Canon Camera Repair

[ghost]

So I broke my digital camera a few weeks ago and am looking to get it fixed. I looked up some authorized repair centers on Canon's website, but they are all out on the West Coast.

Has anyone actually sent their Canon camera to one of these repair centers? I was thinking about doing so or maybe just going to some local place here in Houston like Wolfe or Ritz Camera.

I may just end up getting a new, smaller camera if getting my current one fixed isn't practical. I can still read the pics on the memory card, but I can't take any photos. I bought my camera (Powershot S30) at Best Buy like 2.5 years ago. If I got the Best Buy warranty, I don't know where any of my papers are. Is there a way to find out if are under Best Buy's service plan? I guess I could just call up there and ask.

What do you guys think?

 

[hullabelew]

Wolfe and Ritz are just going to send it out. It is FRIGHTENINGLY expense to have repairs done on digital cameras. I had a Fuji 602Zoom (prosumer) that cost about $800 new 3 years ago. At 1 day less than a year (warranty) is started having problems with the focus. I saw the repair bill and if it had not been covered under warranty, it wasn't worth keeping.

 

[lostman]

There is a guy on Highway 6 just north of Clay Road that repairs cameras. He is in the one story buildings just next door to the Mc Donalds on 6. There is a sign out front that says "Camera Repair". I have taken cameras there several times for cleaning and repair (Canon FTb, a Nikon that belonged to my boss, and my Rebel SLR). He only sends it out if he can not do it himself. While almost any camera repair is expensive, I have found his prices to be reasonable.

You can always take your camera in for an estimate and if you don't like it, then don't get the repairs done.

 

[DLev]

Best Buy should be able to look your info up based on name/address and if you still have the credit card. I'd look into that first. If not, I'd download all the pictures and move on.

 

[dustin_c1]

A while back, I sent in a PowerShot S30 through Best Buy's warranty program. It was purchased in 2001 and had only a few months left on the 3-year warranty.

The 4-way control pad button had come loose and would only work intermittently. The BB guy was kind of a dick about it and kept telling me there was nothing wrong with it -- when the problem was right there in his face. He eventually relented and agreed to send it in for repair.

It came back with the button fixed and more! The focus system and shutter had been recalibrated. The focusing speed noticeably improved. The phenomenon where the camera alternates between front and back focus for a couple of seconds while focusing stopped. I had thought the metering on the camera just sucked ***, as I always shot in P-mode with exposure compensation. It always underexposed by 1/3 to 1/2 a stop. Turns out that it must have been an overanxious shutter, because when it came back with the shutter recalibrated, the images were much more likely to be exposed correctly - even on Auto mode. I can't remember if the camera had those focusing and metering problems when it was first purchased. The problems may or may not have developed over time. Either way, it came back working better than before and it only went in to get a button fixed.

That kind of servicing probably would have cost more than the camera is worth.

I know people knock the BB warranty program. I know it's a cash cow for them, but in this case, I say thumbs up! Go to BB as see if they have your warranty on file.

 

[ghost]

Freaking sweet!! I was at my mom's house this whole past weekend taking care of my grandmother and late Saturday night I found my Best Buy stuff for this camera. It was totally random, as I was just going though some of my boxes from college. They have just been sitting in my room since 2002. Not only did I find some things that brought back a lot of memories, but in the process, I also found my bag with my receipt and 4-year service plan with Best Buy!! I thought I had already looked and found nothing since I keep files and I had a Best Buy file but nothing in it pertained to my camera.

Man, I was stoked to say the least. I am gonna take it to Best Buy when I get some time this week to get it fixed. Maybe I will get some good luck like dustin_c1.