digital camera's

[imported_admin]

Darren

Try Dirt Cheap Cameras http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com I think they are based in Sydney. Mate bought a digital from there, beat the best price he could get in Brisbane by $100.00, and that was on a $400.00 camera.

[bidkev]

[quote author=Gorilla_in_Manila link=board=Tackle;num=1082120296;start=10#11 date=04/18/04 at 09:34:09]Kev,
>Any problems with your EOS shutters. I got a EOS 10 that the shutter started sticking on. My old man and a couple of his friends have had their EOS 1000's stuff up. Sent them in for repair and they all had to change the entire shutter mechanism which cost them plenty of bucks. Some sort of gum or shit slowly leaks out of the material they are made from and clags them up apparently.<

I had a 1000, a 100, and an older 600. The 1000 and the 100 both stuffed up twice (which is why I had the 600 back-up....that *never* stuffed up despite being an older model). They took some stick so I suppose I can't complain. The shutters themselves aren't too bad although they are more fragile than older shutters. This is due to lighter materials being used to accomodate the demand for faster shutter speeds. On *all* occasions it wasn't actually the shutter per se but a little rubber "grommet" holding them (I think it's a cushion for when the shutter bounces back). Each time I put it in for repair (get this:-) They charged me $80 bucks for the service (which I would have needed anyway) and 62 cents for the "grommet". That was about 3 years ago at the Cannon depot at Dutton Park, although they send 'em to Sydney for repair. Put 'em in through a camera shop and they will charge you twice the going rate.....steer clear 'cause most of 'em don't use the manufacturer.

>Had the same thoughts as far as the digital goes. Bought a sony P8 recently and am going to get one of those waterproof housings for it. 3.2 meg plenty of resolution for casual snaps and emailed fishing pics. Was almost going for the EOS10D but had a good hard think about what I was going to actually use it for. I'd proably leave it at home 9 times out of 10 because it would have been to much of a pain in the arse to lug around and babysit. Wouldn't take it out in the boat either probably<

Same here. When I sold all my studio gear, and EOS (the wife still has a 3000 with wide angle and a 300 zoom that hasn't yet stuffed up), I was gonna buy top of the range Nikon digital which then was around three grand. I actually got in the shop with *cash* in my hand and thought "do I really *need* this, or do I just *want* this. Then I saw a photo on the wall of a guy in a boat with a huge Spanish......walked out......put the money towards a boat, and haven't looked back. I still promised myself a cheaper digital later, hence my fujipix and I can still use all my filters with it, if I need to :-)

&gtecided to wait until the EOS digitals with decent resolution come down in price. Then all my old lenses will still fit them. In the meantime, I can still take the good shots on the film EOS (as long as I get the bloody shutter fixed that is).<

Whereabouts are you? can you get to Dutton Park?

>Was wondering if you are familiar with the problem with the shutters and know any way of fixing it short of sending it in for the big replacement.<

Answered above.....it's probably the "grommet". You can tell 'em to look and qoute and if it's too expensive for you to have fixed, they return it to you but they charge about 65 bucks labour just for opening it and lookin'. You don't get it back if you don't pay.

Ask yourself if the money could be better spent towards a digital if the repair is too dear. And another word of warning. How old are your lenses?

Most of them begin to grow mold internally by the time they're 4 or 5 years old.....Queensland climate problem, unfortunately. That's why the wife has my 300 lens still, but that's ok 'cause it saves me using a diffuser filter for softening portraits ;-)

Bet you wished you'd never asked :-)

Good Luck

kev

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Kev,
Thanks for all that. Come to think of it, it may have just been the gromet that was replaced, and it was the amount of money the camera shop charged that seemed like it was the whole shutter.
Mines been around a while. Bought it in singapore end 1992, and has been sitting around in aus foir the last couple of years. Getting back to aus (Nrth NSW) in May, so I will pull it out and see what it looks like. I probably should run it up to canon at brissy for a service any way.
Didn't know that about the lenses becoming a mould factory. Can canon service them also?
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into the reply.
Cheers
Jeff

[davo]

I saw Dp review mentioned. It's a great web site. Get a camera that runs on AA batteries. that way in an emergency you can go to normal batteries. I've just come back from Weipa on a fishing trip. I have a Canon Powershot A70 3.2Mpixel. It's excellent, but thing that I did get before I left was Pelican brand Micro Case from Queensland Case at Capalaba in Bayside Brisbane. They are Unconditional Guarranted for life, submersable with a pressure relief valve. It only cost $36. With all the spray we copped up there the case did the trick. Pelican is on the web so check them out.

[bidkev]

Kev,
>Thanks for all that. Come to think of it, it may have just been the gromet that was replaced, and it was the amount of money the camera shop charged that seemed like it was the whole shutter.<

Yep! Their "percentage" was what probably made it seem expensive.

>Mines been around a while. Bought it in singapore end 1992, and has been sitting around in aus foir the last couple of years. Getting back to aus (Nrth NSW) in May, so I will pull it out and see what it looks like. I probably should run it up to canon at brissy for a service any way.
Didn't know that about the lenses becoming a mould factory. Can canon service them also?

I think so, but I reckon it wouldn't come cheap. The last lens (28-70 zoom) I bought for my missus, was a Tokina from Photo Continental and it was a third of the price of buying a Canon. Does the job ok, although there's fall of at the edges on enlargements over 10x8. Quite often with a knackered lens, it's cheaper to replace.

If you hold the lens up to the light, at it's widest aperture, the mould can be see as something akin to frosted glass. Unless you want particularly sharp images, it's no big deal until it gets really bad.

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into the reply.
Cheers
Jeff

No worries, Jeff

kev

[bidkev]

I saw Dp review mentioned. It's a great web site. Get a camera that runs on AA batteries. that way in an emergency you can go to normal batteries. I've just come back from Weipa on a fishing trip. I have a Canon Powershot A70 3.2Mpixel. It's excellent, but thing that I did get before I left was Pelican brand Micro Case from Queensland Case at Capalaba in Bayside Brisbane. They are Unconditional Guarranted for life, submersable with a pressure relief valve. It only cost $36. With all the spray we copped up there the case did the trick. Pelican is on the web so check them out.

Thanks for that Davo. Sounds cheap for such a "life-saving piece of kit. Will look 'em up.

You are right about the Canon Powershot. A couple of my rellies have them and they seem excellent. Good reports on the lens as well. That was what got me thinking about digital in the first place. Now if they'd have done one with a 10xzoom, I'd have gone for that, rather than the Fuji

cheers

kev

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

This them Davo?
http://www.pelican.com/cases/cases.html
Cheers
Jeff

[scubapro]

I have a Canon Ixus 300 which has 2.1 megapixels & 3 x optical zoom in a Canon underwater housing. It fits the camera like a glove & is very small & light.

I picked up the housing from Myers at the Gold Coast in a throw out sale for $89-00 & bought a second hand Ixus (in as new condition) for $300-00.

All up a great package & I have no problems about worrying about water damage.

Scubapro

[BlitzBaga]

We just bought a new Kodak DX6490 it takes beautiful photos. I think I'd get shot by the missus if I took it fishing, even if it was fully protected. I guess some people by their camera spefically for fishing. I might get to take it when the novelty wears off.

Cheers
Murray