Precision Camera Update: Pending Parts

I picked Precision Camera to repair my Canon because they boasted fast turn-around times (time is money) and a large inventory of parts (and a few other reasons I hope won't also become significant in the near future). Oh for the days when I had a real cannon and didn't care if it worked or not.

So the process flowchart on Precision Camera's customer status page now displays a bright red STOP sign and the words: "Repair is on hold, waiting for parts."

And no, I haven't a clue what parts. I assumed my shutter release assembly malfunctioned. Shutter release assemblies malfunction all the time (on Canon cameras), so you'd think they'd have the parts in bulk. Besides, the video of a malfunctioning Canon camera I saw on YouTube made the same clickety sounds, and it had a malfunctioning shutter release assembly, too.

So here I sit not knowing what is wrong with my camera or how long it will take to fix, and I can only hope the repair won't cost more than I'd hoped. I'd rather know now. If I do need to buy a new camera, I'd rather do it sooner than later so I can shoot some more weddings and start making up for the loss.

Oh well. The Missus reports that several people commented favorably on the photos she took to work to decorate her (Borg) cube where she continues to resist assimilation. One colleague apparently mistook them for calendar photos.

I think I'm going to teach myself matting and framing.

© 2010 - Robert Lawton, all rights reserved

Photo Processing

Precision Camera finally confirmed my camera arrived, and it's now in "repair status."  Please don't send me any more nightmare stories about Precision Camera.  It's not helping.

So now I'm ameliorating some of my photography withdrawal symptoms with a bit of photo printing. Typically I just edit photos and burn them to disk for clients. I have very little of my own work on display around the house. I do have two boxes of old frames I haven't unpacked since we moved five years ago.

Coincidentally, I ordered self-adhesive backing boards a few weeks ago, so now's my chance to put my hands on some prints.  Backing boards provide a nice firm surface on which to affix images.  This prevents them from curling or sliding around inside of picture frames. An old camera hand taught me how to apply the prints one day years ago when I looked over his shoulder while pretending to browse lens filters.

I use Walgreen's for printing because I can upload full resolution photos and securely share them for free. The prints I have to pay for, but the price is reasonable. Though Walgreen's claims they don't adjust the photographs if you click the little radio button for that option, they do anyway. And no, it's not my monitor. My monitor is calibrated by hand for photography, and the only pictures that turn out badly are exactly the photos you'd expect to turn out badly if the printer automatically adjusted the images.

So I picked out some pictures Walgreen's couldn't possibly screw up, and ordered 8x10 prints. They only took an hour, and they turned out well. I mounted them on backing board and affixed strip magnets to the back so The Missus could take them to work on Monday.  For now, they're stuck to the 'fridge like so much kindergarten artwork.

© 2010 - Robert Lawton, all rights reserved

The Wait Begins

My busted camera hit the mail on Monday for shipping to Precision Camera. I even sprang the extra buck for a tracking number. The USPS confirmed delivery on Wednesday. Precision Camera's website, however, doesn't know it has arrived yet.

At least I have the USPS' word on it. I'm going to sleep with that little slip of paper under my pillow and see if I wake up feeling better in the morning.

© 2010 - Robert Lawton, all rights reserved

Camera Repair

As noted in my last post, my Canon 20D went wonky on Saturday. It's still wonky. I prefer this, as things that go on-again off-again wonky really bother me. I like dependability, even in failure.

Like any cheap bastard techno-geek, I started pricing new cameras to find the best bargain for a new or lightly used camera. What I want is a Canon EOS 5D Mark II. If I get it, I'll need a new wide-angle lens, too.

It didn't take long before I found myself reading various technical forums to see if I could repair the 20D myself. I had some hopes for this approach since I fixed my flash last year with a $15 part.

In this case, the parts I needed ran around $40. I even found a couple of videos illustrating the project. In one of the videos, the techno-guy even got the camera to work again. Everyone else advised sending the camera to a repair shop. Back to Google I went.

In the end, I selected Precision Camera. I especially liked that they were Canon authorized (not that my camera was in warranty), had a large inventory of parts on hand, boasted quick turn around times, offered a flat rate, and would provide my camera's status online. I only wished they were local so I could pester them in person every day. I couldn't find a local shop that wouldn't just send it out anyway. The last time I sent a camera part out for repair like that, I never saw my lens again.

So my battle scarred Canon is now wrapped up, labeled, and ready to ship in the morning.  I'm already feeling naked without it.  Maybe I can use my weekends to edit some of the 100k photos I've shot over the last five years.

© 2010 - Robert Lawton, all rights reserved

I'd Like a New Camera

In a fit of industriousness, I've taken to photographing weddings as an assistant. It's been a learning experience. Today I learned I want a new camera. But that's the end of the story.

The story starts with the lead photographer showing up with a malfunctioning camera and no back-up. Rule one for professional wedding photographers: always bring a backup camera, your assistant's camera is not your backup camera.

Since I'm a poor assistant (pun intended), I don't have a backup camera to loan her, so we shared mine. This worked through most of the wedding, though I have no doubt the bride wondered why she paid for two photographers with just one camera between them. I wondered, too.

This particular story ends right before the cake cutting, bouquet toss, and the daddy/daughter & mother/son dances. Specifically, the story ends when my shutter release mechanism goes wonky and won't stop clicking. This typically happens when a Canon reaches the end of its serviceable life. I haven't counted shutter clicks, but I'd guess it's right around 100k. Given how far and wide this camera has traveled, I'm not disappointed - except, of course by the timing. I don't think I'm going to get paid for this gig.

© 2010 - Robert Lawton, all rights reserved