No response from the camera when the power switch is in the ‘On’ position.

Install new batteries in the camera to ensure that low battery voltage is not the issue.

Check the contacts in the battery compartment, both internal and external. If there is any sign of corrosion, they should be thoroughly cleaned.

The reflex mirror in the body of the camera is stuck in the up position blocking the viewfinder. Pressing the shutter button doesn’t move the mirror or moves it very little.

Most likely, the mirror motor gear has failed. This is a plastic gear press fit onto the shaft of a small motor near the mirror box. It drives a lot of the core functionality of the camera including mirror movement, charging the shutter and stopping down the aperture. When the gear fails all of these functions will stop. Pressing the shutter button will usually results in a whining sound as the motor shaft spins free but little else happens. To fix the issue see the repair guide for the Mirror Motor Gear device page.

The mirror drive lever is located in the same area as the mirror motor gear and is responsible for moving the mirror during an exposure. If this breaks, the mirror will be stuck in the up position but everything else should function normally. When the shutter button is pressed you can see and hear the shutter firing. The repair guide for the Mirror Drive Lever can also be found on the ZX-5n device page.

Autofocus works intermittently when half pressing the shutter button.

If you have access to another lens, try changing the lens. If the problem goes away the issue is with the lens not the camera.

The issue may be caused by dirty contacts between the lens and camera body. Take the lens off the camera and clean the contacts on the lens mount and in the camera body.

The contacts inside the shutter button/switch can become oxidized over time causing intermittent contact. The switch can be disassemble and cleaned, which usually resolves the issue.

Pressing the shutter button all the way doesn’t fire the shutter consistently.

Flash doesn’t fully pop up when the button is pressed.

The spring that drives the pop-up flash is mounted on a small plastic pivot. The pivot is prone to splitting, which relieves the tension in the spring and it no longer provides enough support for the flash. A repair guide for the Flash Pivot can be found on the ZX-5n device page.