Maintenance for my Camera: I have a Nikon D3200 that I have been using for about six years now. I go through periods of heavy/light usage. I was reading through the owners manual to...

bkinnie Loc: Pennsylvannia, living in Florida

I have a Nikon D3200 that I have been using for about six years now. I go through periods of heavy/light usage. I was reading through the owners manual to refamiliarize myself with some of the controls since I had not used it for a few months and I came across a statement saying that the camera should have a general checkup and cleaning about every two years. I live in northeast Florida and I don't know where any camera shops are located. Can anyone give any recommendations?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Nikon has a repair facility just up the coast from you in N.Y.
--Bob

bkinnie wrote:

I have a Nikon D3200 that I have been using for about six years now. I go through periods of heavy/light usage. I was reading through the owners manual to refamiliarize myself with some of the controls since I had not used it for a few months and I came across a statement saying that the camera should have a general checkup and cleaning about every two years. I live in northeast Florida and I don't know where any camera shops are located. Can anyone give any recommendations?

bkinnie Loc: Pennsylvannia, living in Florida

Thank you, I suppose I could ship it there, I was hoping for something closer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Since 1972 I've had six cameras, I never sent any out for a "check-up".
Guess I'm negligent. But I do take care of them.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I ship our cameras there every 12 to 18 months. Fairly frequent use. An extra day or two shipping time would be okay with me.

couch coyote Loc: northern Illinois

I've never done it. Guess I should read the manual. I'm an amateur, but take pics every day. Is this really a thing??

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

couch coyote wrote:

I've never done it. Guess I should read the manual. I'm an amateur, but take pics every day. Is this really a thing??

For some.
Not me.

quagmire Loc: Greenwood,South Carolina

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

bkinnie wrote:

I have a Nikon D3200 that I have been using for about six years now. I go through periods of heavy/light usage. I was reading through the owners manual to refamiliarize myself with some of the controls since I had not used it for a few months and I came across a statement saying that the camera should have a general checkup and cleaning about every two years. I live in northeast Florida and I don't know where any camera shops are located. Can anyone give any recommendations?

If your camera is taking as good of images as it did when new, "forgetaboutit".
You could take an image and download that image to many sites that will give you an exact shutter count if you feel that is necessary.
I am a strong believer in the phrase, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".
You basically have a one and done camera (no offense). I strongly suggest shooting it until it dies, then get another one off ebay with a low shutter count.
Here is one with a shutter count under 4000.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D3200-24-2MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only/324243600219?epid=219860510&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4b7e6cb35b:g:fGcAAOSwT~hfIF0r&enc=AQAFAAACYBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickk5v8gVt3hEWLVg%2F253w6XCd%2BmVDnKYPzqflCtHUtJI3zlb5K17bKgyP89SUl5%2FnBa4sXBFdO%2FtNA3ypN7BPge55wKqIad136%2FvmTNkvqIef8B5C5U4o97R3MHSNDvqvRsUNwr5cwFTzv7%2BaaLYUJQRALyMt74yLILwYIg9fs8JmAqoWugF15ChBZqkoktquxdFbX%2FCQA1KGyJYaAhZsjNQMZIsv9%2FXMTpsTvSrzzYnH79MHEPckFj7FGDVynTW5inUqSYjnh1teVLYg057ZaGQmYBoTCM4wZlTzcH2Kr4oEXRlMewAKBHtmOI%2FZpFeIsPx8%2B9I2dizw3dmybf0%2BHUKV8ODfXdRtFj54RdljAK0aHJUPNvcWFlYpi7I7UzrdAZKrc0Xu20SStWQH0jGM%2BrYz5LgdkiuXtD2Org9C5YGF7OyP%2FzSRkHyR%2FHKO2ttMViEyZXNP0ZOsz2rc9IslTb6Q75ffVcf4LQ9FgahOAyd0%2FYy8HbYSoyYzXVUIEmcHYWW2Q8bYMP5JJ2hNnBIx6PgyQaUgIeuCTzNmK%2F%2Flg2YJJ4%2BN%2Bjp2MeGQrZDV5vkhQc3i1XhG%2B1mbBO8BT6Lt%2FQi2KXNXKLMU%2BrK%2FpXA4NlSYV3AUg02EBxseZ0bRbgO%2BVQ%2BsTG3l3RVmF6sI91WMWp73Bf%2FzPSpfgp5qr5guV64cFV%2Fwd%2BJySt8MxmIwh5bNABYjfpwCJGWD0%2Bgonm4bylBgaDu99IWd4yQwhpGCwM95EHLdGRwwZ896P2sU0qxn0T&checksum=32424360021906ef1a89dd1f4e76b7ba9e1b74d61b19

CO

The only maintenance I do is with my Nikon speedlights. They recommend to fire the flash a few times every month of refresh the capacitor.

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

An older model like the D3200 is selling used around $150. There's no 'maintenance' or 'check up' that will be done for less than $100. If you should ever encounter a problem and wanted the same body, just buy a replacement used. You'll likely never encounter any sort of problem.

jerseymike

bkinnie wrote:

Thank you, I suppose I could ship it there, I was hoping for something closer.

Google your question.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

The only maintenance I've ever done is have the sensor cleaned when I see dirt spots.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

CO wrote:

The only maintenance I do is with my Nikon speedlights. They recommend to fire the flash a few times every month of refresh the capacitor.

That is a truism.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If in those 6 years you have owned the camera you have subjected it to heavy use it is a good idea to send it for calibration, cleaning and adjustment. The price could be a factor considering the age of the camera.
I would say use it till it quits.