Some really good reasons never to buy Canon Photographic gear

This applies to Australian photographers.

Canon Australia (Phone 13 13 83) informed me in mid October they have a 2
week turn-around for DSLR repairs and currently this was on time, unless...
I joined their exclusive "Professional" club and then all my cameras would
be treated as urgent. I had to buy a "Pro level" camera to be eligible and
no, my 5D didn't qualify.

17/10/07 I took a 20D to Canon "service department" at Canon hill (Brisbane)
for minor service and to have some crud removed from the viewfinder's
screen.

25/10/07 I received a letter from Canon dated 22nd saying they had received
the unit for repair and provided me a tracking number.

31/10/07 In reply to my Email asking for a progress report.

"Thank you for emailing cameraservice.
Our standard turn around time is 2 weeks for assessment, with further delays
if parts are not available.Your camera has been booked in for repairs on
22/10, and at this stage your camera is still in que (sic) to be assessed.

We will notify you if your camera repair is beyond the repair limit ($200).
If the repair is below the repair limit, then repairs will proceed
accordingly."

Wow!
I just bought a 1D Mk III which are under wide scale recall everywhere but
in Australia! I took it back to the vendor for a refund yesterday under
Australia's Trade Practices Act.

"This camera will need to be returned to Canon for assessment before we can
refund your money."

Now here's the odd thing about Canon and Nikon in this regard.

I elected to have my 4 month old s5 Fuji repaired locally instead of sending
it back to Hong Kong (where I bought it) when it got dropped a few weeks
ago. It took exactly 3 days for the mechanic to fit a new (Nikon) lens mount
and check the thing over. It's got a couple of scratches now but it's images
are better than ever.

God only know when the 20D will be back. God only knows what the reseller is
up to with the Mk III but one thing is guaranteed... I'll be buying another
s5 today and most likely a D3 with the refunded money. I'll be buying them
in Hong Kong too! Where on earth does Canon get off taking 3 weeks to
"assess" a camera which they may not have parts for anyway?

Douglas

 

Well, for a start, they obviously have a lot of broken cameras coming
back for repairs. Perhaps due to a bug in the calendar function of
their Planned Obsolescence design software -- but I suppose it could
just be shoddy manufacture and inadequate quality control.

Cheers, Phred.

 

The 1D purchase (along with your 5D) would have qualified you to join
Canon CPS, which would have given you the 1 or 2 day turnaround
service you sought.

"5D can only be registered for membership when used along side a
minimum of at least 1x EOS 1 series camera body. Membership is not
available to users of Multiple 5D or other cameras under the 5D."

 

D-Mac, you've been bitching about Canon cameras for years. You claim
the service sucks, the cameras aren't reliable, and even a Crapasonic
produces better images. And yet you keep buying Canons.

So are you an idiot or just a liar?

 

On the 15th of October I took my S60 to Cannon Hill (yes Canon in
Brissie is in Cannon Hill lol) for a replacement sensor. I received
it back today with no cost for the repair even though it is waaaaaay
out of warranty. The reason for no cost was that the fault was with
the "Sony" sensor used in this model.

So naturally I am quite happy with the repair and the turn around. I
have never had a problem with Canon's service out of Brissie, but will
admit that this is the first non-CPS repair I have had done. I am
usually spoiled by 3 day repairs and loaners if I need them.

Rusty

 

That's very curious stuff Rusty.
All my cameras I've taken to Canon in Cannon hill, have been sent to Sydney
for repair. Considering I dropped it in on 17-10-07 and the workshop in
Sydney records it as having arrived on 22-10-07.

Before ever it even reached the workshop, 5 days had elapsed yet you get
yours returned in 3 days. Absolutely amazing. The first ever experience I
had with Canon was with a 20D which had the widespread back focus error.
They sent that one to Sydney too. It took 3 weeks to come back by mail.

I think you might me misleading us here. The only way you can get turnaround
service of 3 days and loan cameras is by joining the somewhat exclusive Pro
club. Why should a buyer of a camera costing as much as a car, need to pay
for membership to a "club" to get service on it in automotive service time
frames?

Andersons in Capalaba are warranty service agents for Nikon and Olympus (to
name just two) I get over the counter service from them and don't have to
pay annual membership of some quaint "club" to get it.

Douglas

 

As have mine. The only thing they do in Brissie is clean sensors.

Not my style

I have been a member of CPS for quite some time.

Again... Pay?? I have never paid for CPS membership.

 

Oh, I see. That IDs Mk II of yours was free was it?
Considering the cost premium you paid over a Nikon, you most certainly did
"pay" for your membership to the "somewhat exclusive club". To the tune of
about $2.5k.

Douglas

 

Regardless of purchase cost, you said "pay annual membership".