DSLRUsers.com

For the benefit of all members, I thought it worthwhile to see what percentage of DSLRs need a visit to the service centre for any reason at all? This is not just in the warranty period, but since you have owned it. This may help people in deciding where they purchase etc

Good poll/question Glen!!
I have had to return one of my cams to Maxwell for a shutter release mechanism stuffing up. It was gone for around 7-10 days from memory. Fortunately it was within the first 12months of ownership.

One vote for yes. BGLOD. Fixed on behalf of Nikon out of warranty... no charge. Apart from that issue she has been an absolute trooper and served me very well.

cheers

Knock on wood, mine has been ok so far.

Maybe we should leave out a visit for CCD cleaning

Glen - I've had a D70 since May, 2004 and a D2x since last October and have not visited the Doctor.

My D70 went in for a service in November just before my initial warranty expired... Needed a repair to the on-board flash...
Repaired, cleaned and lubed in 14 days. No problems since...

my d70 is at the doctor right now and i am counting the days till i get it back.

the light metre went NUTS, was told it should be fixed for free out of warranty.

For my D100 & 02 x D2 body, none of them required to see the doctor since I have them, even they didn't have an apple everyday as the slogan

My D70 which is 1 year old now had it's "guts" replaced about 6 months into it's life. Was offline for 4 weeks. Thus why I have a spare cam body. Other than that luv it !

Mark

shaunus wrote:my d70 is at the doctor right now and i am counting the days till i get it back.

the light metre went NUTS, was told it should be fixed for free out of warranty.

I wonder what it is when Maxwell does this, is it just that God is smiling down on you.

I ask because I had my D100 shutter fixed for free. A US Grey Market version out of warranty.

One thing the tech said was a shuuter problem is rare on D100

No, my camera has never been to the doctor yet, but someday it certainly will.

I have every intention of wearing out the shutter!

Mine went in, from a November 2004 purchase, right before the warranty expired as the CF board was faulty.

Thanks for this Glen

Thankfully I've had no problems with my D70, which I purchased here in Australia in July 2004. I've used it every single day since I got it (a promise I made to myself when buying it) and after close to 22,000 shots in all sorts of conditions, it is still going strong. I also purchased an extra 4 years of warranty from PhotoTechnical...

It is just a theory but I think that since I waited a few months before buying my D70, I avoided the early production problems. Or maybe I have just been lucky. I'm a little nervous now that I'm looking to get an early D200 - I would wait but my D70 is going to my sister who is doing photography at uni and I can't be without a camera!

Cheers,

Stephen

I voted no, so fully expect my D70 to have to visit the doctor next time I use it. Thanks for this Glen.

yes d2x went to maxwell a week after owning it

2nd visit tomorrow just for a clean got a lot of dust and sand in it

Nope never been for a visit. Got my D70 in March 2004

I have been lucky so far!! maybe the innoculations are working.
My closest call was the recalled battery.
Steve

As I haven't owned my pentax for long ( 4 months) to date I have nothing but praise for the camera. As for a doctor if required I would hope that I get better service than our public hospital waiting lists

Only for the free warranty service, so that qualifies as a no.

Yep - off to Andersons when my camera wouldn't turn off ... and then wouldn't turn on.... and then just wouldn't turn off
Andersons fixed it up in 24 hours, updated the firmware, and gave it a free service. I know I've heard some bad things about them, but I can't sing their praises high enough ... maybe I was just lucky?

Since then, been going like a charm (touch wood very quickly )
Rel

No, haven't had any problems so far. My D70 is an April 2004 model, so is in the risk group for BGLOD, but I've had no success in breaking it yet!

Cheers

No, the only time my unit has been to the doctor is for a firmware upgrade (no charge) and a general service & clean a few times.

Yes twice, and perhaps a third if I hadn't fix the backfocus myself.

I voted yes.

The first time I sent it to Camera Clinic in Melbourne due to dust bunnies. That was when it was 3 months old, when I didn't know I might have needed to clean the sensor, or be careful about the amount of dust, before I knew the 1st service was free. Thanks again to all who assisted in getting me started, now I am a competent sensor cleaner and very happy.

The second time it went away was due to the "err" on the display. All the detail can be read in my posts here.
My shutter was getting stuck. Took 7 weeks and cost me even tho it was under warranty.
Didn't know anything about an aperture control lever but they reckoned it was bent. Can't understand how it would have happened, particularly that the camera was working well and being used, then the mirror got stuck up.
I also bought the extra 4 years warranty on it. Hope I don't need it.

Yes,

Once for a white line appearing vertically on the LCD Screen which they replaced under warranty.

The second for The green Light flashing syndrome which they repaired & cleaned and updated FirmWare all free of charge.

All done at the Camera Clinic in Collingwood Victoria.

Very good service there, just took 5 bloody weeks but that wasn't their fault as they had to wait for parts.

Hope everything will stay working now, well when I get around to use it again that is.

Mic.

Took my D2X into Camera Clinic Melbourne on Monday last, as it failed to auto focus and f stop stuck on 7,,,not reading lens info,,,,, this is the first time in 25 years a Nikon has let me down

Rang camera clinic this morning to see if there was any progress and was told '' they havent looked at it yet !! and are very busy,, could be weeks if they need parts

Not very reassuring

Is there nothing i can do but be patient ??

A no for me so far, but I did my own firmware upgrades and also adjusted the backfocus problem, although some may send their camera to the doc to have that seen to.
My old CP5700 has a pink spot of bad pixels, but it would probably cost more than its worth to have fixed, and its only a backup camera now anyway.

Gordon

Dropped my D70 onto some concrete last year - the camera survived but my lens lost its auto focus.....argh

Yes, my D2h is back to Maxwell for meter failure repair/ replacement this morning.
After its TDY in Melbourne during the Dec. + Jan, returning with this such of this problem, after two tests, one was on CNY eve, and one was last Saturday at the picnic day, confirmed, its meter is now gone, bye! bye!!!

jben_net wrote:Dropped my D70 onto some concrete last year - the camera survived but my lens lost its auto focus.....argh

Ugh, I hope it was only the 700-300G, and not something more expensive (or useful).

My 300D hit the service desk after a couple of months with the known issue of the mirror getting stuck halfway. They took a few weeks to fix it but no real dramas. Dropped off a non-warranty 35-350 with a stuck diaphram that they had to import bits for at the same time. They stuffed up and told me to pick up the repairs when only the camera was fixed so I got free courier delivery of the lens. Nice touch. Plus visiting Canon is always fun, just seeing what toys I can get to play with.

I keep expecting the shutter in the 300D to go, it's pushing 60k exposures on a 50k rating. But so far no problems :) Not that I'm too bothered, it's paid for itself about 3x over so far. And now that I've got the 30D and I've done some comparisons... it doesn't look quite so good any more.

G'day,

Interesting thread

My D70 has never been to the doctor, but for quite some time will occasionally report the card as "not able to be used" or will occasionally report "CHA" on the LCD. When this happens I just remove the card and place it back in again and away we go...

I've lost a few shots due to the error related to "card unusable" (when I get err, just remove and re-insert, no worries) but it's just a hobby for me and don't want to be without the camera for weeks while it MIGHT get fixed, as the issue is not reproducible at will...

This is with a variety of cards, I think I've tried 4 and they've all experienced it, so it's not a dicky card...

Oh, this is after about 25k actuations (I think)...

Cheers.

i brought a backup d70 which ended up having die on me after it af motor failed. works fine with afs/afi lenses but not standard af one.

Mine's in there now. "Don't expect it back anytime soon" was the message I got. Have to source parts from Japan ....yada..yada...yada
So..I've dusted off the F80..and I'll finish off the film I loaded 2 yrs ago

My 6 month old D70s is in there at the moment, getting pop up flash fixed the back cover of the body is loose the flash hotshoe is really loose.

hope it comes back soon andersons said 10 days depending on parts. I think i'll sell the d70 when i make sure it is working properly.

Michael wrote:I think i'll sell the d70 when i make sure it is working properly.

Errr... why?

Nnnnsic wrote:

Michael wrote:I think i'll sell the d70 when i make sure it is working properly.

Errr... why?

Well firstly so Im not offloading a dodgy camera, and secondly so I can upgrade, I don't feel that the D70 is cutting the mustard anymore with some of the things im doing.

Michael,
As said, just sit back and relax.
Thing will be allright with you. I wish.

I recieved me D70 back last week, had to get the flash circuit board replaced as the pop up flash wasn't communicating with the SB-800 in wireless (commander) mode.
It took about 2 weeks to fix as they couldn't find the problem (I even had 1 tech tell me the D70 doesn't work in wireless mode.. )
All fixed and working great again, I used my extended warrenty card from Birdy and it went through there system very smoothly thanks to there front counter girls

Paul wrote:I recieved me D70 back last week, had to get the flash circuit board replaced as the pop up flash wasn't communicating with the SB-800 in wireless (commander) mode.
It took about 2 weeks to fix as they couldn't find the problem (I even had 1 tech tell me the D70 doesn't work in wireless mode.. )
All fixed and working great again, I used my extended warrenty card from Birdy and it went through there system very smoothly thanks to there front counter girls

Paul,
Is that meant a dating with her after? she's lovely isn't she?

Shhh it's a secret..

Paul wrote:Shhh it's a secret..

Birddog114 wrote:Michael,
As said, just sit back and relax.
Thing will be allright with you. I wish.

I wish I could relax that easily but without my camera I can't go to work (I work for the local rag) and not going to work means no money. I think Ill get some of those XXXX pills this weekend hopefully that'll get my mind of a few things.

Only had my D200 for a month,, and it is grey market, so I have my fingers crossed that it wont need a doctor.


Suzanne

It's back....

Arrived Maxwell 15 March, back 26 April.

Main problem was the multiselector switch which wouldn't register when the right hand toggle was pressed. However while it was up there it had a pre-emptive fix of the BGLOD issue, the firmware upgrade and a sensor clean. Camera was about 8 months out of warranty but I didn't get charged. Would have been covered by a gold card extended warranty which I wrote them about so I'm surprised they didn't pass on the cost.

Not yet, but i think my d70 may have to pay a visit soon courtesy of the extended warranty in portrait mode, sometimes it doesn't fire and sometimes the shutter goes off automatically but not capturing anything...

My D2x had a hot pixel problem... But I now realise I was being a little harsh on it. Was using a custom curve that really brought it out if I budged the ISO above 200!

I wonder if being made in Japan makes much difference in amount returned.

Keep in mind that with the numbers here so far, half of the people have required service, but this community uses there cameras far more and far harder than non-professionals in general society. Still, if we were all using film cameras I bet returns would be almost nill!

Main power circuit blew after 18months... was repaired by Maxwell outside of warantee for free after some arm wrestling with their upper management.

Touch wood . Maybe it is waiting for the extended warranty to expire...
Gerard