Sony a7 AV Port Replacement

Written By: Jeffrey Coleman

Comments: 6

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

35 minutes

Introduction

This replacement guide will address how to remove a damaged AV port from a Sony a7 model number ILCE-7 camera. The AV port is the centralized hub of all inputs and outputs for the camera. This step by step guide will provide the actions necessary to repair a faulty AV port.

If the camera is having difficulty connecting to an external device such as a computer or is unable to transfer photos and other files to an external storage platform then there is a possibility that the AV port is damaged. Before beginning this process, it may be helpful to reference this troubleshooting page, which could help with addressing issues before having to go through the tedious process of repairing the AV port. The special skill of soldering connectors will be required at certain points, a guide on how to do this can be found here.

Caution: It would be in the best interest of continuity to ensure that all files from the camera have been transferred and backed up. This replacement guide will require accessing the AV port and motherboard, which places the camera’s storage processes at risk of being damaged. If damage is incurred, there is a possibility that photos on the camera’s storage could be lost.

Tools

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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

Step 3

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

Step 4

Remove the four M 1.5x2mm screws.

Step 5

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

Step 6

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.

Step 7

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.

Step 8

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

Step 9

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

Step 10

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.

Step 11

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

Step 12

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.

Step 13

Peel off the large black protective adhesive from the motherboard.

Step 14

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 -

Step 15

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.

Step 16

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

Step 17

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.

Step 18

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 -

Step 19

Take a soldering iron and place it onto a leg of the failed AV port.
Use a small flat head screwdriver to pry up each leg while the solder is molten.
The soldering iron and solder will be hot, exercise extreme caution when handling.
Always wear eye protection when soldering connections, solder can splatter and cause burns.
Do not inhale any smoke or fumes that may be given off during the soldering process, as they can be toxic.
For help and tips on how to effectively solder like a professional, please reference the iFixit guide on soldering here.

Step 20

Repeat the actions in the previous step to the remaining three legs of the faulty AV port until the connector is able to be moved, and is free.
All of the tips and cautions about the soldering process still apply in this step, continue to exercise extreme due diligence and caution.