"Is it worth it?" repair question

[Brian L]

I've got an Olympus EVOLT E-500 that I do happen to like very much, but the pop-up flash has started to give me problems.

More specifically, it's been very weak. Olympus won't sell me the flash assembly (already called and asked), and I must admit I've never replaced a pop-up flash, so my question is in fact three-fold:

a) Is it likely that this is more than the bulb going, i.e. the capacitor?
b) Is it possible for your average-skilled fellow to replace pop-up flashes on D-slrs? I'm perfectly happy to find an otherwise nonfunctional body on ebay and frankenstein a new part in if it can be done.
c) Is it worth the cost to find a local repair shop, or should I consider cutting bait and locating a new body?

Advice much appreciated.

[Rhys]

Quite honestly I'd just buy a real flash. The pop-up flashes are pretty useless.

[r3g]

Quite honestly I'd just buy a real flash. The pop-up flashes are pretty useless.

Second.



buy a hotshoe flash and take your photography to levels your popup flash would never allow.

[Csae]

This could even be cheaper if you go for an older manual flash.

Just be careful about the trigger voltage, some old flashes use a high trigger voltage that could damage your entire camera.

[Brian L]

Actually, I have a decent hotshoe flash. I just find that sometimes I'd almost rather just use the popup.

[Rhys]

To be honest, unless it's still under warranty I'd just leave it alone. Generally my experience of fixing things is that if something fails and is repaired something else will fail shortly after.

[cdifoto]

As convenient as a pop up flash can sometimes be, I would never pay money to repair it. I wouldn't buy a new body just because my pop up quit working or became weak either (they're weak to begin with).

You can get a slightly more powerful pocket-sized external flash for a few dollars if you want the convenience of a small flash. It'll have the added benefit of rising a couple inches above your bigger (but not biggest) lenses, reducing or eliminating lens shadow and/or redeye.

[Mark_48]

Is it truly in need of repair or is it simply not a strong flash to begin with and your slowly finding it's not adequate for the shots you take?
External flash is likely your best solution as all have mentioned.

Excerpt below from a review > http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Olympus-Evolt-E-500-Digital-Camera-Review/Components.htm

"Flash (6.0)
The Evolt E-500's pop-up flash is convenient, but weak. At ISO 100, it's good to about 10 feet at telephoto and about 14 feet at wide angle. Its range increases at higher ISOs, and its power can be adjusted +/- 2 EV in 1/3 increments. The built-in flash and hot shoe are centered over the lens, which is the ideal placement for on-camera flash. A light source directly over the lens casts shadows behind the subject, where they are hidden, whereas a light source placed on either side casts shadows to the side, where they can be distracting. "

[Brian L]

Thanks for the advice, all. I'll just keep on the lookout for a pocket flash.

To be honest, unless it's still under warranty I'd just leave it alone. Generally my experience of fixing things is that if something fails and is repaired something else will fail shortly after.

That does explain why my car exploded after I got the wheels balanced.