My Sony RX1 started showing the E:61:00 error, and the Sony service center quoted 870,000 KRW (roughly US$650 at the time) to replace the lens. Instead, I bought a replacement lens on AliExpress for under $100 and swapped it myself. Here is the full teardown, step by step, with 30 photos.
At a glance
- Symptom: the camera shows E:61:00 on startup and won’t shoot (commonly known as a lens communication / AF error)
- Service center quote: faulty lens, 870,000 KRW (August 2023, Korea)
- DIY cost: replacement lens from AliExpress, just under $100, arrived in less than a month
- Effort: about 20 screws and 6 cables to remove — not easy if you have little teardown experience
- Result: works normally after the swap (a little paint chipped on the front of the new lens)
What is the RX1 E:61:00 error? Causes and temporary fixes
The Sony RX1 / RX1R has a well-known chronic problem: the E:61:00 error code.
Sony’s troubleshooting page only says the camera has malfunctioned, but in practice it is known as a lens communication (AF) error.
The common theory is that the heavy lens assembly puts strain on the AF drive. The lens really is quite heavy, so storing the camera lens-down or screen-down is said to be the best way to avoid it.
Known workarounds include booting in i-Auto mode or applying the right angle and a bit of pressure to the lens while powering on — but they are only temporary, not a real fix.
Repair quote and buying a replacement lens
In my case I had looked after the camera, but it caught on a bench and hit the asphalt, so the cause was a bit different. Either way, once the error appears the camera can’t be used.
The Sony service center diagnosed a faulty lens and quoted 870,000 KRW for the repair.
Spending that much on a camera released more than ten years ago didn’t feel right, so I looked for another way — and found the lens sold on its own on AliExpress.
Listings started in the mid-$80s. I bought one just under $100 that had buyer reviews.
The lens arrived in less than a month. It came in a small box and I was worried about its condition…
…but it was wrapped in foam and arrived in good shape.
Tools I used
- A precision screwdriver set with small Phillips bits (the screws are tiny and there are many)
- Prying tools: plastic picks and a spudger
- A parts tray to keep screws in order
An electronics repair kit such as the iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit covers all of this.
Teardown and lens replacement, step by step
1. Remove the bottom plate (6 screws)
Start with the six screws on the bottom, marked in the photo.
The bottom plate then comes off.
This is how it looks with the bottom plate removed.
2. Remove the rear screen panel
Next, the screen panel. On the right side of the camera, pull the rubber grip back as if you were peeling it off.
Pulling the rubber back gives access to the hidden screws.
Remove the two screws hidden behind the rubber.
Then remove the one exposed screw on the left side of the camera.
With all screws out, the screen panel comes away.
3. Remove the heat sink
Now the heat sink is visible. You have to remove it before you can disconnect the cables going to the screen panel. Undo the screws marked in the photo.
There is one more heat sink screw at the lower right, marked in the photo above.
Another heat sink screw is hidden on the right side of the camera. Remove them all.
Once all the screws are out, you will see a notch next to the right-hand heat sink screw.
That part hooks into the body frame, so you have to pull it out before the heat sink will come off.
I only found this out late and spent ages looking for a screw I thought I had missed.
There is a similar hook on the other side, so take the heat sink off carefully.
4. Disconnect the cables
With the heat sink off, you can disconnect the two cables going to the screen panel.
Next you will see four cables connected to the main body. Disconnect them.
5. Remove the sensor and the lens
With the cables out of the way you can see the back of the sensor. Remove the three screws holding the sensor.
Under those three screws there are small pins that like to escape, so keep them somewhere safe.
Once the sensor is out, there is a bracket between the lens and the sensor. Remove its four screws.
With the bracket removed, you can see the four screws holding the lens. Remove them.
That’s the lens out.
6. Install the new lens and test
Fit the new lens. Reassembly is the reverse of the teardown.
Put the battery in to check whether the repair worked.
It powers on normally.
The focal distance ring and the manual focus ring work fine.
The aperture ring works too.
After reassembly I tested all the controls, and thankfully everything works.
I did notice some paint chipped off the front of the lens after assembly, but since it works fine I didn’t open a dispute.
Every time I finish a DIY repair there are a few parts left over…
This time: one mystery clear plastic part, one screw, and a few plastic bits.
Everything works, but I’m keeping them just in case.
Is the DIY repair worth it?
I tried it after hearing the official Sony repair cost 870,000 KRW and seeing how much cheaper the part was on AliExpress — there didn’t seem to be much to lose.
It is a fairly demanding job if you don’t have much teardown experience.
Still, even ten years on, a full-frame premium compact like the RX1 is worth keeping alive, so I think it is worth a try.
Frequently asked questions
What causes the RX1 E:61 error?
It is generally known as a lens communication (AF) error. The common explanation is that the heavy lens assembly strains the AF drive; storing the camera lens-down or screen-down is said to help. In my case it was caused by a drop.
How much does Sony charge to fix it?
In August 2023 the Sony service center in Korea quoted 870,000 KRW (roughly US$650) for a faulty lens.
Is there a temporary fix without repairing it?
Booting in i-Auto mode, or applying a bit of angle and pressure to the lens while powering on, is known to work sometimes — but only as a temporary workaround.
How much does the DIY repair cost?
Replacement lenses on AliExpress started in the mid-$80s; I bought a reviewed one for just under $100. Shipping took less than a month.
This post is a translation of my original Korean article: 소니 RX1 E:61 에러 자가 수리. Repair done in August 2023.
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