GoPro Hero4 Silver Lens Replacement
Introduction
Go to step 1In this guide we will be showing you how to replace the camera lens in your GoPro Hero4 Silver. The lens focuses the light before it reaches the camera sensor. Before you begin make sure the battery is removed from the device and that you have the necessary tools to preform this repair.
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Start by removing the silver plastic face from the camera using a plastic opening tool. Insert the plastic opening tool into the middle of each edge and lift up the tabs that keep the camera face on.
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The seven plastic tab locations are marked in red.
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Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws on each corner of the camera.
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Remove the single 4 mm Phillips #000 screw on the bottom left corner of the camera.
The screw heads are Philips #0 on my Hero 4 (and not #000 as described in the instructions).
Definitely a 000
Just want to point out that the screw in the top left corner is slightly placed beneath the LCD. Use caution when trying to unscrew.
Mine was as well, I’m glad I’m not the only one
and &&^&^$^ instructions waste my money
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To remove the motherboard assembly from the camera casing, use the plastic opening tool on the lens side of the camera to pry the motherboard assembly out of the camera housing.
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To avoid breaking the plastic on the lens side of the camera (see photo), pry along the edges near the corners.
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To remove the sensor assembly, simply peel off the lens towards the attached ribbon cable.
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The sensor has ribbon cables running to the motherboard via a black rectangular connector.
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To remove the sensor, use the spudger to pry up each side, Then, lift the connector straight up from its socket.
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With the old camera sensor assembly removed, you can now replace it with a new sensor.
The thin copper tabs, visible on the far right screen of STEP 5, have pulled out (as it did with mine). How do you get these back in? They are very thin and when the 2 halves of the camera are put close together, there is no room to access this, or get leverage to force them back in the slots they came out of.
did you guys figure it out on how to put it together?
gens909 -
Same thing happened to me. Nightmare to put back in. The ribbon connectors are for the rear lcd and I think the side button. To re attach the cable you basically need to remove the motherboard from the front piece to get to the tabs where the ribbons go into. There is very little cable length to attach it and it comes off very easily while trying to re assemble.
@ keith
looks like you can't. Mine did the same thing and I think it's now trash. I should have just used the procedure to unscrew the lens without taking the camera apart.
I either damaged something or dislodged something because the colors on the LCD screen are washed out and the image is not clear, almost pixelated. The camera itself works and the image taken appears to fine. I'll live with it like this.
I bought the image sensor form ifixit, replaced it, and... 3/4 secs after turning the GoPro on, it still freezes :(. Now I do not even see the image in the display anymore -_-'
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Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the Hero port to the motherboard.
The screw under the lense is unable to be removed as it hit the lense.
I went to step 9 and once the lense was seperated from the motherboard I had plenty of room.
I removed the screw in the top middle of the picture so the mother board would come loose. I then gently pried the motherboard up off the black plastic of the lens plate and the assembly moved enough that the third screw of the port assembly could finally be removed. When going back together, hook the port assembly cable up before screwing it down with the three screws. Its a bit easier.
I did this too, much easier
Thanks Rich. That's what worked for me.
WARNING: I almost broke my camera following this step. If you are following these instructions in order to replace your lens, stop now. These instructions are incomplete, and misleading; you don't need to remove this piece in order to complete a lens replacement. What you're looking for instead is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxQC_55...
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Tool used on this step:Tweezers$4.99
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Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable from the ZIF connector by flipping up the black retaining flap. You should then be able to pull the cable free.
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Once the ribbon cable is disconnected, you can remove the black plastic bracket which holds the camera lens.
skipped a very important photo seperating the board from the front plastic bracket
Very true...Darren did you figure that part out?
Another Philips screw has to be removed before trying to lift the board from the plastic bracket. It's located on the top of the board, about 10 mm right of the lens casing.
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Pull the camera lens free from the panel.
Just did all this and after reassembly the camera will not power on at all. Tried with two different full charged batteries and with it plugged into a power source. I re opened the camera back up to make sure all the cables were plugged in correctly and they are. Any ideas on what to do?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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USF Tampa, Team 2-1, Blackwell Fall 2015 Member of USF Tampa, Team 2-1, Blackwell Fall 2015
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6 Comments
the 3 copper wires on the far right side came out and now my gopro doesnt work at all.
Mine too, these instructions leave out several crucial steps for making the repair. Step number 7 is not feasible and step number 9 is totally lacking in detail (it doesn't mention the removal of a crucial screw, and doesn't instruct you on how to ACTUALLY make the step). Garbage.... I'm not sure if my camera will ever work again
My 3 ribbon cables popped out too. I can't fathom how I could ever plug them back in.
By the way, they are also un-plugged on the tutorial photos.
I'm almost sure that this hardware went straight to the garbage can afterwards.
This is a great video tutorial for Hero4 lens R/R - very detailed.
ok, so i strongly suggest some edits.
First step 5 through 8 don’t need to be done. Step 4 should include removing the 5th screw in the main circuit board, and then on to step 9. Step 9 should also describe the black release lever to unlock the ribbon cable. then the whole front assembly with the lens will come out.
as for the three ribbon cables attached to the back case (for power and the buttons) if they do come out, while the black panel is detached, you need to pull the tape off, lift the three locking levers and very carefully reseat the ribbon cables, reapply the tape and continue with the reassembly
My ribbon cable popped out but with tweezers I was able to get it back in.
First step should be make sure you remove memory card first. I accidentally left mine and broke it trying to remove the assembly from the case.
Brad Hodgkinson - Reply