digicam flash is dead... fix it, or replace the camera

[mkt]

alright... my trust Sony U60's flash has kicked the bucket. For reasons unbeknownst to me (although I'm guessing something is up with the circuits), the flash is refusing to work. So I've come to 2 decicions... which one should I take.

I'm estimating at least $100 to fix the camera... more than likely more. So should I

A- pay to have the camera fixed or...

B- take the $100+ and put it towards a new camera?

I'm gonna go tomorrow to the local Sony repair place to have it looked at, and depending on how the estimate goes, I'll probably have my answer then, but I'm curious what others would do in my situation.

 

[NowInc]

For a little more you could get a new 4+ megapixel camera...thats what Id do

 

[mkt]

I just got the estimate. Parts are covered under warranty, labor is not. It's gonna cost me at least $150 at this point.

And Dan.. find me a 4+mp camera that will use memory sticks for that price, and I'll buy it right now. (hint.. Minolta G400)

 

[barnum42]

I just got the estimate. Parts are covered under warranty, labor is not.

What sort of half-arsed warranty does not cover labour? How old is the camera?

Over here I favour going to independant repair shops as they work out a damn sight cheaper. It's not a complex fix - un screw case, unplug or unsolder flash, reverse process to reasemble.

 

[mkt]

and I know I can do it myself.. but I'm lazy.

I may just keep the camera as it is, since I prefer its results sans flash generally over ones with flash, and just buy another camera.

Tomorrow will be the U60's extreme test... Hurricane Charley.

 

[NowInc]

Sony is releasing a new 4mpx camera in the next quater that is supposidly going to retail for under 200

 

[barnum42]

and I know I can do it myself.. but I'm lazy.

My reply was not intended to say "do it yourself" but ask why a shop would charge that much for a simple job.

I'm still amazed your guarentee does not cover labour.

 

[EpcoTim]

See what you can get for it if you repair it, and then sell it. Might be worth getting it fixed and pawning it off.

 

[DigitalDisney]

I take it your camera doesn't have support for an external flash? If so, then that would be the simple, portable solution.

 

[Tim G]

If I were you I would replace the camera... (never trusted Sony cameras anyway...)
Get an Olympus... which is manufacturing real cameras from the beginning (celuloid) and use real good lenses too...
But that's MY opninion of course.

 

[barnum42]

If I were you I would replace the camera... (never trusted Sony cameras anyway...)
Get an Olympus... which is manufacturing real cameras from the beginning (celuloid) and use real good lenses too...
But that's MY opninion of course.

I don't know Sony cameras, but I'm guessing the memory sticks MKT has accumulated are proably not going to work in an Olympus, which may affect his decision.

 

[Figment1986]

darn... i dont know of many cameras at all that use memory sticks... i know Nikon uses Flash cards.... (I love my nikon 4300....)

I would keep the camera you have now and get a new something.... how often do u use the flash anyways???

 

[DigitalDisney]

I don't know Sony cameras, but I'm guessing the memory sticks MKT has accumulated are proably not going to work in an Olympus, which may affect his decision.

I also recommend an Olympus. Of course, when you're spending good money to buy a digicam, you want to check reviews to see how the cameras fare. There are some lemons out there, from all companies.

Regarding the Memory sticks, they're not going to work in anything but Sony products. Sony may make some good stuff, but it also uses proprietary storage and battery technology that you can only get from Sony. They're like the Mac of the electronics world.

 

[Tim G]

I also recommend an Olympus. Of course, when you're spending good money to buy a digicam, you want to check reviews to see how the cameras fare. There are some lemons out there, from all companies.

Regarding the Memory sticks, they're not going to work in anything but Sony products. Sony may make some good stuff, but it also uses proprietary storage and battery technology that you can only get from Sony. They're like the Mac of the electronics world.

Right!! but please don't let them make cameras...

 

[mkt]

Actually.... 3 Minoltas use Memory Sticks, which are what I'm looking at right now. Also, for $140, I can buy a store demo U60 camera, no accessories, so that's another option I have. If I can talk them down to $120, I may take it and run

 

[Tim G]

Actually.... 3 Minoltas use Memory Sticks, which are what I'm looking at right now. Also, for $140, I can buy a store demo U60 camera, no accessories, so that's another option I have. If I can talk them down to $120, I may take it and run

What kind of lenses does minolta use now??
They used to have the "rokkor"lenses, which were very bad... don't kwow what they're using now... please check first.