[Question] Expected life of body?

Hi all,

I'm just curious, normally what is the life expectancy of a body?
Reason why I'm asking is because I bought brand new EOS 30D on Feb 2007 for around nz$2500 Now it just stop working. I brought the camera to Canon service centre and now I got quote for $656 to get it fix. Description, replace PCB Assy "C" & PCB Assy "D".. what are these? I mean I know what PCB is but which PCB C or D? Its pass 1 year so no more warranty but I was not expecting a body to just last for 1.5 year

Edit: Camera never drop or even use in bad weather, always kept in drybox.. so far I only took about 4600+ photos.

electronic components can, and sometimes do, fail for no apparent reason. in this case, one of the PCBs may have failed in a manner that "took the other one with it". without knowing what those designations mean, i can't say what failure mode would cause them both to quite, but it probably has nothing to do with weather, dropping or anything else. you may have just got a "bad one". most bodies should last for years, until either the shutter gives out or some other electromechanical bit - switches, buttons, knobs, contacts - quits working.

squirl033 wrote in post #6380247
electronic components can, and sometimes do, fail for no apparent reason. in this case, one of the PCBs may have failed in a manner that "took the other one with it". without knowing what those designations mean, i can't say what failure mode would cause them both to quite, but it probably has nothing to do with weather, dropping or anything else. you may have just got a "bad one". most bodies should last for years, until either the shutter gives out or some other electromechanical bit - switches, buttons, knobs, contacts - quits working.

Yeah, you are right. I thought I got a "lemon" at around 2500-3000 photos.. the shutter button full press start to fail. I posted here sometime ago and apparently it happen to quite a number of 30D owner. I just wasn't expecting it to happen at around those shutter mileage. Now it dead completely and sound like quite a major broke down.. Sorry for the ranting.. quite in badmood at the moment

if you're getting the camera repaired in NZ, there is a requirement by retailers to honour the "consumer guarantees act"
see: http://www.consumeraff​airs.govt.nz …info/cga/faulty​goods.html

in it, there is a clause that "goods must be durable - last for a reasonable time"

1.5 years is not a reasonable time for a camera. The main emphasis is on the retailer, rather than on the manufacturer but it's worth trying both - where did you buy the camera?

ae86trueno wrote in post #6380292
Yeah, you are right. I thought I got a "lemon" at around 2500-3000 photos.. the shutter button full press start to fail. I posted here sometime ago and apparently it happen to quite a number of 30D owner. I just wasn't expecting it to happen at around those shutter mileage. Now it dead completely and sound like quite a major broke down.. Sorry for the ranting.. quite in badmood at the moment

hmm, that's not fun. Someone here just replaced his shutter button by himeself for like 10 bucks, but it sounds like your problems extend further than that. Sorry to hear. Yeah, sometimes they just don't last... some are awesome (like my 20D, over 100k shots and no sign of slowing down) and some don't. I had two 1D mark III bodies totally fail on me. C$10000 worth of paperweights.

btw... I drive a hachiroku too.

joeseph wrote in post #6380352
if you're getting the camera repaired in NZ, there is a requirement by retailers to honour the "consumer guarantees act"
see: http://www.consumeraff​airs.govt.nz …info/cga/faulty​goods.html

in it, there is a clause that "goods must be durable - last for a reasonable time"

1.5 years is not a reasonable time for a camera. The main emphasis is on the retailer, rather than on the manufacturer but it's worth trying both - where did you buy the camera?

Yep, bought from store here in NZ, I didn't bring it back to shop but to Canon service center, should I cancel the repair and bring to the store? I didn't know about that consumer guarantees act. At the moment its out of warranty, will it cover the camera? since 1.5 years does not sound reasonable time for a camera. By the way thanks for the information Joeseph.

picturecrazy wrote in post #6380359
hmm, that's not fun. Someone here just replaced his shutter button by himeself for like 10 bucks, but it sounds like your problems extend further than that. Sorry to hear. Yeah, sometimes they just don't last... some are awesome (like my 20D, over 100k shots and no sign of slowing down) and some don't. I had two 1D mark III bodies totally fail on me. C$10000 worth of paperweights.

btw... I drive a hachiroku too.

100k shots??? :O lol then I definitely got a "lemon" i guess. at the moment I still not dare to change parts myself, I'm still not really familiar with the internal part of SLR. woa.. 2 1D3? and both fail? you got them covered under Warranty?
Wah.... another Hachiroku any pics? mine you can find at http://bahamuthae86.de​viantart.com/

ae86trueno wrote in post #6380578
Wah.... another Hachiroku any pics? mine you can find at http://bahamuthae86.de​viantart.com/

sure, here are a couple...

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ae86trueno wrote in post #6380478
Yep, bought from store here in NZ, I didn't bring it back to shop but to Canon service center, should I cancel the repair and bring to the store? I didn't know about that consumer guarantees act. At the moment its out of warranty, will it cover the camera? since 1.5 years does not sound reasonable time for a camera. By the way thanks for the information Joeseph.

Probably best contact the store first & gauge their reaction to having NZ law quoted to them. Ring them up & say something like:
"my camera is just out of warranty & has failed - the consumer guarantees act says goods sold should be durable and last a reasonable time & this is absolutely not a reasonable time, and ask will they resolve the problem"

If yes - then you're all good to get the camera back from Canon & go thru the store's remedy. If no, then you can either ask that they read the webpage concerned and reassess their position, or if they take a firm stand (speak to a manager if you have to) you may even have to (or indicate you're prepared to) file a claim in the small claims court. I'd say 98% of retail staff have no idea what the CGA is, let alone what it covers so getting them to read what the law states is a good start. If they dig their heels in then you don't have much option other than leave the camera at canon to get repaired at your cost, then file a claim against the retailer.
Guy I sit next to at work has had a 3 year old microwave replaced after failure (1 year warranty) also had oven repairs done well out of warranty.

[p.s. here's the usual disclaimer that this isn't intended as legal advise, just a suggestion on how to proceed... ]

picturecrazy wrote in post #6380951
sure, here are a couple...

*I remove the photo to keep the thread neat*

Like I said... with cameras it seems like the luck of the draw. Some suck, some are good. Thankfully, the good ones seem to be in the vast majority. Sorry that yours died. I would not pay $600 for a repair. I'd upgrade to a use 40D or something. I think the 40D is a worthwhile upgrade from the 30D.

Wow.. Thanks for the photos other than photography I love my 86 (actually too much until my ex got really jealous with my 86 )

yeah, before I bought my 30D I was read quite alot and I agree its like trying to strike a lottery, either good body or lemon and same with lenses too
At the moment thats what I think too. the cost is not really worth it. At the moment my plan is to try the consumer right as per Joeseph's advice. But if the shop does not want to do it I guess I will go for 50D (5D2 is tempting but I think for me just for a hobby and also I shoot Badminton too (my other hobby ) I will be better off with 50D than 5D

joeseph wrote in post #6381036
Probably best contact the store first & gauge their reaction to having NZ law quoted to them. Ring them up & say something like:
"my camera is just out of warranty & has failed - the consumer guarantees act says goods sold should be durable and last a reasonable time & this is absolutely not a reasonable time, and ask will they resolve the problem"

If yes - then you're all good to get the camera back from Canon & go thru the store's remedy. If no, then you can either ask that they read the webpage concerned and reassess their position, or if they take a firm stand (speak to a manager if you have to) you may even have to (or indicate you're prepared to) file a claim in the small claims court. I'd say 98% of retail staff have no idea what the CGA is, let alone what it covers so getting them to read what the law states is a good start. If they dig their heels in then you don't have much option other than leave the camera at canon to get repaired at your cost, then file a claim against the retailer.
Guy I sit next to at work has had a 3 year old microwave replaced after failure (1 year warranty) also had oven repairs done well out of warranty.

[p.s. here's the usual disclaimer that this isn't intended as legal advise, just a suggestion on how to proceed... ]

Thanks for the suggestion Joeseph, my workmate also pointing me to http://www.consumer.or​g.nz/ which show about the same information.
Wish me luck, tomorrow I will try to go to the shop and see from there. Thanks again Joeseph. By the way your avatar, is that taken at Pukekohe?

ae86trueno wrote in post #6383255
By the way your avatar, is that taken at Pukekohe?

good spotting! - taken at Puke at one of the Auckland motorcycle club meets earlier in the year.

Nice Trueno!


Anyways my 1D classic from 01 still works...

the camera should last a longer than that. I had a 10D for 4 years. Didn't have any problems with it all.

sorry to hear about the problems, find out the cost of getting it fixed and the cost of getting either the 40D or the 50D. and then figure it out from there.

Digital cameras don't usually wear out. They get dropped or become technologically obsolete.