Repair Information https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage Sun, 05 May 2024 00:03:29 +1000 Joomla! - Open Source Content Management en-gb Impact damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/36-impact-damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/36-impact-damage
I dropped my equipment - how much will it cost to repair?
 
An impact can be a collision, drop, fall, knock, force, applied pressure, etc resulting in a dent, crack, breakage, shattering or oops.
 
All accidental damage could cost a little or a lot to repair depending on the extent of the damage.
 
This is a common phone inquiry we receive that is very difficult to answer sight un-seen.
 
If your equipment has sustained impact damage you may want to contact your insurance company, they may cover the repair or replacement cost.
 
 
Digital compact cameras
 
Lens assembly
 
A lot of times the lens assemblies are damaged on the compact camera. due to impact.
We can try to repair/refit/straighten the bent lens but in most cases the lens assembly will have to be replaced however this is uncertain until a technician assesses it.
 
   Even a dent this small can cause
 issues with the focus system if it is
      knocked out of alignment
 
 
Read more:   Compact lens
 
LCD assembly
 
LCD assemblies can be damaged due to strong pressure on the external window and internal glass. These can be replaced at a reasonable cost depending on the cost of the LCD assembly. Touch LCD screens are more expensive.
 
Read more:  Compact LCD
 
Digital SLR 
 
There are numerous problems that can be caused from impact, and again sight un-seen it is very difficult to provide an accurate diagnosis over the phone.
 
Impact faults and general repair requirements: 
 
Cracked case
 
The camera body casings are broken/cracked. This is internal break and can not be found unless dismantled.
 
       Cracked body casting
 
 
Bayonet mount
If a lens was on the camera at the time of impact it could tear the bayonet mount screws from the body casting. It the bayonet mount is out by a 0.5 mil the focal plane will be out
 
No power
There are many circuit boards and power board in SLR units, they could be dislodged/torn or a fuse may be blown.
 
Focus out
The focus could be out because the bayonet mount is bent, focusing screen and sensor out of alignment or the body casting has shifted.
 
Error
The LCD is showing an ERROR:  this could be a power/circuit board, shutter, mirror box, dislodged part or in need a full re-set.
Most cameras have a EPROM a memory in the camera logging errors and error codes.
 
Shutter not firing
Shutter mechanism jammed up:  it may require a new shutter unit, shutter electromagnets, phase circuit, shutter button, mirror box, or power/main circuit boards.
 
                         
Impact damage   fell down a mine shaft
          Hit by a car                                Fell down a mine shaft
 
 
Flash units
 
Impact faults and general repair requirements:
 
Hot shoe
If the hot shoe is torn from the flash we can replace the hot shoe assembly.
 
                
broken hot shoe  
           Broken hot shoe                         It's seen better days
 
Wont fire
Could be a flash tube, circuit board, battery connection, battery box, loose power/circuit board connection or hot shoe.  
 
 
Lenses
 
The lens focus, resolution and movement is reliant on many tubes and guide rollers operating together. Each tube is located one inside a another and the rollers guide the lens movement. If a lens has sustained impact it may only take one bent/broken roller to cause a lens problem. Lenses are the most time consuming photographic equipment to work on as the lenses have to optically be precise.
 
Zoom tight
Tight spot in the focus/zooming mechanism, there are many tubes and rollers in a lens assembly. When a lens is impacted the rollers can bend/break and the tubes distort or crack
 
       Cracked internal tube assembly
This is unknown until the lens is dismantled
 
 
Loose lens assembly
If the front of the lens has movement in it, this can be from impact or wear.
 
Focus out
The lens resolution or focus is out. The lens may require a calibration, part replacement or an optical realignment.
 
Not communicating with the camera
There is a contact pin assembly at the end of the lens, if this is damaged it could cause communication problems with the camera. There are also circuit boards in lenses that could be damaged.
 
A rattle in the lens 
This could be a broken guide roller or a loose screw. You need to get this looked at immediately because a loose screw can cause a short circuit that can damage circuits or the diaphragm blades (aperture). 
 
                                           
       
                             In some cases the impact damage is not prominent
 
 
Due the uncertainty of the extent of damaged caused by the impact for a accurate diagnosis we recommend you have the equipment assessed by a technician.
 
Read more:  Repair process
 
]]> Accidental damage Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:45:52 +1100 Insurance quotes https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/37-insurance-quotes https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/37-insurance-quotes
If you require an insurance quote on your equipment, please inform the reception staff or if you send the equipment in please inform us in your letter.
We will email  a detailed report for you to submit to your insurance company. Images of the damage can be emailed if required.
 
If your insurance company requires any further technical information or an inspection of the damaged equipment this can be arranged.
 
Quote - Inspection fees

 

Quote fee is $49.50 one piece of equipment

Note:  On the 1st February 2022 Camera Clinic's quote fee will be $55.00 (inc) and the combination special will be $27.50 each unit

 

Combination special:  Camera and lens (only) the quote fee will be split between the two units. Each unit will be $24.75. The quote fee comes off the cost of the repair.

 

Additional piece of equipment is $49.50.

 

We do not quote under $150.00 per item. If the repair cost is under $150.00 the repair will be carried out and the quote fee will come off the cost of the repair. Film units are the exception.

 

 

]]> Accidental damage Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:28:24 +1000 Liquid damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/38-liquid-damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/38-liquid-damage
Ever been to that party where a drink gets spilt on your camera or that bottle of water spills in your back pack with your camera in it?
 
You will need to get the equipment into a repair Centre urgently. Delays could cause the equipment to be rendered uneconomical to repair.
 
Damage we have seen:   
 
A camera accidentally dropped in to a pavlova.
 
While on holidays a customer was going out for the day so he thought he would hide the camera in the washing machine with the dirty laundry just in case someone broke in. His wife came back from her shopping trip and did a load of washing – it was a very clean camera.
 
 
Soy sauce damaged – a customer using the Lazy Susan rotating table top at a Chinese Restaurant spun it a bit too fast and the camera ended up coated in soy sauce.
 
Camera stolen; In the mouth of the faithful dog, slobbered on and chewed to bits.  
 
         
       Corrosion on the screws              Corrosion under the front cover   
 
 

    Corrosion on a circuit board

 
Corroded units. Even a small amount of corrosion on a main board the board will have to be replaced
This is an expensive repair.
 
Important: There is no guarantee on any repairs carried out on liquid damaged equipment.
]]> Accidental damage Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:32:16 +1000 Water damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/39-water-damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/39-water-damage
Partially or totally submerged in water
 
Remove batteries immediately, externally dry the equipment and get it into a repair center urgently. Delays could cause the equipment to be rendered uneconomical to repair. If a service center is more than 24 hours away try to dry the equipment (not the oven) in a moisture free environment.
 
If your equipment has sustained salt water damage. You will need to wash the unit out in fresh water or put it in a bucket of fresh water with a small amount of dishwashing detergent to stop the corrosion forming and help remove the salt. Leave it in the fresh water and bring it to your nearest service center urgently.
 
 
 
Rain damaged equipment 
 
You can use a hairdryer to dry the water from the equipment or bring it in to us a.s.a.p for dismantling and cleaning. We have drying boxes here.
 
Water proof equipment
Needs to be maintained or it will leak. You need to make sure the o-rings/seals are clean and free of grit or fluff
Important: There is no guarantee on any repairs carried out on water damaged equipment.
 
 
water damaged      
       Water in the LCD                                   Internal corrosion
 
 
 
]]> Accidental damage Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:52:40 +1000 Sand or foreign matter damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/40-sand-damage https://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/repair-information/32-accidental-damage/40-sand-damage
Foreign matter equipment
 
Foreign matter can be very unforgiving in photographic equipment; one grain can cause the gears to jam and the onset of corrosion.
In all digital cameras are tiny gears and moving parts, manly in the lens assembly, air gaps and sliding lens barrels provide access to roaming sand particles these particles can easily
stop or hinder moving parts causing an error or failure to start .
 
Considering sand is the third most common reason for “out of warranty failures” it’s a good idea to take some preventative steps to ensure no sand granules enter your camera as  it only takes one to stop the works.
 
The equipment will need to be dismantled and cleaned out and if necessary treated with anti-corrosive spray.  
 
To best prevent sand penetration keep your camera in a plastic zip lock bag in the camera case and your camera bag in a sealable plastic bag, use your camera and immediately place it back in the bag. Try to remove most air from the zip lock bag when first inserting the cameras as this will reduce condensation build up.
 
Regularly vacuum inside your camera case particularly felt lining.
  
 
Important: Please check the camera case, if there is sand in the case turn it inside out to clean or vacuum clean. 
 
 

  

        Sand damage it only takes one to jam a camera

 

]]> Accidental damage Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:49:08 +1000