A couple of the more experimental pictures that I was taking lately.Now it's bye bye camera: my camera broke on friday. It looks likely that it's a shutter problem, and replacing the shutter costs 300-400 euros - if I can't get it done under warranty. The unfortunate thing is that the warranty expired a year ago. Consumer rights leave me a bit of leeway: it might be possible to get the job done under warranty if the shutter has died much sooner than what the manufacturer says should be for this particular camera. At an estimate I have taken about 20 000-25 000 pictures, whereas the manufacturer gives 50 000 or 100 000 (depending on the source) as the life expectancy.
To find out if I have a chance at this, I have sent email to the repair firm asking them to give some estimate (also on how long the repair would take). I have also sent a message to my insurance company to find out how much the own risk amount would be in this case.
If I can't get the repair under warranty and if the own risk amount is considerable, I need to decide whether to have the repair done all the same or to scrape the money together for a new camera. At this stage of my photography I suppose it would be sensible to upgrade. That would be about a 700 euro investment. I need to do one or the other, as I can't imagine not having a camera. You could actually say that taking photographs is part of who I am.
11 comments:
Hi Maria,
Fixing it is a really expensive proposition, unless the act of repair will extend another warranty that would make it worthwhile. I am not a big fan is disposing of things that are still useful, but at the same time, the repair cost is quite dear and so perhaps, if you can afford the upgrade, it might be a better option. Is there somewhere you could donate the old camera so that it gets re-used by someone who can fix it? That would solve the disposal problem.
We had the same situation just 2 months ago with our car- the engine was in need of rebuilding, and our car is a 10 year-old Toyota. The decision was the same, except the cost involved was about 8 times more for the repair. We debated getting a new car, and eventually decided to go for the rebuild because we don't believe cars should just be scrapped when everything else is still in great shape, and got a 2 year warranty on the engine, which should actually give us another 5 years with the car.
Good luck. And I agree- having the camera is like an extension of your arm.
xx
AM
That donation idea is pretty good, if I could find a person interested. I don't know how many there are who can fix something like a camera shutter. Otherwise, with the repair of the shutter costing 300-400 euros, probably not many would think it a good deal even if they got the camera itself free: you can get a the same model new, with a kit lens, for about 550-560 euros.
oh, sad news on the camera. It'd be like, forgetting to put your watch on - not having your camera with you. (I feel naked if I dont have my watch on).
Good luck with maybe getting it fixed via warranty. But maybe an upgrade would be a good investment? A tough amount to put out right now.
Do you have a back up camera of any kind in the meantime?
Grace,
The only camera I have is the cell phone and that's not really a camera :(
Ouch Maria, I'm just trying to imagine you without a camera. That's impossible I agree. I so hope the manufacturers are generous given you've only done half the number of photos expected for such a model.
yeah, not really a "camera". Hope you are in the camera zone soon.
Oh crap...
Usually the shutter part in modern digital SLR:s is a kind of a "module" with all the electric and mechanical parts integrated into one block. The module itself isn,t that expensive, shutter modules for all kinds of Canon DSLR can be found on eBay for 40 - 60 USD, but they have to disassemble the whole camera body to change it. Work is much more expensive than parts.
Or you could buy one on eBay and do some DIY... Or perhaps not...
no, this is misery before my eyes.
I am willing to send 20 euro by paypal.
You can actually start a site asking for support. Imagine if you collected 200E. Would this make a big difference to you?
Anyone else?
Nah, Gina, I appreciate the gesture. But I'd rather buy the camera with my own money.
Don't be silly. I did as you're doing for everything (every scrap, every source). It's easier and nothing for those to pitch in versus you absorb the whole.
it's socialism at its best.
I do appreciate your thought, Gina! However, this starting a website for collection is mainly an American thing, not really done here. I'd rather people donate to some charity to help those in real, life-endangering need - the homeless, AIDS work, Red Cross, or whatever. Besides, I took the camera to the Canon repair yesterday. There is some chance that the repair will be done at manufacturer's cost. Also, it's possible that it's something else than the shutter, cheaper to repair.
Post a Comment