Canon EOS 50E, Elan II & EOS 55: Back Cover Latch Fix

The Canon EOS 50E (known as the Canon Elan II in the USA and the Canon EOS 55 in Japan) is a brilliant semi-professional film camera. But let’s be honest: it has a real Achilles’ heel. At some point, the plastic door latch on the back cover gives up, and the cover simply won’t stay closed anymore. The cause is almost always this small, brittle plastic hook, which breaks off. Here I’ll show you how to replace the part yourself quite easily, using minimal tools and a suitable replacement part.

What you need

• Replacement hook (set)
• Small Phillips screwdriver
• Optional: Fine tweezers and superglue (if the contacts don’t hold immediately)
• A clean, well-lit workspace and a small dish for the screws (so nothing rolls away!)

By the way, we have the matching replacement hook in our shop if you want to save yourself the trouble of printing it: Order the replacement part for the EOS 50E here.

Safety notes before you begin

• Work carefully—the small screws and springs have a habit of disappearing forever.
• Do not disconnect any electrical connections other than the parts described here.
• If you’re unsure, simply take photos with your phone as you go. They’re incredibly helpful during reassembly.

Step by step: Replacing the broken hook

1. Remove the screws on the bottom. Turn the camera over and remove the five screws on the bottom.

1. Remove the lens mount cover. Next, remove the Lens Mount Cover Plate. It is held in place by five silver screws. Set the screws aside carefully so you don’t mix them up.

1. Unscrew the side hinge cover. Remove the two screws holding the side cover in place. The old hook is under spring tension beneath the cover, so be careful that nothing flies out at you.

1. Remove the broken part. Carefully pull out the broken plastic hook. Important: Save the metal contacts or copper clips! We need them for the new part.

1. Insert the new component. Place the copper contacts onto your new hook. They normally click securely into place; if they are loose, a tiny drop of superglue can help hold them in place. An alternative suggested by the community, closer to Canon’s factory assembly: Instead of using glue, heat a paper clip over a lighter and briefly touch the plastic beneath the metal contact. The plastic melts slightly and permanently anchors the contact without gluing up the mechanism.

1. Attach the spring and insert the hinge. On newer EOS 50E bodies, the spring is no longer attached to the pin. Instead, it is secured by the thread of a small screw. Unscrew the screw, place one end of the spring over the thread, and screw it back in. Then carefully insert the hinge into the guide. The part must slide freely, and the spring should pull it back to its original position by itself.

1. Test the contact and reassemble. Quickly check whether the copper contact at the bottom touches the circuit board. All good? Then put the cover back on, screw it in place, reinstall the lens mount cover, and tighten all the screws. Done!

How should it fit?

The hinge should slide freely. When you open the cover, the spring must pull the hook back. It won’t work without the copper contact—it’s what tells the camera that the back cover is actually closed. Otherwise, the shutter won’t release.

Tips & troubleshooting

• Contacts won’t click into place? Sometimes the replacement part needs a little finishing with a file or fine sandpaper.
• Glue: Use it sparingly! One drop of superglue is enough. Nothing should glue the mechanism together.
• Error after assembly? In most cases, the copper contact is not sitting properly on the circuit board. Simply unscrew it again and check.
• Organization makes all the difference: Put the screws in a dish—the little things disappear faster than you can blink.

Conclusion

Repairing the EOS 50E hook is no rocket science. With a screwdriver and the right replacement part, you can get it done in just a few minutes. If you pay attention to the spring and the contact, your camera will be fully ready for use again afterward.

If you need the replacement part, take a look at our shop: EOS 50E latch replacement part

Good luck with the repair, and as always: happy shooting!

Yours, Vladi