Camera does not switch on when cover is slid open. problem is inside the front cover sliding mechanism. new front cover would fix the problem - can I get one?

OK Here's the problem and the fix ................... After removing the front cover (six screws) and carefully removing it you will find that the front thin metal cover has a plastic inner section that contains the slider mechanism. The plastic bit is attached to the metal cover by two or three strips of double sided adhesive tape and is a real b*st*rd to get apart, but this is what you have to do, so gently but firmly prise them apart, I raised one end with a watchmakers screwdriver and then used a 20 thou feeler to "cut" through the tapes, which can be reused on reassembly.

Once apart it is obvious how the thing works and the problem was seen to be a return spring that had slipped out of position. Using a large needle this was repositioned so that the cam returned to the "off" position. Reassembly is simply a reverse of this procedure.

The malfunction was caused by a few grains of Australian sand (last week only!) jamming the cam causing extra stress on the spring which jumped out of it's position - and here I mean a spring that is at best only three mills long! A magnifying glass helps.

If you can't work to very fine detail better leave it alone .................. All the best

Jim