Buying & repairing broken cameras

[M0RPH]

I've been looking at P&S cameras on eBay and noticing all the broken cameras that can be had for pretty cheap.

Do you think it could be worth it to try and repair one of these? How hard is it to repair modern day digital cameras for someone who is handy with fixing things and willing to do research into how to repair cameras? Are there resources available online to help learn camera repair?

And lastly, if I can't repair it myself are there camera repair places that will do it for a reasonable price to still make it worth buying a very cheap broken camera?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I've been looking at P&S cameras on eBay and noticing all the broken cameras that can be had for pretty cheap.

Do you think it could be worth it to try and repair one of these? How hard is it to repair modern day digital cameras for someone who is handy with fixing things and willing to do research into how to repair cameras? Are there resources available online to help learn camera repair?

And lastly, if I can't repair it myself are there camera repair places that will do it for a reasonable price to still make it worth buying a very cheap broken camera?

Just from the occasional pricing I've seen when it comes to P&S camera repair, the cost is generally an incentive to simply buy a new camera. The repair quotes I've seen for various maladies all exceed $100.

The only repairs I've done on P&S have been easy - broken hinge on a battery door and a stuck iris-style lens cover.

 

[corkyg]

As Flipped Gazelle says, . . . it really depends on the nature of the defect. If you have to get inside and repair microcircuitry, forget it. P&S cameras are basically expendable below the $200 range. I have replaced the media door on a Canon S3 IS - just 2 screws and a replaceable assembly.