PSA: Canon DSLR Owners. If you need to send your camera in for repair...

[fuzzybabybunny]

Just a PSA. For all DSLR repairs, regardless of camera model and how small the repair is, Canon will charge a minimum of $180 for labor. This comes out to a total of about $210 after taxes and return shipping.

Why is it so expensive? Canon does a full checkup on the camera and warrants it for an additional 90 days in addition to the original repair. If the camera breaks down within 90 days, even if it's not the same problem as the last time, they will repair it under warranty. This means they warrant both the original repair and the accuracy of the checkup in predicting future problems.

Canon first opens the camera and gives a repair estimate. Say that they estimate $180. Once you agree to pay this amount, you will NOT get charged more than this if they find something else wrong with the camera. For example, once you agree to the $180, Canon repair will open up the camera and check the shutter count of the camera. Rebel XTs have a shutter life of 50,000 actuations. If they find that the shutter is about to die (ex. has 49,000 actuations) or is past this point (ex. has 55,000 actuations), they will repair this part in addition to the original problem, all for the same $180 price initially quoted.

So no matter if you have an original Rebel, a 30D, or a 1DsMKII, make sure all problems you want repaired are worth at least $180.

Canon will not buy back damaged cameras for parts.

 

[corkyg]

i dropped my EF 50mm f/1.4 on the floor, and it would no longer work manually or EF. I sent it in as your described, to Chicago. They fixed it and sent it back from California - all for $90.

 

[montanafan]

I just got back from picking up my Digital Rebel after having it repaired.

I had just started to take photos at a baseball game back in April and I pressed the shutter and it seemed to just stick. I looked at the image and half of it was black, like a curtain was pulled down over it. Same thing with the next one I tried. I opened it up and the sub-mirror was stuck. I flipped it up and took a photo which came out alright, but I didn't have AF. I flipped it back down and had AF, but only half an image again. So I flipped the mirror back up and for the next two weeks just shot with manual focus.

I knew I'd need AF to photograph an event with no light before I could get the Rebel fixed so I bought a Rebel XT and then sent the Rebel off for repairs last month. It was $0 for parts, $26 for shipping, and $99 for the repair. I thought they would explain exactly what had been wrong with it, but the note inside just said that the part was deformed and replaced and that they had cleaned it. It also said that the warranty was good for 6 months.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: montanafan
It was $0 for parts, $26 for shipping, and $99 for the repair. I thought they would explain exactly what had been wrong with it, but the note inside just said that the part was deformed and replaced and that they had cleaned it. It also said that the warranty was good for 6 months.

Man, I'm going to have to contact Canon again and see what's up. Maybe it's just for the original Rebels? Was this the one in New Jersey?

 

[montanafan]

fuzzy, I"m not sure where they did the repairs, I didn't send the camera out myself, I took it to my local camera shop and they sent it out for me. I looked at the enclosed note again, but it doesn't say where the repairs were done, just Canon USA, Inc. About the 6 month warranty, it does say that it is only for the work that they did, nothing about any other problems that may occur. It says that the 'part' was deformed and it was not focusing so they replaced the part, then that they did an inspection, did electrical adjustments, and a cleaning. The camera shop charged me the $26 when they sent it out, then called me about a week later and told me it would be $99 and that was the charge from Canon when I picked it up.

Edit: Maybe the extra charge on yours was for an extended warranty overall? Mine is only for the work that was done and they probably don't offer any sort of general warranty on the DRebel anymore.

 

[montanafan]

Hey fuzzy, looks like you were right. I got a call from my camera shop Monday morning saying that they charged me the incorrect amount for the repairs on my camera. The actual charge was $194 before tax and they read it as $94, so $99 with tax. I had to go back there yesterday and pay the other $100, actually $106 with tax. That made the total I paid for repairs $205 + $26.50 for shipping.