[Poll] Servicing your E-System camera

[microcosm]

Dear Olympians, while we are blessed with a superb SSWF system to get rid of dust from the sensors, but the fact is, the dust has fallen off the sensor into a "trap" area and over time, the SSWF might not be enough to get rid of the dust. Not to mention the scariest thing that can "defeat" the sensor, which is pollen.

This brought me to the question... how often do you send your camera in for servicing, if any at all. I am starting a poll to hear from you folks.

Mine is kinda due for servicing now. Will send it in during the lull period when I get the least assignments over winter season.

[cire07]

My camera is only abt a month old... din even know that we need to send our cameras in for servicing...

So, how important is it to send for servicing?

[sunfish]

how come no weekly option?
I send mine in for sensor and viewfinder cleaning, returned after one week became worst , so have to send in again.

so unless you really cannot live with the dirt, sending in for cleaning may not be the best option. But if you have a lot of time to visit the service centre weekly..

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by cire07 My camera is only abt a month old... din even know that we need to send our cameras in for servicing... So, how important is it to send for servicing?

Actually, have you asked yourself after SSWF shakes of the dirt, where does it go? It actually goes to a sticky trap in the camera. And depending on how much extreme places you have shot at (and changed lenses there) you will need to replace that sticky trap (like swapping out the vacuum cleaner dust bag).

Also, greasing the camera is important too if you have been traveling with the camera lots and exposing to different harsh climates. Some traveling pros are sending in theirs every 6 months, while the average hobbyist never have to send in theirs at all because they have been taking very good care of their camera.

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by sunfish how come no weekly option? I send mine in for sensor and viewfinder cleaning, returned after one week became worst , so have to send in again. so unless you really cannot live with the dirt, sending in for cleaning may not be the best option. But if you have a lot of time to visit the service centre weekly..

(Rolls down staircase, hitting every step along the way)....

Actually, if they have really screwed up, you can end up getting a new sensor... did you know that? That is very much the Olympus commitment. (At least that was what Masaharu Okubo told us when he had a brief meeting with Olympus users in Taiwan during a seminar). And that is why my faith in Olympus because after hearing from Masaharu speak with so much passion, one just get touched by him.

[sunfish]

Originally Posted by microcosm (Rolls down staircase, hitting every step along the way).... Actually, if they have really screwed up, you can end up getting a new sensor... did you know that? That is very much the Olympus commitment. (At least that was what Masaharu Okubo told us when he had a brief meeting with Olympus users in Taiwan during a seminar). And that is why my faith in Olympus because after hearing from Masaharu speak with so much passion, one just get touched by him.

Yeah..maybe but I think that will not happen until 3 to 4 repeated visits to the service centre and the conversation gets heated up

[cire07]

So Microcosm ur're not from SG huh?

I THINK... maybe the Olympus Centre in SG functions slightly differently...

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by cire07 So Microcosm ur're not from SG huh? I THINK... maybe the Olympus Centre in SG functions slightly differently...

Huh? I just went to the Olympus Centre at Hill Street... they gave me pretty good service. Maybe it is because I know their boss... ha ha ha...

[sunfish]

Originally Posted by microcosm Huh? I just went to the Olympus Centre at Hill Street... they gave me pretty good service. Maybe it is because I know their boss... ha ha ha...

I don't dispute that they give good service and polite...no complaints on that.

the only problem is they can't clean my camera properly

[cire07]

Originally Posted by microcosm Huh? I just went to the Olympus Centre at Hill Street... they gave me pretty good service. Maybe it is because I know their boss... ha ha ha...

Hey...

U mentioned seminar in Taiwan, so i assumed u not from SG... but ur tone sounds pretty local to me... CONFUSED...

So any chance of getting a good word in with their boss to give us better privileges?

I agree they are pretty helpful and patient, but to the extent of lending us lenses for testing? I'm sceptical lah...

[microcosm]

I am lucky some of my assignments got the attention of Oly, so that is why, once in a while, they give me a little "preferential" treatment. But not always. It is good to be able to get access to some of the folks in Oly and chat, but usually it ends up talking about other gadgets and nothing to do with their products in the roadmap... guessed we have all become friends. And my best friend's nephew in law is a manager in Oly. So, in a way, I was lucky to pick the platform where I am quite well connected.

I do hope to contribute a little from the connections to help you guys in this boards, like talking to factories about bulk sales and stuff like that. And maybe work out some mass orders to benefit everyone who loves the 4/3 platform. (Note : HOPE). No promises. I have not gotten any freebies myself... ha ha ha... anyway... thanks for the feedback though. I can always bring this up when I meet the Oly folks the next time. I think the service centre in Singapore is pretty well set up... maybe we can sort of work something out with them, like loaner days, so that everyone can have a chance to shoot with the lenses that are not affordable in the short term...

Let us see how lah.

[cire07]

Morning,

Thanks in advance!

Dun forget to lobby for free parking as well... haha...

[snapperkid]

if you sent your camera for servicing or repairing, how long will it take before you can get your camera back?

[Blu-By-U]

Originally Posted by cire07 Dun forget to lobby for free parking as well... haha...

Very important lobby indeed. Here in K.L., parking at the Oly service center cost a bomb!!!. And that is double. once to send it in and another to collect.

[Mikefellh]

Actually my option is not listed:
"Not at all, I look after my equipment so it never needs servicing!"

My last SLR I used for TWENTY YEARS, and it NEVER had a problem or fault, and never needed any repairs.

I used my C-700 for three years, and it too never had a problem, and still would be using it if I hadn't bought the E-300.

You read about some people, everything they own they break...one person has needed every digital camera they ever owned repaired.

As for the sticky dust pad, it's supposed to hold ten years worth of dust.

[Blu-By-U]

Think it how ppl treat their cams.

Blu have this problem. there is dust on the poron mirror and focusing screen. This is due to the multiple lens change. none of the dust got on the sensor. So should blu send it in or DYI??

[cjtune]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U Think it how ppl treat their cams. Blu have this problem. there is dust on the poron mirror and focusing screen. This is due to the multiple lens change. none of the dust got on the sensor. So should blu send it in or DYI??

I was warned by an Oly rep NOT to try and clean the sensor yourself. The vibrating membrane in front of the NMOS/CCD is very delicate and can be easily damaged by non-trained hands...

I guess that's the flipside of the anti-dust shaker system. Cleans dust off the CCD/NMOS easily for you, but cannot be cleaned easily itself.

Dust on the focussing screen can be easily blown off. I've done that a number of times.

[cjtune]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh Actually my option is not listed: As for the sticky dust pad, it's supposed to hold ten years worth of dust.

I hope the based their 'average dust model' on somewhere other than in Japan... 10-years worth of dust there can easily be just 1-year's worth in polluted cities like Bangkok or KL or if you frequently do shoots in the bushes/wilderness.

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh As for the sticky dust pad, it's supposed to hold ten years worth of dust.

Or ten months, if you live in Beijing. Or ten days in Beijing during the sand storm period. For the rest of the world with clean air and good climate, well... ten years...

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by cjtune I hope the based their 'average dust model' on somewhere other than in Japan... 10-years worth of dust there can easily be just 1-year's worth in polluted cities like Bangkok or KL or if you frequently do shoots in the bushes/wilderness.

Well, I live in Toronto near one of the busiest intersections (9 different bus routes). Occasionally I shoot in nature. I have no concerns.