Anyone know a good camera repair place in UK?

[Montero]

I have a Fujifim FinePix S8200, and a couple of the switches are getting cranky, or are cranky when the battery is getting low. As of today it added the zoom switch to the list of cranky, and the excellent lens based zoom system is why I chose it.
So anyone know of a good camera repair place in the UK?
I did a brief search online and there were various places saying they did FinePix and that you'd post them the camera, but I wondered if anyone had ever used just a service, for any digital camera?

 

[Foxbat]

I’ve had a repair done but never had a camera serviced. I’d imagine any repair shop would also service a camera.All you can do is contact them and ask.

If they are mechanical switches, I’d be tempted to try myself by cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol - either spraying or applying with a cotton bud.

 

[Montero]

They are mechanical and electrical - as in you push a lever round and it activates a motor to extend the lens. You can hear the motor whine.
The second one is a little rocker switch, which is circular, and you use it for navigating a lot of the menus. Tilt right, tilt left/up/down and a set button in the middle. Does things like scroll dates when re-setting the dates. It has become very sensitive and prone to overshooting your target.

 

[Foxbat]

Might just be a bit of dirt. Isopropyl might help.

When you say you can hear the motor whine….does it actually move as it’s supposed to?Is it slower than it used to be? I can hear my lens as it moves but it’s a very soft sound and not something I’d describe as a whine. I’m just wondering if perhaps the lens problem is the motor?

Trying to move or moving but meeting some kind of resistance would increase the load on the motor and may cause it to whine.

 

[Montero]

I tried it just now and after a pause the lens extended and then retracted on command.
The extension of the lens has always come with a mmmmmm noise at about C above middle C or a little higher, which was what I would call a whine. I assumed electric motor. Not super loud but audible.
It is the same noise it has always made.
I was hearing the noise when I was pressing the lever right round to command it to extend and it wasn't moving, or on one occasion it jerked slightly. And now it has extended. This is after a night indoors in a warm place. It is entirely possible that it doesn't like the damp winter weather, but I have been using it outside for years.
There is the possibility of damp or dirt getting in, though I try to shelter it, or stand under shelter if taking a picture in the rain.

In terms of cleaning with isopropyl alcohol - from the outside or open up the case and get at contacts?

 

[Astro Pen]

Checking ebay FinePix S8200 are coming up at under £100. If you are attached to the familiarity of it it will probably be cheaper to replace it with a low mileage one from a seller with good feedback.
The other thing that will probably give out soon is the small internal battery that keeps the date and time. (though that might be an easy change on that model, I don't know.)
Not only will yours probably be expensive (parts and labour) to have repaired by a camera technician it is also accumulating age related wear. It's much like the "Should I change my high mileage car?" conundrum.
I'm the same sticking to my Sony Alpha, If it goes I will replace it with another one because all my old minolta film lenses work on it

 

[Foxbat]

In terms of cleaning with isopropyl alcohol - from the outside or open up the case and get at contacts?

It certainly sounds like dirt might be the problem - especially given that it jerked. It's as if either there's a dirty contact or some dirt has got into the motor. I think most motors are pretty much sealed so it's probably the switch contacts.
I think you'd have to get into the guts of it. The alcohol itself evaporates very quickly and leaves no residue. If possible, I'd go for spraying rather than dabbing with something like a cotton bud (always a chance of a small piece coming from the bud). I'd concentrate of finding the switches and cleaning them and see how it goes.

I've opened up a digital camera before (to convert the detector for infra-red) so I know it can be a fiddly job (you might need some jewelers/watchmakers screwdrivers). I think any decent camera repair shop should be able to do this for you if you don't feel confident. I have no idea how much it would cost (my repair was almost £200 but that was to completely replace the battery connector and related circuit board). I'd guess a cleanup will be a lot cheaper than that.

@Astro Pen has a point. Might be cheaper with a replacement. I'd probably go that route.....but I'd still try and fix the old one just for the challenge

 

[Montero]

Checking ebay FinePix S8200 are coming up at under £100. If you are attached to the familiarity of it it will probably be cheaper to replace it with a low mileage one from a seller with good feedback.
The other thing that will probably give out soon is the small internal battery that keeps the date and time. (though that might be an easy change on that model, I don't know.)
Not only will yours probably be expensive (parts and labour) to have repaired by a camera technician it is also accumulating age related wear. It's much like the "Should I change my high mileage car?" conundrum.
I'm the same sticking to my Sony Alpha, If it goes I will replace it with another one because all my old minolta film lenses work on it

Ooh, that is definitely a thought. I am familiar with it and it does have a good telephoto function.

I think the small internal battery went ages ago - the time and date have to be re-set every time I change the batteries.

Still thinking about repairing too, but going for a good second hand one would save wear and tear on me.

 

[Dave]

Don't you have a "Repair Shop" up your way? Just like the TV programme but with less bedazzling or sickly sentimentality.

Many boroughs of London have them. Some are run by Councils such as Newham Repair Café as a way of reducing their electronic waste. Others such as The Repair Café in Lambeth are community interest companies. Apparently, the idea comes from the Netherlands. To Reuse is much better than to Recycle.

Anyhow, they would sort you out!

 

[Foxbat]

I think the small internal battery went ages ago - the time and date have to be re-set every time I change the batteries.

Talking about batteries reminds me of a recent incident with my camera. I have a couple of old Canon DSLRs (EOS 550D and EOS700D) and, a few years ago, bought a couple of extra batteries for them. That way, I could have one in the camera and one on charge. A few weeks ago, I went to swap the batteries and found I had trouble fitting them. It was so bad that I had to use a small screwdriver to prise the battery back out because the spring wasn't strong enough to do the job. It was the same with the other extra battery I had bought (both third party and not Canon). A close inspection of both revealed that they had swollen slightly and this was causing a bad fit. I did a bit of research online and discovered that the swelling is caused by the battery deteriorating and giving off a gas. This may cause them to burst into flames. This is most likely to happen during charging. Some say they are not necessarily dangerous when used within the item (phone, camera, etc) but could cause physical damage as they increase in size. I disposed of them through the appropriate route (with connections covered with insulating tape).

It has taught me to always regularly inspect the batteries for any signs of swelling and to never buy third party ones (I gt them from a reputable vendor thorough Amazon). They might be cheaper than the original manufacturer but they won't look particularly cheap if they burn your house down.

 

[Montero]

Don't you have a "Repair Shop" up your way? Just like the TV programme but with less bedazzling or sickly sentimentality.

Many boroughs of London have them. Some are run by Councils such as Newham Repair Café as a way of reducing their electronic waste. Others such as The Repair Café in Lambeth are community interest companies. Apparently, the idea comes from the Netherlands. To Reuse is much better than to Recycle.

Anyhow, they would sort you out!

Oh yes, re-use is so much better than recycle.

Hadn't even heard of Repair Cafes as such - or the TV programme.

I've taken a look and to my amazement there is one about half an hour's drive away - round where we live is not exactly at the forefront of anything. (Love it, but....). However it has just closed until to the end of January as everyone is busy with Christmas..... I think those could be rather useful though thank you.
I think I am off to buy a second hand one from a reliable eBay dealer and then I will get the existing one repaired in February.

Some of it seems to be the camera, or the rechargeable batteries when running low, feel the cold. Occasionally the power on switch won't turn it on but if I stick the camera inside my coat and warm it up it will be fine five minutes later.

 

[Foxbat]

It might be worth replacing the rechargable battery. The fact that you can improve performance by warming it makes me think the battery might be on the way out or has developed a memory. It might be the source of most of your problems (struggling to drive a motor etc).

What is battery memory effect? | Definition from TechTarget

What is the battery memory effect? This definition of memory effect explains how a reduction in the longevity of a rechargeable battery's charge can be caused by incomplete discharge in previous uses.

www.techtarget.com

 

[Dave]

By a sheer coincidence (or maybe TPTB do read the SFF Chronicles forum, I've often wondered) Repair Cafés, and the inability to change batteries in new tech like Segways, was the phone-in topic of the BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show this lunchtime. I had the radio in the car on. I can't stand him, but the subject was interesting, and apparently there are hundreds of those Repair Cafés now, everywhere. I never knew this. Some don't have a permanent base and move around on different days. It seems that everyone now wants to get things fixed, but that the replacement of batteries and the difficulty of opening up some electrical goods is a major barrier to this.

 

[Montero]

Ah, thanks on the rechargeable didn't even know there was such a thing as battery memory.
As it happens I have recently got new rechargeables, and they are lasting weeks longer than the old, and the getting it to turn on problem hasn't happened since then. It was only intermittent anyway. I should have said that in my original post if I'd remembered to....... The zoom has totally stopped working again today.

I've just ordered a replacement second hand camera from eBay, from a camera shop/camera repair shop with good reviews and it is listed as tested, and in comparing mine to the one in the photo, all the lettering on mine is far more worn off than the one that is now coming next week, for less than £100. So I think I might have used mine a fair bit..... Once I have a working one I may try cleaning my old one. Gosh, feels a bit extravagant that I might have two working cameras in the house...

 

[Foxbat]

It was only intermittent anyway

Aargh! The absolute worst kind of fault. Chances are - take it to get repaired and they can't find anything wrong. Bring it back home and fault happens again. Repeat ad nauseum. Absolute nightmare. I'd rather have something completely broken than only working sometimes.

 

[Montero]

Yonks ago I had a little Metro, and it developed a starting problem. Turn the key, zilch. Shake the steering column and you were in luck. Told the garage at the annual service and they found nothing. Get in to drive away, turn the key, zilch. Run over to mechanic "It's doing it now." Mechanic gets in, turns the key, vrooom.

 

[Dave]

I had a Talbot (Chrysler) Alpine (it was second hand, given to me free) that did that. It would drive for 45 minutes and then just suddenly die. It would never start again. I called the AA. They came about 30-45 minutes later and there was never a problem by then. Took it to the garage and they couldn't find any problem with it either. Battery fine, Starter fine, Carburettor fine, Sparks Plugs fine. It often happened, usually on exactly the same stretch of road. Was it a haunted road? I began to take a book with me to read in the car while I waited for the AA. Eventually, the AA refused to come out any more because they said I was wasting their time. For a while I thought I must be imagining it all!

Much later, it got worse, so that the actual faulty part could then be identified. Some kind of capacitor on the electrical system was overheating. I was glad to see the back of it. However, on the plus side, I did get to read a lot!