Canon ixus 130 'cannot be repaired'

[stbkk]

Hi everybody, I wonder if somebody can help me please?

I have a Canon ixus 130 camera which has stopped working, and when I took it to the Canon service centre in MBK they told me that it was the optical unit that needed replacing, which was out of manufacture so the camera could not be repaired.

Does anybody have any experience of this service centre, good or bad? If bad, any alternatives anybody can think of, please?

The camera isn't exactly brand new, or ancient either (about 6 years old), and I don't really want to buy a new one if it is just in the 'too hard file' for somebody who cannot be bothered to help.

Just as a point of principle if I have to replace it I won't be buying a Canon, as if they don't have spare parts for a 6 year old camera I don't think they are providing a reasonable service. Lets face it, new cameras are hardly likely to break down and need spares, are they!

While I'm here, should the worst come to the worst and I have to get a new one, any suggestions in the 'quite decent point and shoot category'? (Not a Canon, for reasons mentioned above!).

Thanks,

Steve

Edited May 4, 2016 by stbkk

[lopburi3]

I doubt you can find spare parts for any consumer grade cameras being stocked in Thailand. Spare parts are not held for anything here so if out of production you will likely be out of luck getting any kind of repair parts. This is not Europe or USA where there are chains providing after sales parts and makers support products for extended periods - six years it quite a long time for today's products - which seem to change as often as the seasons.

Do you really need a new camera - or can your smartphone take its place? Today some of them have quite good photo abilities and much more likely to be with you when you need it.

[SoiBiker]

They're probably about 30 quid on eBay by now - beyond sensible economic repair, so why supply the part? Just buy another one, or upgrade to something newer.

[samuijimmy]

Agree with Lopburi, but even with newer and non "consumer grade" cameras it can take months for a repair .... Although it could it could be different if living in BKK... Could be worth asking other repair shops???

Sony is just as bad for service.

[johnatong]

I had an 8 year old Pentax repaired and serviced but in Australia. It took two weeks and was not cheap !

[Denim]

Years ago the shutter button on my pentax would not depress. Dealer said they couldn't repair and would have to send it to Japan.

Since the camera was thus rendered useless I decided I had nothing to lose in opening it up and having a go myself. Surprisingly it was just a small spring that had somehow jumped out its hole on the shutter release. Put it back in the hole and it was fixed.

[kkerry]

Since the IXUS 130 was released it has probably been updated five times so not surprised they can't repair it when you can get current models for less than

3000 baht new

[rhythmworx]

I fail to see how an optical unit can suddenly stop a camera working, unless you smashed it.

I suggest taking it to another shop for a second opinion.

Does it turn on, any menu visible, what are the symptoms?

Is it an E18 lens error? http://www.e18error.com/

This fixl ist might be worth trying http://www.e18error.com/repair.html

Edited May 4, 2016 by rhythmworx

[xen]

As a cheaper point and shoot camera they were a good product . i use a cannon IXUS 110 in preference to a phone camera for a lot of on site work . I would guess they , the repair shop ,would rather you upgrade to a newer model . Then repair yours and sell second hand.

[stbkk]

Thanks for the replies everybody, I much appreciate it.

I did some research and found that a repair centre in the UK still has these parts available and could repair it, but like many of you have mentioned it would probably be cheaper to simply get a new one.

I guess I'm getting old but I'm not too comfortable with the throw it away and buy a new one approach that is all too common when so many things break nowadays.

Unfortunately I'm not rich enough to be able to afford to stick to my principles on this one, so I'll probably either buy a new camera or (more likely) buy a slightly more expensive phone with a decent camera built in when I next upgrade.

Thanks again for all of your replies. Helpful common sense answers are not so common on the visa forum which I often browse for amusement!

Steve