Camera Repair question

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 09:01

So I dropped my camera (sony A300) the other day. It was sitting on the bench and I went to grab it to snap up some pics and the strap caught the corner and ripped it right out of my hands before I knew what happened. Now it had this wierd buzzing sound when I turn it on and the most annoying thing is it now take pics off center. It's like it needs calibrated or something.. The issues are the store I bought it from is now out of business (Circut City) and the camera shop we had here (Ritz Camera) has also recently closed it's door's. Anyone know anything about how to fix this? I know absoultly nothing about camera's except how to point and take pics. But the actual mechanics might as well be in greek to me. And there just dosen't seem to be any options on places to take it around here to have it looked over and I'd really rather not sent it to sony (who know's how long it would be before I'd get it back, probably months) Any help would be greatly appreciated

tom p. · 06-23-09, 09:54

Jake, few people want to repair these wunder-devices nowadays. In fact, the inspection charge plus minimal repair costs often exceed the price of a new camera.

You might check with SONY and see if they have any sort of exchange/upgrade program. That's what I did with my Canon when it failed.

IMO, these techno-gadgets are bordering on disposable

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 10:05

That really sucks to hear... It's a fairly new camera and I've always been uber careful with it to this point. I can still take pics with it. But with it shooting off center like it does I'm finding it very difficult to take close up pics or sun shot because it "off kiester's" it and dosen't get the image I'm actually trying to shoot.

tom p. · 06-23-09, 11:17

I know how it can feel

Does it seem the lense has been torqued in relation to the camera's body? I had that happen when a camera fell from a shelf.

Jakerooni · 06-23-09, 01:36

Well I took the lense off and checked it out visually and then put it back on with the same results. The lense took the brunt of the fall. Maybe I just tweaked the lense and can just use another one. My cousin has the A100. Maybe I'll try that lense out and see. (don't have any extra yet myself) But i checked with Sony online and it was a $250 bill just to look at it then whatever the cost was of repair. I only paid $500 for the camera to begin with (CC going out of business sale LOL) so i can't see dumping that kind of cash into it.

tom p. · 06-24-09, 08:54

How much do you have into lenses? I guess that would have a significant influence on how to proceed...

Jakerooni · 06-24-09, 09:34

Only the stock lense that came with it right now. The camera is only a couple of months old. But I see Sony has already replaced the A300 with the new A330.. I love being outdated in only a couple of months LOL...I went with the Sony over the Nikon and the Cannon because the SI is in the body and not the lense which would've made buying new lenses a bit cheaper on my end. At least that was the thought process at the time.