Deanie1113

After a disastrous learning experience with Panasonic I've about decided that choosing a camera based only on how good the system is just isn't good enough! Which camera brand is easiest to work with when it comes to maintenance, repair, and general customer service? Any to avoid? I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences - thank you!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Which Panasonic model did you have problems with? Their support for the Lumix G9, GH4, GH5, and GH5s is professional level. If you are a working professional with at least two bodies and four qualifying lenses, you can pay the $199 annual fee and join. This is a model similar to that used by Nikon for NPS, and Canon for CPS.

https://lumix-pro.us

Here's a contact at Panasonic outside that group. It was forwarded to me by Daniel J. Cox, who runs http://naturalexposures.com/corkboard/ ...the Natural Exposures blog:

Jamie Ramirez
Manager, Panasonic Factory Service Center
4900 George McVay Drive, Ste. B, Door 12
McAllen, TX 78503
E: jamie.ramirez@us.panasonic.com
O: 956-683-2905
F: 956-668-8055

Over the years, I've had great service from Canon, Nikon, Bronica, Panasonic. I've not owned other brands personally (my former employers did). I will add that all of these brands make top end bodies and lenses that are first-rate, rugged, reliable, and dependable. If you take care of them, they'll take care of you.

My Nikon FTn rolled about 70 feet down a mountain in Montana, and worked perfectly for five years, before I dropped it on concrete. After an FTn finder meter repair, it has worked since.

My first Nikon F3 lasted six years before it needed the depth of field preview button repaired. Everything else on the F3 lasted another year, until it was stolen.

My Canon 20D lasted seven years with no service. My 30D, second 40D, and 50D never needed service. My FIRST 40D "back focused" with every lens, and had to be returned for a new one.

My Nikon D100 never needed service, but it was a piece of photo excrement. I was glad to give that one up, because it was toooooo sloooow... one of Nikon's few "bad dogs".

My Nikon D70 never needed service.

The other Nikon dSLRs I used briefly were serviced annually, whether they needed it or not, by my employer.

My 3-year old Panasonic Lumix GH4 has yet to need service. It seems as "bullet-proof" as the old Nikon F3, and feels very similar in hand. I will happily add a GH5 when I find the right used body.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I suspect the 100-400 issue
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-558950-1.html

Bipod

How's the service on your consumer electronics (stereos, TVs etc)? Sadly, that's what you can
expect from any company that sells the product you are buying mainly to consumers: Sony,
Canon, Nikon, etc.

What percentage of Nikon D850s are sold to professionals? I'd guess way less than 1%.

There aren't enough professional still photographers left in business for this to be a significant
market to any large, multinational corporation. You are buying a consumer item, so you can
expect consumer service.

If you bought a professional video, laboratory or industrial camera or lens, you would get a
much better level of service. These companies depend on repeat business and have to meet
the expectations of professionals. Corporate purchasing agents and film production companies
are demanding customers.

So, when buying a consumer camera, the best you can do is compare the warranties, service terms
and "grey-market" policies of different camera manufacturers--and hope to heaven the manufacturer
will abide by them. Because you really don't have any recourse (as you may already have discovered).

Most importantly, try to buy from a dealer that has good service. Here you are in luck: there are
some good ones. I have bought from B&H and Adorama for decades and never had a bad experience.
B&H is as honest as the day is long, but has a lot less still photography gear than it used to.

Local stores can also be good--if they plan to stay in business. Dealers have more pull with the
manufacturer than customers do (but they also have more to lose if they piss-off the manufacturer).
A mutli-manufacturer dealer can apply more leverage, then one that only reperesents one or two
manufacturers

I recently had a good experience with Hotrod Cameras in LA (specializing in professional video,
but with a few still cameras) buying a Century Precisions Optics product distributed by Schneider.

For used camera gear, it's hard to beat KEH.

Or you can buy cheap and take your chances. Sometimes that makes sense if you can afford to run
the risk of having to write-off the puchase. You will lose no matter what you do because you have
no bargaining power. You are just one customer out of hundreds of thousands.

Wouldn't it be nice if the Golden Rule prevailed? It does: "he who has the gold makes the rules".

Shutterbug57

The only system I have had to get repaired - user error - was Nikon. They were easy to work with.

I have been very impressed with Fuji’s philosophy of providing firmware updates frequently. Those updates frequently provide additional functionality to the user for free.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Hey....the customer is ALWAYS right.....rarely are they correct.
Repairs are a special nightmare....some people say the repaired part does not work as good (? define good), some people expect a whole new exchanged unit, rarely will you hear good news.
Quick service gets lots of stars and possibly more returns than a slow well checked service. But a slow service no-one wants.
If all camera brands can produce great pictures, then the service each brand offers will be similar in intention - It is all down to people (those that ask and those that deal with you)
Having worked in a service industry - you aim to please most people most of the time, You can never please everyone all of the time.
have a great day...the happier you are - the more often things go right!!!

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

I have had 2 Canon cameras that have never failed. Any of the troubles I have had were the result of my own ignorance. Customer service for my brain is a bit iffy, so I had quite the challenge there.
The learning curve was not bad considering the complexity of the units. The camera controls are nearly identical on each model. Maintenance is simple, as long as you keep the body clean and dry. They are weather sealed for the most part.
The times when I have called about trouble with other Canon products, I have been treated very professionally and promptly. Of course there is always the oddball service rep that is new or learning the job and the chance of ending up with one is always there. Maybe you got one or more of those when you contacted Panasonic.
Good luck in your quest.

hcmcdole

I boycott Panasonic for the simple reason of the way I was treated at a local service center (it was for a DVD player). Another customer got the red carpet treatment because he was dropping off his TiVo-like device and they would deliver it to his house when repaired but I wasn't offered the same service. I know his cost more but is this the way Panasonic does business with the public? Panasonic might make great products but the service department sucked in Norcross, GA a long time ago...

Deanie1113

Thank you for all this great info. (Yes, it was a bad experience with the Panny 100-400 -- a great lens but very delicate).

Deanie1113

Thanks so much for your insight! Appreciate it greatly.

Deanie1113

Thank you for your quick reply and good thoughts!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I'm not sure if you're taking a poll but seems I hear the best things here and more often about Canon service.
I've been using Canons since 08 and their service is next to none.
Don't forget that under one roof they also have CS for Printers and inks and papers as well as cameras.
I am currently qualified and using the FREE CPS membership and I get 24/7/365 Tech for any canon made product!!!
I've been preaching the importance of a complete system, which includes CS since the day I got here!!!
Good luck!!!
SS

Deanie1113

Wow, didn't know about CS before, but it sounds cool! Thank you.

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

They all do the job, for me it is who is taking the photo's. I started with the old Kodak Z812 and they are very good to this day, so for me it isn't the system, it is usually us.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I generally find excellent service from Nikon and Canon.