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