Is a Canon Power Shot A570 worth repairing?

[Bubbletrubble]

So I'm guessing that you never purchased a fully functional A570 off of Ebay. Is that the case?

 

[Soakedlontra]

So I'm guessing that you never purchased a fully functional A570 off of Ebay. Is that the case?

Gosh! I ended up purchasing an A570 on Ebay and a second brand new S90 because I flooded my first brand new S90 while screwing up the fording of a creek during a backpacking trip!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Gosh! I ended up purchasing an A570 on Ebay and a second brand new S90 because I flooded my first brand new S90 while screwing up the fording of a creek during a backpacking trip!

Oh, OK. I'd recommend keeping the broken A570 for parts. It may come in handy if your other A570 needs a part or two.

Sorry to hear about your mishap with the S90. It sounds like a great camera.

 

[Soakedlontra]

I guess I am going to keep both cameras then...

 

[peterbj7]

Haven't read past the first page of this thread. Two comments. Firstly, I have had several cameras repaired by Canon USA and on the strength of that i will always buy Canon. Unless there are clear signs of negligence or maltreatment they will often repair or replace free. For four repairs, all well outside warranty, I have not paid one cent.

Sticking housing buttons. Happens periodically, due to salt getting into the button seals and drying there. Open the housing and let it soak in warm detergent water and work the buttons gently under the soapy water. They will free up. Keep manipulating them for a while, then rinse the housing thoroughly in warm clean water (several times) and dry. Do not lubricate the buttons. Take the housing diving empty, work the buttons during the dive, and ensure no water gets in. Job done. I've done this to several housings over the years. DON'T do it if the housing contains any electronics without first removing those electronics. If the seals leak you may have damaged them on sharp salt crystals, and the only remedy is to have them replaced.

 

[Soakedlontra]

Haven't read past the first page of this thread. Two comments. Firstly, I have had several cameras repaired by Canon USA and on the strength of that i will always buy Canon. Unless there are clear signs of negligence or maltreatment they will often repair or replace free. For four repairs, all well outside warranty, I have not paid one cent.

Well when Canon heard that water had been floating around inside the dispaly monitor for several days it did not have any doubt: the S90 was toasted beyond repair.

 

[peterbj7]

Indeed, and I doubt they'd stump up for that. Any more than they agreed to replace a friend's brand new 50D when she dropped it in the sea on its very first outing.

Tell me - do you like the S90? I'm interested in getting one, but I've read several stories of flimsy build quality, poor battery life, and poorly designed buttons that it's too easy to press inadvertently.

 

[Soakedlontra]

Tell me - do you like the S90? I'm interested in getting one, but I've read several stories of flimsy build quality, poor battery life, and poorly designed buttons that it's too easy to press inadvertently.

The Canon battery pack is worthless. I had to buy a more powerful battery pack and still its life span is pretty short. Those kind of rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs are rather frustrating. One pack it will last you for one average dive if you don't take too many movie clips and use the flash too much.

It is easy to get mixed up with the buttons. A wrong movement with your fingers and everything gets screwed up. I don't know why those Canon folks decided to add a rotating control dial next to the buttons. It takes a bit of practice to get used to it but still I prefer how the A570 IS worked.

However I think the image quality seems to be better in the S90. My husband is happy with it. I guess I put up with it because I cannot afford anything better. Well now I am using the used A570 back again and we are 'supposed' to take turns in using the S90...

 

[peterbj7]

One pack it will last you for one average dive if you don't take too many movie clips and use the flash too much

That is totally unacceptable, and very surprising. That's going back to the battery life I used to get with the S500 (5mp era). My G10 will do at least seven dives, using flash on every shot and reviewing frequently. Even at that, the battery indicator still shows [full]. In normal surface use I use the camera many times a day every day, yet recharge the battery less than once a month. In a three week trip to Scotland last year I filled my 16gb card and went on to a spare 32gb one, yet never recharged the battery the entire trip.

But going back to the era of the S500, I bought a Casio EX-Z55 (also 5mp) with their housing for 2/3 what the Canon cost, and that has a battery life that will comfortably do any day's diving I have ever thrown at it. I still use it now, and it gives absolutely superb results. Mind you, a Casio is non-repairable if it ever breaks, not that it has done so far in 5 years.

Thanks, you've made up my mind. When Canon replaced the G10 with the G11 they took several steps backwards in build quality, and the S90 clearly follows that trend. I shall stick with my G10, and in fact I'm just buying another one that I can mothball in the (unlikely) event that my first one fails.

 

[Belplasca]

As someone who has been using a pair of A570 cameras for stereoscopic imaging for years, and who will be going to the Red Sea later this year, I just bought a Canon housing for one of the cameras on Ebay. I was, therefore, very interested to find this thread.

Since I am not (yet?) much of a diver, I'm expecting a steep learning curve as I try to make some useable underwater images... (Which is why I'm not planning to invest hugely in the enterprise!

I do have a couple of experienced underwater photographers as friends - one is a professional, the other makes housings, so I'll get some help from there, but I'm also going to be trying to pick up tips on here

Bob