Camera Repair - Help!

[Floribunda]

Hi Olympus Users,

I am in need of help!

I have had a catastrophe and dropped my E-M1 Mark 11 with my 12-100 Pro lens attached. Very upset. :o STUPIDLY transferred them to an unpadded bag for ease of transportation and the strap slipped from my hand. It only fell from about 12 inches and I am amazed that damage was done at all, but it must have just landed in an awkward position and distorted where they both join together.

I rang Olympus but got an operator with a foreign voice and a rather garbled explanation of what I should do that I could not follow. I went into the website and found the Repair Form, but I gathered from the operator that I had to do something online first.

If anyone has had experience of sending cameras in for repair I would appreciate some guidance as to the steps I should take.

Lyn.

- - - Updated - - -

Hi again - shortly after writing this I sent an email to Olympus and am very happy to report that they got back immediately with simple instructions as to what to do.
In this case speaking to a live person was not as satisfying as the Internet. :confused013 Should be straight sailing now - I hope!

[ameerat42]

Here's for a (cheap and) speedy recovery of said gear.

[Floribunda]

Here's for a (cheap and) speedy recovery of said gear.

Thank you Am - in a way I asked for this - I have always said “how on earth can people drop cameras?” and I can tell you it happens very easily. :o

[ameerat42]

Now you can say, "I know just how people drop cameras ONTO the earth!":(
(And I'd better shuddup in case I do it :o)

[Floribunda]

Now you can say, "I know just how people drop cameras ONTO the earth!":(
(And I'd better shuddup in case I do it :o)

Ooooh Yes! Never Tempt Fate. :eek:

[John King]

Lyn, sorry about your misfortune. If you need them, I have names at Olympus Sydney repair centre. PM me if you need help.

[Floribunda]

Lyn, sorry about your misfortune. If you need them, I have names at Olympus Sydney repair centre. PM me if you need help.

Thank you John - as we speak I have done the paperwork and will post the gear off tomorrow. Will keep you posted as to how things progress. Miserable business. :(

[Mary Anne]

So Sorry to hear this Lyn.

I have sent my E-M1 into Olympus twice and would not do it a third time which was earlier this year.
The lovely Australian English Speaking Lady lady gave me a estimate over the phone when I told her I do not want to send it in.
The Shutter Button died so she had a fair idea of the cost, and it was cheaper to buy a used E-M1 on ebay so I did :nod:

[Floribunda]

So Sorry to hear this Lyn.

I have sent my E-M1 into Olympus twice and would not do it a third time which was earlier this year.
The lovely Australian English Speaking Lady lady gave me a estimate over the phone when I told her I do not want to send it in.
The Shutter Button died so she had a fair idea of the cost, and it was cheaper to buy a used E-M1 on ebay so I did :nod:

I am scared to think what the cost may be MA - I have no idea just what the extent of the damage is, we will just have to wait and see and decide from there. I have had Olympus for many, many years with no problems at all.

[Tannin]

You may like to consider a third-party repairer instead. Like other members here, I have had excellent service from Peter at Accurate Instrument Repair in Petrie, Brisbane. But doubtless there are other good ones. Would you be better off with a good third-party repairer than with Olympus? I don't know. Just saying it is something to think about.

[Floribunda]

You may like to consider a third-party repairer instead. Like other members here, I have had excellent service from Peter at Accurate Instrument Repair in Petrie, Brisbane. But doubtless there are other good ones. Would you be better off with a good third-party repairer than with Olympus? I don't know. Just saying it is something to think about.

Thank you Tony - I am a little nervous about going down that path - will wait and see how it all unfolds with Olympus first but thank you for the thought.

[Bensch]

Oh no! :eek:

Hope all goes well with the repair, please update the thread as you get more info :th3:

[arthurking83]

Thank you Tony - I am a little nervous about going down that path - will wait and see how it all unfolds with Olympus first but thank you for the thought.

Keep it as an option tho!
(from experience).

I had an issue on my D800E, when the front mounted 10 pin(accessory) port caved itself inwards.
Never had any issue with the same port on my D300(which copped many more years of abuse, by comparison), and I suspect it was a faulty made bit.
No worries, it happens sometimes.
Do you think Nikon(aus) would have any interest to listen on the issue?
I did some searching and found quite a few D800's had the same issue.. and even a letter from Nikon Germany accepting that the issue was real(in a limited number of units).
But even before looking, Nikon Aus claimed that there was no such issue at all(even tho I emailed them the notice from Nikon Germany).

Didn't even consider them to repair it, so looked around found some places, some that referred me to other places too.
Went with the indie repairer in the city(which I hate going into) .. got it fixed no worries.
Wasn't extremely cheap by any means, but a little more than the cost of Nikon Aus just looking at it :rolleyes:! ... which they were never going to do(to my gear).

And then the thought occurred to me(well after the repair was done) .. I actually prefer to support the small independent repairer much more so than the fat, top heavy, blood sucking corporate entity .. oops! I meant overpaid executives' slaries .. err .. company :D

ps. I did actually want to do the repair myself, and I reckon could have easily done. But there was a small part(a gasket, maybe) that I couldn't get as a part ... to close it all up properly.

[Floribunda]

Oh no! :eek:

Hope all goes well with the repair, please update the thread as you get more info :th3:

Will do Andy - Have got over the initial shock now and with heart in mouth posted it off to Olympus/Sydney. Posted it lunchtime Thursday and it got there lunchtime Friday - good old Aussie Post who I confess I have berated loudly in the past. :D
Awaiting a quote now. :eek: At least I have my old Em5 1 to snap away with in it's absence. And must confess at this stage that it has made me realise just how good the E1 Mark 2 is.

[Floribunda]

Further update - I have to say that Oympus have been marvellous - they said I was just SO very unlucky and that although the lens is as tough as, it must have just fallen at exactly the wrong spot.
The camera body mount has to be replaced - no great cost
BUT - the rear mount had come away from the lens barrel and the screw mount has to be replaced as well. So a new frame for the Outer Gyro Unit.
I thought the labour costs were horrendous but ...... skill involved I guess.
$500 all up Ugh. Household Insurane may help, but I think there is an excess involved so phone calls have to be made.
And should have it back by the end of this week.

[Bensch]

Glad to hear that it worked out Lyn :th3:

[Floribunda]

Glad to hear that it worked out Lyn :th3:

Apart from the hit in the pocket nerve! :o

[arthurking83]

Considering the gyro damage ... sounds cheap!
Lens mount would be normal .. even if 'OK' .. I'd have asked for it to be renewed.

Good one Olympus.

[Bensch]

Apart from the hit in the pocket nerve! :o

True, but still much cheaper than replacing both (at least that is what I would tell myself :o )

[Floribunda]

Considering the gyro damage ... sounds cheap!
Lens mount would be normal .. even if 'OK' .. I'd have asked for it to be renewed.

Good one Olympus.
I had sort of thought Arthur that the cost would be about that - flying absolutely blind of course never damaged camera gear before.
It is inconsequential cost really when you consider the investment in the camera and Pro lens. Best avoided, but as I always tell myself - it can always be worse.

[Mary Anne]

Thats good news Lyn and I am so Happy for you.
Yes labour is not cheap though getting it done by the people that know the camera is the main thing.

[Floribunda]

Thats good news Lyn and I am so Happy for you.
Yes labour is not cheap though getting it done by the people that know the camera is the main thing.

You are so right MA. It will be so nice to have it back, I have felt lost without it!
Part of the family. :D

[Cage]

Oh Dear Lyn

Sounds like you have it sorted.

And I know the feeling from when a ghost toppled my tripod and dinged my wide angle lens. :eek:

Well, as I was in a cemetery I'm sure it was a spook.

[arthurking83]

In Nikon world, the damage would have been far more expensive.
At a guess, I'd say their labour charges may have been in the $500 range!

I'm not too well versed on Olympus gear, but is the lens stabilised?
I know Olympus cameras have IBIS, so I'm assuming the outer gyro case could be in the camera body?

If the lens is stabilised, then it probably has a gyro itself too(not sure how Olympus stabilised lenses actually operate)

A gyro is a device that senses movement, to tell the stabilisation brains unit which way to counter the movement.

I assume whichever device(lens or camera) gyro bit is being worked on, the gyro probably would have to be recalibrated in some way.
Obviously they have the machines that do that, but it still takes time, and a specialised repair tech to do ... $s!!


First thing I thought when reading your description was camera mount bent. This is to be expected with a camera fall.
That some folks 'get away' with it not being required is more a dumb luck thing.
most falls will result in some deformation on the camera mount .. to varying degrees.
Camera mount fitment is actually very easy, have the right tools anyone with screwdriver experience should be able to do it.
I'd say a reasonable price to repair a camera mount and confirm it's fitment 100% .. ie. send it in to the manufacturer to repair and test ... about $200-300.
Maybe an hour and a bit work for them, plus the hardware.

But to also need to repair lens too ...

So like I reckoned .. $500 .. yeah it's hit to the finances, and one that really shouldn't have happened .. but is cheap.

[Floribunda]

In Nikon world, the damage would have been far more expensive.
At a guess, I'd say their labour charges may have been in the $500 range!

I'm not too well versed on Olympus gear, but is the lens stabilised?
I know Olympus cameras have IBIS, so I'm assuming the outer gyro case could be in the camera body?

If the lens is stabilised, then it probably has a gyro itself too(not sure how Olympus stabilised lenses actually operate)

A gyro is a device that senses movement, to tell the stabilisation brains unit which way to counter the movement.

I assume whichever device(lens or camera) gyro bit is being worked on, the gyro probably would have to be recalibrated in some way.
Obviously they have the machines that do that, but it still takes time, and a specialised repair tech to do ... $s!!


First thing I thought when reading your description was camera mount bent. This is to be expected with a camera fall.
That some folks 'get away' with it not being required is more a dumb luck thing.
most falls will result in some deformation on the camera mount .. to varying degrees.
Camera mount fitment is actually very easy, have the right tools anyone with screwdriver experience should be able to do it.
I'd say a reasonable price to repair a camera mount and confirm it's fitment 100% .. ie. send it in to the manufacturer to repair and test ... about $200-300.
Maybe an hour and a bit work for them, plus the hardware.

But to also need to repair lens too ...

So like I reckoned .. $500 .. yeah it's hit to the finances, and one that really shouldn't have happened .. but is cheap.

Yep - I am basically happy with the quote - and the confidence that Olympus will do a top job.
The lens is stabilised Arthur. And it is the lens gyro that will be replaced and the biggest expense with part and labour. That was the main cost. Spoke to another lovely guy yesterday and he re-iterated that I was just so damn unlucky. It was not a heavy fall as I guess they could tell by the lack of visible damage to the casing and he said it would just have to have landed on precisely the right point to do the damage that occurred.
These things happen - have had years of carting gear around the countryside with not one mishap, so I guess on the whole, it is not too bad.

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Oh Dear Lyn

Sounds like you have it sorted.

And I know the feeling from when a ghost toppled my tripod and dinged my wide angle lens. :eek:

Well, as I was in a cemetery I'm sure it was a spook.

:D No doubt a disgruntled deceased photographer jealous of your gear Kev.
I would like to blame something or someone for my mishap, but I am afraid the buck stops well and truly with me.
However (and I just thought of this) - I have never been really happy with the strap on my camera bag - made of shiny type stuff - I think with Xmas around the corner a new camera bag may be going on the list to Santa. :nod:

[Cage]

I'm now fitting quality straps to all my cameras, ie Black Rapid gear. Don't want to trust a cheapy $20 chinee strap with anything up to $5K's worth of gear.

I have many camera bags but never ever use them unless travelling as 99.9% of my usage is local.

[Floribunda]

It's Back!
And very happy I am to have it too.
Seems to be as good as new and a new padded camera bag purchased for travelling.
Olympus were good to deal with although communication between their various departments need improving.
All up though, a satisfactory result.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48939470048_9e36e8fd47_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hyBzqm)

[Bensch]

Thanks for the update Lyn, great to hear that it has been successfully repaired, and has arrived back safe and sound :th3:

[Mary Anne]

Good News Lyn about getting your camera back all fixed and ready to go.

[Floribunda]

Thanks for the update Lyn, great to hear that it has been successfully repaired, and has arrived back safe and sound :th3:

No doubt I will be a bit nervous handling it for a while Andy!
Good to go again now though.

- - - Updated - - -


Good News Lyn about getting your camera back all fixed and ready to go.

Really missed it MA. All good now.

[Ross the fiddler]

Very sorry you had that drop with the camera & lens, but glad it's back home & in good condition again. Thankfully I only had to take my E-M5 in (before the warranty ran out) to have the display bezel replaced (overtightened screws had cracked it in early production of E-M5 models). I took it in at the time since it was only an hours drive for me & then they posted it back a week later. They wouldn't service the old SWD lenses though (suggested a repairer in Sydney instead), nor my wife's Stylus 1s with sand in it. That was with an email enquiry at the time.

[Floribunda]

Very sorry you had that drop with the camera & lens, but glad it's back home & in good condition again. Thankfully I only had to take my E-M5 in (before the warranty ran out) to have the display bezel replaced (overtightened screws had cracked it in early production of E-M5 models). I took it in at the time since it was only an hours drive for me & then they posted it back a week later. They wouldn't service the old SWD lenses though (suggested a repairer in Sydney instead), nor my wife's Stylus 1s with sand in it. That was with an email enquiry at the time.

Yes Ross - glad to have it back as good as new. Have never had any problems in the past with any of my Olympus gear. Accidents happen I guess. :nod: