Sony a7 Motherboard Replacement

Geschrieben von: Jeffrey Coleman

Kommentare: 5

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Moderate

Schritte

Zeitaufwand

20 Minuten

Einleitung

This replacement guide will address how to remove a faulty motherboard from a Sony a7 model number ILCE-7 camera. The motherboard fulfills the role of the brain of the camera. It serves as the centralized hub to connecting all other processes inside the camera together. The LCD screen and memory card are examples of other parts that rely on the motherboard. Provided in this replacement guide are the steps needed to properly remove the motherboard.

If the camera fails to boot up in the proper sequence, it is possible that the motherboard has failed. Before beginning the replacement guide, please refer to the troubleshooting page, for helpful information and simple remedies before having to go through the motherboard removal process.

Werkzeuge

Schritt 1

Flip the camera upside down, and observe where the battery door and switch are located on the camera.
This replacement guide is using a cardboard and tape placeholder to simulate the battery, battery door, and switch.

Schritt 2

Slide the switch over to the right side to open the battery door.
This replacement guide is using a cardboard and tape placeholder to simulate the battery, battery door, and switch.

Schritt 3

Depress the blue lever to allow the battery to pop out slightly.
This replacement guide is using a cardboard and tape placeholder to simulate the battery, battery door, and switch.

Schritt 4

Remove the battery from the camera.
Make sure to hold onto the battery firmly when removing it from the camera, as it could slide out and fall.
This replacement guide is using a cardboard and tape placeholder to simulate the battery, battery door, and switch.

Schritt 5

Remove the eyepiece cover by removing the four M1.5x4mm screws with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.
Remove the M1.5x4mm screw that retains the adjustment wheel with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.

Schritt 6

Remove the six M1.5x4mm screws with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.

Schritt 7

Remove one M1.5x4mm screw with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.

Schritt 8

Remove the four M 1.5x2mm screws.

Schritt 9

Once the screws have been removed, unsnap and lift the rear plastic cover off of the camera.

Schritt 10

Using the blunt tweezers, remove the blue ribbon cable.
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

Schritt 11

Place the tweezers on the side of the circuit board and lift it from underneath so as to free it from the three retaining tabs.

Schritt 12

Remove four M1.5x4mm screws using a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.

On my A7 the screw shown first top right was a different thread to the other three, take care to put back in the correct place

David Zhecheva-Hamilton - 23/04/21

Schritt 13

Lift the metal plate and LCD screen away from the camera body.

Schritt 14

Detach the amber ribbon cable from the motherboard.
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

Schritt 15

Peel off the small adhesive tape located on the top right side of the motherboard.

Schritt 16

Remove the exposed ribbon cable by using the iFixit opening tools
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

Schritt 17

Peel off the large black protective adhesive from the motherboard.

Schritt 18

Remove the four visible ribbon cables by using the spudger.
Removing the ribbon cables will require lifting a lever located on the connecter in order to pull out the cable.
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

For SD card slot replacement: Remove the bottom right flex cable. There will be a hole under the cable to access a screw in the battery compartment, which holds on the grip. Remove the screw. Remove the one remaining screw in the corner of the battery compartment. The grip should now come loose. Remove the grip. Remove the two screws holding the SD card board on. Disconnect the small two wire cable from the top of the board. The board should now slide out. Disconnect the flex cable from the old board and connect to the new board for reinstall.

I did this for a Sony A7S and all is working well.

Sam Hudson -

Schritt 19

Remove the one U.FL plug by using the spudger.
Using the spudger, remove the four remaining ribbon cables.
These ribbon cables do not have the requirement to lift a lever on the connector as specified in previous steps.
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

Schritt 20

Remove one M1.5x2mm screw with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.
Remove one coarse threaded 5mm screw with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver.

on my A7 there was three 5mm course thread screws marked orange, two were in the holes at the bottom of the main board

David Zhecheva-Hamilton - 23/04/21

Schritt 21

Lift the motherboard from the camera body.
It helps to pick up the right side of the board first, and then work sequentially down the board. Be sure to gently ease the motherboard from its clips down the remainder of the side.
Exercise extreme caution when removing the motherboard as it can be fragile, and damage to it could mean the camera will become unrecoverable.

Schritt 22

Remove the two visible ribbon cables by using the forceps.
Removing the ribbon cables will require lifting a lever located on the connecter in order to pull out the cable.
For additional guidance and tips on how to properly attach and detach connector cables, please reference iFixit's guide to connector cables here.

The manual identifies the motherboard as sy-1022. It has several surface mount fuses. Did you repair your board by replacing these fuses or swap out the board. A repair tech in the US said that when a board is swapped out and data cannot be recovered from the original board, special software is needed to get the camera operational. Did you run into that issue? Also- did you replace the board's lithium battery?

Robert The -

Abschluss

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Tinte & Feder

Jeffrey Coleman

Mitglied seit: 14/01/20

1226 Reputation

Ein Kommentar

For SD card replacement:

Follow above guide to step 18. Remove the bottom right flex cable. There will be a hole under the cable to access a screw in the battery compartment, which holds on the grip. Remove the screw. Remove the one remaining screw in the corner of the battery compartment. The grip should now come loose. Remove the grip. Remove the two screws holding the SD card board on. Disconnect the small two wire cable from the top of the board. The board should now slide out. Disconnect the flex cable from the old board and connect to the new board for reinstall.

I did this for a Sony A7S and all is working well.

Sam Hudson -