What's the average lifespan...

[tornerito]

What's the average lifespan...of a point and shoot canon digital,say the A*** series? I mean, theoretically, I know it differs a lot between owners.
Thanks
Tornerito

[tracy]

hi tornerito, i've had my a70 about 3 1/2 yrs. and mine went out today ( the screen turned a redish color and the pictures looked like they where very blurry)for some unknown reason. it was fine the other day but today was a different story.

[jasonop]

I got my SD700IS a month ago, and I'm very disappointed to say that as of a few days ago it started having serious problems with audio when taking videos. I can no longer get clear audio; the sound is extremely scratchy, full of little pops and clicks (maybe a half a dozen or so per second). One thought was: was it something I did? But no, I haven't done anything different with this camera at all, and never had this problem before on previous cameras (Panasonic Lumix, Kodak) that I had for years and were treated the same (gentle) way.

I know you asked about the A series, but it might pay to find out whether this problem is a general Canon problem or just specific to the SD700.

[Pixel9ine]

My Powershot A95 was babied for the first few months then put to work while I went rock climbing, mountain biking and camping. I've even had it dangled from a moving car (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=171511).
Basically, all the things you'd never dream of doing to an SLR... and it works just as well today as it did out of the box. It's really my "grab n' go" camera.. lots of versatility when you don't want/need the bulk of an SLR.

[BruceC]

I would guess about 5 years. My father still uses his old A50 he bought back in '99. I have a 2 year old A75 that still works perfect.

[samsen]

I think it has to do with the manufacturer and that specific brand.
As an Ex-Nikon fan, I learned through disappointing experience that Nikon's coolpix series even the top of lines are a lot shorter than what I hoped or payed for....:(

Also sensor plays a role and except Canon that makes all of its sensors, a lot of other camera sensors are from Sony and probably you have heard about that failed sensor story for which many manufacturers provide a free service.

[Chenla Ou]

good question, it mostly all depends on how the owner handles it really.

[Moppie]

My A80 must be nearly 4 years old, and I still works extremly well.
Its been well used too, dropped, scratched, squashed, splashed with water, used in light rain, and a light shower of beer, dropped in the sand, used in snow (actualy sat in snow), and generaly swung around and well handled.

They are surprisingly tought reliable little cameras.

Of course like all mass produced electronic devices, there will also be some copies that won't work, or will have a fault, and of course these are the things that people like to post about on internet forums. Which of course leaves a very biased view of any product because no one ever starts at thread because thier camera is working perfectly.
Its something you will find on any forum that has product discussion in it.