removed from the camera.

  • Removing The Battery Compartment

    Removing a few additional screws enables separating the battery compartment from the camera's circuit boards. A simple ribbon cable, seen toward the back center in this image, connects the batteries to the rest of the device's electronics.

  • The Battery Assembly

    The battery assembly, shown here, includes metal framing that connects it with the viewfinder (bottom right), as well as the battery door (far left side).

  • ViviCam Circuit Board

    Here's another circuit board used to power the ViviCam 3705. Looking closely, you can make out a small battery on the bottom right, used to power the camera's date and time features.

  • Main Circuit Board

    Here's another view of the main circuit board. The black square to the lefthand side serves to hold the memory card within the camera (and transfer data from the camera's electronics to the flash memory).

  • ViviCam Battery Assembly

    The ViviCam's battery assembly, fully removed from the camera, looks like this.

  • Vivitar Viewfinder Assembly

    The Viewfinder assembly, when removed from the ViviCam, looks like this.

  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Disassembled

    Here are all the components that comprise the Vivitar ViviCam 3705.

Vivitar ViviCam 3705

by Erik Eckel

Digital cameras are everywhere. From family vacations to office functions to holiday celebrations, digital cameras are almost always present. Just what makes these devices work? Learn how a digital camera is put together as we disassemble a common Vivitar model.

Learn how digital cameras are put together as we disassemble this 3.3 megapixel model.

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After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Erik Eckel

Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...