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After Hours

Cracking open a digital camera

By Erik Eckel September 19, 2007, 8:00 AM PDT

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Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705

Vivitar ViviCam 3705

ntby Erik Eckel
nt
ntDigital 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.
nt
ntLearn how digital cameras are put together as we disassemble this 3.3 megapixel model.

nn

Cracking open a digital camera

Rear View Of The ViviCam 3705

Rear View Of The ViviCam 3705

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

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705

Vivitar ViviCam 3705

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

Cracking open a digital camera

Side View Of The ViviCam 3705

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Bottom View

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Bottom View

The bottom of the ViviCam 3705 features a tripod mount.

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Top View

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Left Side View

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).

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705 Battery Compartment

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Left Side View

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Inside The ViviCam 3705

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

The ViviCam 3705's Top Shell

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Bottom View

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam 3705: Inside The Bottom Half

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Inside The ViviCam 3705

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam Back Case

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam 3705 Main Circuit Board

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).

Cracking open a digital camera

LCD Closeup

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Side View Of The AU Optronics LCD

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Main Circuit Board Minus The LCD

Main Circuit Board Minus The LCD

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

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam Printed Circuit Board

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Photo Flash Capacitor

Photo Flash Capacitor

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

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam Photo Flash Assembly

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

Removing The Battery Compartment

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

The Battery Assembly

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).

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam Circuit Board

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.

Cracking open a digital camera

ViviCam Battery Assembly

ViviCam Battery Assembly

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

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar Viewfinder Assembly

Vivitar Viewfinder Assembly

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

Cracking open a digital camera

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Disassembled

Vivitar ViviCam 3705: Disassembled

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

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By Erik Eckel
Erik Eckel is a managing partner at Louisville Geek and president of Eckel Media Corp. He previously served as Executive Editor at CNET Networks' TechRepublic. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Louisville and received
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