watersedge Loc: Bristol UK

Should digital slr cameras benefit from having an annual service

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

For most of us hobbyists I'd say not - I'd think it would more be a factor of the number of actuations and the environment in which the equipment is exposed to.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

The key word here is "Should". Just my opinion- if you a pro- you know more about this issue than me-so ignore the rest of this. But if you are naer the projected life of the shutter- a servicing wouldn't be a bad idea. But annually isn't necessary.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

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

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

the only thing you need to do annually is to check for firmware updates. otherwise, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I know a guy with a 5D and 18-27 lens. He does studio work only. He bought the 5D when it first came out. He contends that he has not had the lens off or any service work performed. He does some amazing work and when my daughter did modeling he took thousands of shots of her at different times. I love his work and am amazed.

J. R.

Brooklyn-Camera Loc: Brooklyn, New York City

If you shoot in the Dust Bowl, mud pit, saw dust factory I would say yes. If not no...

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Depends on the camera, environment, and how careful you are...in the 9 years since owning several interchangeable lens digital cameras, not once have I needed to have it serviced or cleaned professionally.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

If you are not having a problem with the camera body, I'd say "No". But, if some of the buttons are hard to push, or not working at all, or if the camera seems to discharge the battery quickly, or if a error comes and goes away often, I'd say send it in. I usually check my camera bodies by going back to default settings, then I go through the manual and make sure everything works as the manual says it should. Always check for firmware updates, and install them when you can.

B

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Ok, here's my personal experience. This is with a Nikon D700. Towards the end of the first year of ownership, and coming to the close of the Warranty, I called Nikon and asked the same question, "should I have this maintenanced?"

Their answer was yes. There would be no cost under warranty and the warranty would be extended an additional 6 months. This was a no brainer.

As for minor cleaning, not that it is off warranty, I trust my local camera store. Excellent techs and good workmanship. If it were to require a larger amount of work, it'd be right back to Nikon.
--Bob

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I would generally say "No" for most casual users.

I shoot a lot... hard and fast... and often in very dusty conditions. But I regularly clean the exteriors of my gear and do my own sensor cleaning.

The traditional "CLA" (Clean, Lubricate and Adjust) just isn't as frequently needed with today's electro-mechanical camera and lens mechanisms. They are built to tight tolerances and maintain those quite well, in most cases. They also make effective use of materials such as Delrin and synthetic lubricants that are less likely to need frequent care and replacement.

Metering systems today are largely electronic and stay in calibration quite well today. Shutters and apertures in modern EOS are electro-mechanical and probably self-adjust to some extent. Cameras and even some lenses (Sigma) have means for users to fine-tune autofocus accuracy, rather than having to send the gear in.

However, there are some exceptions:

For example, Canon 20D, 30D, 40D and 50D use a shutter button that's prone to build up "gunk" inside, from finger oil and dust mixture, and can get balky after some use (I don't know if 60D, 70D and new 80D use similar or not... I know for certain that 7D-series use a better sealed shutter release).

Earlier in it's production run the Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS USM lens was widely known to gather a lot of dust under the front element and need cleaning (maybe even some added sealing to reduce or prevent the problem). But it appears Canon has improved the lens somehow, since there's no longer very much discussion of this online.

Lenses might need more frequent calibration or care than cameras. Lensrentals.com tests each lens when it's returned and regularly send them off for adjustment. Some specific models need more frequent service for wear and tear, too (such as the original version Canon EF 24-70/2.8L). However, I imaging rental gear gets used pretty hard and with less care than one might give their own stuff... plus rentals spend a lot of time bouncing around in delivery trucks (and my own original EF 24-70/2.8L has never needed calibration... though it's not one of my hardest used lenses).

Those are just a few specific examples I'm aware of... I imagine there are others, so you might do some online research for your specific gear, to see if there has been discussion of any common issues.

And, it can depend a lot upon how the gear is used. For example, in relatively hot and dry climates foam light seals around the mirror and elsewhere inside the camera can more rapidly dry out and become brittle, needing replacement more frequently.

Modern DSLRs with "self cleaning" sensors also often use a slightly sticky strip adjacent to the sensor, to catch and trap the dust specks that are "shaken" off the sensor, and prevent those motes from finding their way back onto the sensor. Those strips might need occasional replacement when they lose effectiveness from gradually drying out or becoming contaminated with a lot of particles. OTOH, the worst that can happen is that you'd need to do more frequent manual sensor cleanings, if that adhesive strip loses it's effectiveness.

In general, today's cameras and lenses are far more reliable and need much less frequent CLA or other attention than earlier SLRs needed... especially the fully mechanical cameras that were built to less exacting tolerances, used mechanisms more prone to wear over time, and required re-adjustment and re-lubrication.

I've used two original Canon 7D for over five years and upwards of 125,000 shots apiece, without need for any service aside from the cleanings I do myself. Those are pretty well sealed and more durable models, though, compared to some other Canon models (such as the Rebel series). I know folks who have shot many more images than me with their cameras... far more than the cameras were "rated for"... without any sort of service or repair I'm aware of.

So, in general... if it ain't broke, don't worry!

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Not really. Most of today's dslr cameras are rated to not even need a tune up until a 100,000 shutter count, a number most of hobby folks will never reach with a single camera.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The best service you can give your camera is don't drop it. Especially on concrete surfaces. Buy a squeeze blower to keep sensor clean if you change lenses often in dusty areas. Keep away from moisture that can cause any condensation.

Haydon

I know both Nikon and Canon have CPS and NPS where membership allows a certain number of free cleanings and other services. I take advantage of it since I pay for the membership annually.

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: