So I broke my digital camera...

[Magi]

Well, on Halloween I went to this party. Towards the end of the night, I dropped it by accident. It didn't fall hard or anything (less than 3 feet for sure) but hard enough that the memory card popped out.

I freaked out at first, but I sat down and fooled around with it a bit, and everything major seems intact. I'm glad to say that the LCD in no way appears to be damaged, though it's displaying this number repeatedly, like when you first plug in a VCR and it keeps showing "12:00". The pictures I took of the night were okay though (and I managed to retrieve them) but any pictures I took after were all blurry. Upon closer inspection, when I zoomed in/out you can hear the camera make a slight clicking sound. I can only assume that when I dropped it, I may have jostled the lens or something, which would account for the noise and the lack of focus.

Now here's the thing. The camera itself is a Sony DSC-P52, and I searched on the web for some Vancouver camera repair sites, but none of them repair Sony camera's (or it doesn't say so on their sites) and I was wondering if anyone has an recommendations for a particular place. If someone can give an estimate, that'd be good too. I'll have some free time tomorrow afternoon, so just thought I'd float this here.

Here's the main problems with it:

- Camera doesn't focus
- Zoom in/out makes weird clicking sound
- Flashing number on LCD
- Loading time has increased dramatically

if someone could give some advice, that would be awesome.

thnks.

[rawb]

it's going to be 100 bucks just to open the camera.

+ parts

+ wait

i would reccomend buying a new one. going to be 100-150 USD used on ebay, or just look for a new camera. 3.2 megapixel cams have really come down in price so you can get a similar one for pretty cheap, most Sony gear, while really good, is inflated in price due to the name.

[-DLO_604-]

ebay always has cheap shit

[Magi]

Originally posted by rawb
most Sony gear, while really good, is inflated in price due to the name.

ahaha so true.

sony camera bag + mini tripod = $80~US

I bought a camera bag and tripod from Wal-Mart for $10CDN a piece.

I'm not in a rush to get the camera back (as long as it's in time for the holidays) so if it's only gonna be $100 or so, + let's say and extra $50 for parts(assuming CDN dollars) I'd rather spend that then go on e-bay and try and snipe a camera from there. Less risk.

Thanks for the recommendation though.


EDIT: Also, if I was gonna get a new cam, I'd most definitely upgrade from a 3.2, but I don't have the fundage to do that just yet. Not for a looong while.

[Starberry]

Try Camtex on Burrard St. They give free estimates.

I don't have the number here (it's at work), but look it up in the phone book. Otherwise, like Rawb said, you're most likely going to have to buy a new one. If you bought your camera over a year ago, chances are the price you bought it at has probably dropped drastically.

*Jen*

[crackdragon]

How old is the camera?? Perhaps if it is newer then it is still under warranty. If it is then you can perhaps BS your way into getting it fixed for free :) I do this with computer parts all the time when I piss around with them and break something.

[Magi]

Originally posted by Starberry
Try Camtex on Burrard St. They give free estimates.

I don't have the number here (it's at work), but look it up in the phone book. Otherwise, like Rawb said, you're most likely going to have to buy a new one. If you bought your camera over a year ago, chances are the price you bought it at has probably dropped drastically.

*Jen*

thanks :)



I bought this Camera during the summertime for $440CDN. I checked up on E-bay, and prices are still around the $150~175US (around $200CDN)range for this particular model. Depending on the estimate I get, I might explore that option. If I can save even something like $40 I'd do it.

[Magi]

Originally posted by crackdragon
How old is the camera?? Perhaps if it is newer then it is still under warranty. If it is then you can perhaps BS your way into getting it fixed for free :) I do this with computer parts all the time when I piss around with them and break something.

This option intrigues me...but I don't know how I would pull it off. Also, there's some previous damage to the camera (the little loop for the wrist strap is broken) so that might affect my warranty bargaining power a bit.

[Starberry]

^^ They're pretty strict about determining impact damage. I don't know about Sony, since we don't deal with them, but all other camera companies go through an evaluation, and once it is determined that it is impact damage, the warranty is pretty much void. I dunno...you could try though.

*Jen*

[Magi]

Well, just got the camera back today. I went to Camtex, and overall happy with some things and unhappy about other things.

First off, Camtex is pretty damn far for me being all the way out on Burrard, plus their store hours conflict heavily with my school/work schedule.

Fixed all the problems I stated above, HOWEVER in the process of repairing my camera they dented the casing, which while doesn't affect the workings of the camera does make it look shitty. Also, they weren't able to fix the strap I broke when I first bought it, because they said something about having to replace the entire outer shell in order to do so which = more $ which = no.

But, hey the camera works, got rid of that stupid blinking number thing,

all for a price of $166CDN, which I feel is a fairly good price. They also gave me a 6 month warranty.

Would I recommend this place? Only until I find a store that's closer. Price-wise, I don't think you'll get much better than these guys.

Thanks to Starberry for recommending the place though. :)

[Veni*C]

man i just bought my digi cam..if anyting ever happened to it i think i would go nuts.....sooo expensive. i wanna go back and get the extended warrenty on it..cause with my luck some thing will go wrong with and...and i will not be very happy about it!!

[SEAN!]

fuck it...i borke my shit during the summer..just buy another one..comsumerism rocks.

[SEAN!]

Originally posted by ~Veni_C~
man i just bought my digi cam..if anyting ever happened to it i think i would go nuts.....sooo expensive. i wanna go back and get the extended warrenty on it..cause with my luck some thing will go wrong with and...and i will not be very happy about it!!

dont do that..extended warenties are bullshit..ever single company does extensive statistical analysis and they know exactly how many of their products will fial within a given time period...they wouldnt offer it if they werent confident that their product wouldnt break during the course of normal use.

[Veni*C]

^^^^the warrenty on mine is only for a year(from canon).....and it doesnt cover much...
the one from future shop will pretty much replace the whole thing if anything goes wrong with it within 3 years.....and its only 100 bucks.....i am just paranoid because bad shit always happens to stuff i buy...this camera was a big investment for me...so ya.......i dont know.

p.s- where the hell were you on the weekend???!

[Starberry]

^^ It might be worth it. But keep in mind that the warranty only covers manufacturers defects.

Glad to hear the results Magi! =)

*Jen*

[Magi]

Originally posted by Starberry
Glad to hear the results Magi! =)

*Jen*

Best part was, even though I didn't plan on my parents finding out, my mom found out as she always does, and she wrote me a nice check to cover for it. :)

<3 moms.

[Starberry]

Haha...if only my parents were like that.

I see my strawberry in the picture....hehe

*Jen*