Handbook for the SX-56 Full Frame camera Issue 1, 25
th
October 2017
Reassembly is a simple reversal of the above procedure, being careful to correctly position the shutter
and front plate.
CCD chamber cleaning:
This is not normally required, as the chamber is sealed by vaccuum grease and O rings, but on rare oc-
casions, you may want to remove particles from the CCD cover glass, or the inside surface of the sap-
phire chamber window.
Please note that you will lose the dry argon fill if you open the chamber!
The camera can operate
successfully with only air in the chamber, but you may promote CCD dewing if the air is not very dry.
The argon fill can be renewed, but not without some mechanical work to make an adaptor to fit the gas
input port (see later).
SX Ltd do not recommend opening the chamber, but, if you are skilled in mechanical and optical work,
the procedure is as follows:
1) Follow the procedure described on the previous pages to remove the front plate and shutter assem-
bly.
2) Remove the four M2 countersunk screws at the corners of the window retaining plate. Be careful
that the window does not fall out when the retaining plate is removed.
3) Hold a soft cloth in front of the camera and tip the camera body forwards. The sapphire window will
fall out onto your cloth and the CCD will be exposed for cleaning.
Argon refill:
You will need a cylinder of argon gas, a regulator valve and a length of 4mm OD gas tubing. These are
easily available from car repair shops etc. (eg. Halfords) and cost only about 20 - 30 pounds ($40) for a
a small 1 litre cylinder of MIG welding argon and a regulator valve. One cylinder will last for many
camera fills. You do not need any special expensive ‘dry argon’, as compressed gas is always very dry.
The argon ports are inside the rear of the camera and require the upper electronics board to be removed
for access.
1) Remove all of the 10 off M3 screws around the rear cover.
2) Remove the 8 mm power socket nut.
3) Lift off the rear cover and unplug the two fan leads from the board (not essential).
4) Remove the 4 off M3 screws from the corners of the electronics board. The board may then be
pulled out of the camera (it is held only by friction in a socket and will lift out if you apply a little
force).
5) The gas ports can now be seen, as below:
