Fixing a Cannon?

[daves87rs]

Okay, I'm playing with the idea of trying to fix this camera:

Cannon Powershot S5 Is

It's a great camera, but the zoom motor has died. Seem a few examples on the net, but not enough for it to be a common problem. For those in the know, it is worth fixing? I'd fix it myself, but I'm not sure what to do (yet) I've checked with Cannon, and with them, between the repair and shipping, it would nearly cost as much as the camera...

Also looking into a camera shop here, but most seem out of business so far.

I would love to save this camera, but I also don't want to go crazy either. Suggestions?

 

[AandPDan]

Sending it in really is your only option. Even if you can take it apart good luck on getting parts.

My friend had his EOS fail a few months back. Canon did the repair and it is as good as new.

 

[javacontour]

How old is it, and what can you buy today with the same amount of money?

Looks like it's a 5 year old camera that you can by new for $500. Maybe get a used for for a couple hundred.

We bought a Nikon P510 for similar money for our Italy trip and it's 16MP, pretty good optical zoom, as well as digital, IIRC, plus it takes HD movies.

It's hard to make a case for a 5 year old camera unless you had a bag full of lenses and other gear that only worked with this.

If that were the case, see if you could get a used or refurbed unit.

 

[VVTinme]

I saw the title under "Recent Topics" and thought this thread was about fixing an antique piece of artillery. I'm disappointed to see that isn't the case.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

Originally Posted By: VVTinme
I saw the title under "Recent Topics" and thought this thread was about fixing an antique piece of artillery. I'm disappointed to see that isn't the case.

+1

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: VVTinme
I saw the title under "Recent Topics" and thought this thread was about fixing an antique piece of artillery. I'm disappointed to see that isn't the case.

Lol....

 

[JHZR2]

A point and shoot really has no economic sense in being repaired. Maybe others' have had different experiences, but it seems that the repair costs are as much as buying a newer, better model.

The situation changes a bit if it is a DSLR or a real lens.

It really stinks, because Ill bet it is a $5 part and 15 minutes of labor. But I doubt youll get out of it cheap.

Perhaps they can quote you free, in which case the worst that would happen is that you pay two directions of shipping if you say no.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: VVTinme
I saw the title under "Recent Topics" and thought this thread was about fixing an antique piece of artillery. I'm disappointed to see that isn't the case.

I thought exactly the same thing, people always mis spell Canon as Cannon.

 

[daves87rs]

Emailed a camera shop...so we will see...

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

It really stinks, because Ill bet it is a $5 part and 15 minutes of labor. But I doubt youll get out of it cheap.



I also had a Canon camera that was coming up with "Error code 5", a common problem. The camera was about one month over the warranty period and had taken fewer than 100 pictures. No amount of persuasion could get them to fix it on their dime. They charged me $199 plus shipping to fix it. On several occasions, they kept giving me the high pressure sales pitch to trade it in for "a newer, better model". (Why? So they could put in a $2 part and resell the thing?)
My next camera will not be a Canon and everybody who asks me about my camera gets the truth around what I've been through when the camera and the Canon company.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
My next camera will not be a Canon and everybody who asks me about my camera gets the truth around what I've been through when the camera and the Canon company.

While it sucks, I am pretty sure most other camera companies would be no different.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

If the zoom is controlled by a ring that you turn, maybe you can try dripping some solvent (not sure which to use. I know in old film cameras the favorite is butanol, but maybe isopropyl alcohol works) around it to see if it's because of accumulated dirt that has messed up the electrical contacts. But I would only do this as a last ditch effort.

In a related note, my sister had an Elph that had sand stuck in the gears of the zoom and it wouldn't come out of the camera. She got a new one so with her permission I took the old one apart and took out several pieces of sand and it worked again.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: JHZR2

It really stinks, because Ill bet it is a $5 part and 15 minutes of labor. But I doubt youll get out of it cheap.



I also had a Canon camera that was coming up with "Error code 5", a common problem. The camera was about one month over the warranty period and had taken fewer than 100 pictures. No amount of persuasion could get them to fix it on their dime. They charged me $199 plus shipping to fix it. On several occasions, they kept giving me the high pressure sales pitch to trade it in for "a newer, better model". (Why? So they could put in a $2 part and resell the thing?)
My next camera will not be a Canon and everybody who asks me about my camera gets the truth around what I've been through when the camera and the Canon company.


Ouch. I didnt pay that to have my $1700 Nikon SLR lens refurbished! I think your business model concept was right.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

I own a Nikon, Family all owns Canons and Kodaks, they all have issues constantly, Me? Ive taken more than triple the amt they have picture wise and its still holding up

Rechargeable battery, better display, etc.

 

[daves87rs]

140 bucks....but I can watch it get fixed locally.


Hmmm...

 

[Win]

I have a pretty low opinion of semi modern to modern Canon products.

I have one of their semi fancy copiers (mid high four figures) that had very little use when it was in service, and now is sitting idle in the warehouse of junk because it needs a $600 + part (used price), a price I consider highway robbery. No doubt this is to "persuade" me to buy a new copier.

Their old mechanical cameras and lenses were very good.

 

[rjundi]

Bad luck trying to fix a DSLR(D50) lead me to believe this will fare no better.

Nikon gives a repair estimate and sticks to it. They incorrectly diagnosed my Camera and it turned out to be the shutter and a 4 month wait for parts. I get it back and it still is not reliable at taking the shot getting focus 40% of time.

A $500 repair I paid $200 for. However I complained and they refunded my money fully but I waited 6 months without a working camera. I have D3100 now and happy.

THROW it out.....

 

[Vikas]

Some of the Canon P&S cameras had hidden extended warranty and Canon fixed it free and covered shipping both ways.