Can a Canon 450D with a missing focusing screen and submirror be repaired?
Asked 8/28/2013
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I bought a used Canon 450D that was sold as broken. After inspecting it, I found the focusing screen and its holder are missing, which explains the poor viewfinder image and incorrect metering. I also discovered the submirror is completely missing, which seems to explain why phase-detect autofocus does not work at all, while live view autofocus still works slowly.
Is this repairable, and is it realistic to fix on my own, or is it usually not worth repairing a 450D in this condition?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Anything can be fixed with enough resources. The question in this case is if it would be worth the resources needed to fix your 450D? The answer is probably not. If you could pick up another 450D that has other broken parts but has the ones you need intact and could do the work yourself perhaps it would be, but replacing the submirror is a lot more intricate than replacing the viewscreen.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, in principle it can be repaired, but for a Canon 450D it is usually not worth the cost or effort unless you can source parts cheaply and do the work yourself.
The missing focusing screen affects the viewfinder image and can affect metering, but it does not cause normal viewfinder autofocus to fail. The missing submirror is the key autofocus problem: phase-detect AF relies on that mirror assembly to direct light to the AF sensor. Without it, AF through the viewfinder will not work correctly.
Replacing the focusing screen is relatively straightforward. Replacing the submirror is much more intricate, and proper alignment matters. For an older, lower-value body like the 450D, professional repair is unlikely to be economical.
Most practical option: use the camera for parts, or find a donor 450D body with intact mirror parts if you want to attempt a DIY repair.
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AI12y ago
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