Minilux & CM
E02/E01 Repair
E02 / E01 Repair
Red Dot Repair is proud to offer E01/ E02 repair services for the Leica Minilux & CM.
Finding a repair shop capable of repairing this issue has been a challenge for many users. Thus, after many inquiries from passionate owners, Red Dot Repair is proud to offer Minilux/CM repairs.
This issue is quite common among cameras with autofocus lenses. Overtime, the flex cable that communicates data between the mainboard and the lens can become brittle. Kinks in the ribbon, coupled with repeated retraction and extension ultimately leads to a break. With a broken connection, the Minilux will display the dreaded "E02" on the top LCD.
Email us at service@reddotrepair.com or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
The E02. Explained.
In the case of the Minilux, CM, and most other Point-&-Shoots, not only the aperture but the shutter mechanisms are also housed inside the lens. Unable to communicate with the electronics housed in the lens, the camera will throw an error code.
What causes the E01/ E02 error?
On the Minilux and CM, these errors can be caused by a number of issues including but not limited to:
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Faulty or worn-out lens flex cable
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Dirty/Damaged internal switches
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Depleted batteries
In our experience, most common cause of cameras throwing errors have been faults with the flex cable. This cable runs from the mainboard of the camera to all of the other electronics in the lens. Each time the camera is powered on, the retractable lens extends to its shooting position and the flex cable unfurls with it.
Unsurprisingly, after 20+ years of repetition, this flex cable is ready to be replaced.
Jumpers
Vs.
Replacement
Why choose Red Dot Repair?
As most errors are caused by small breaks in the electrical traces printed onto the ribbon cable, the camera will resume function if these connections are restored.
Unlike Red Dot Repair however, many shops opt to solder in small "jumpers" made of thin wire to bridge the breaks in connection rather than replacing the entire cable with a brand new remanufactured part.
Unsurprisingly these repairs seldom last very long.
Below are some examples of cameras we've seen that were previously repaired by other technicians with the jumper method.
For comparison, a properly replaced cable with no jumpers not only looks cleaner but is also much more reliable. Although full replacement of the cable involves more disassembly and precision, long-term reliability of the repair is our priority.
