As a camera user, have you ever wondered what you would do if your camera or lens ever needed service? When purchasing a camera, have you ever considered that things can go wrong even with the best of products? And if they do, where should you take them for the required repairs?
Well, these questions are not new. In the film-camera-days, things were a bit different though, because most cameras then were mechanical. These days however, sophisticated micro-electronics play a higher role. Parts which were repairable earlier, need complete replacements now. For a modern camera to work at full efficiency, repairs to individual parts are almost out of question. Many small-time camera repair shops have closed down because advanced technology has done them in. Manufacturers do not sell spares to individual users (at least in India), so there is no way you can (even if you are technically qualified) repair your digital camera yourself.
Considering all this, it is vitally important that you have a good service back-up from the manufacturer of your camera. We requested all camera manufacturers having a base in India to provide us the data regarding their service facilities. Here they are:
Canon Service Centers
Canon India has a total of 18 Master
Service Centres (MSC) + 105
Collection Points.
Collection Points – The cities where Canon service centre is not available, Canon Service Centre various collection points have been created wherein the customer can deposit their defective cameras, which will be further shipped to the nearest service centre for repairs.
• Level III MSC – 13 nos.
• Level IV MSC – 5 nos.
• Collection Points – 105 nos.
Canon Master Service Centers are very well equipped to cater to all kinds of service needs for all models of Canon cameras. Camera service centres are divided into two major categories-
Level III Master Service Centre – Offers first and second level of camera services (Digital cameras and D-SLR’s). Services include:
a) CMOS sensor cleaning for all models
b) Latest Firmware updates
c) Lens cleaning (front & back element only, without dis-assembly)
d) Cleaning/replacement of Focusing Screen/Plate Superimpose indication.
e) Rubber Grip replacement
f) Repair of LCD/Shutter release SW/Rear Cover/ Top Assembly (including Mode Dial) Level IV Master Service Centre – Offers all levels of camera repairs (Digital cameras, Camcorders and Cinema EOS Cameras) Services include:-
a) All high level repairs related to
adjustments which require high
efficient tools.
b) Latest Firmware updates
c) Lens cleaning (front & back element only, without dis-assembly)
d) Cleaning/replacement of Focusing Screen/Plate Superimpose indication.
e) Rubber Grip replacement
f) Repair of LCD/Shutter release SW/ Rear Cover/Top Assembly (including Mode Dial)
Fujifilm Service Centres
Fujifilm India has a total of 4 service centres + 48 Collection Centres. All the 4 service centres are company-owned. They are at Gurgaon (L1 to L4 services); Mumbai (L1 to L3 services), Kolkata (L1 to L3 services) and Chennai (L1 to L3 services). These service centres are capable of providing the necessary service support for all digital cameras and lenses. They also have 48 Collection Centres spread throughout the country, wherein they offer L1 support.
L1 support: Call registration, physical check-up of the equipment, problem confirmation, basic troubleshooting and user application related support.
L2 support: Escalated calls (those where the problem has not been resolved) from L1, and technical support by telephone.
L3 support: Escalated calls from L2; all types of major repairs for camera, basic repair support of lenses. L4 support: Escalated calls from L3; all types of major repairs to cameras and lenses.
Nikon Service Centres
Nikon India has a total of 37 Service Centres + 64 Collection Centres. 5 service centres are owned by Nikon India – where they can do all types of repairs on Compact cameras, D-SLRs, Lenses and Accessories; 32 are Nikon Authorised Service Centres, out of which 17 centres are capable of repairing Compacts, D-SLRs and Lenses (minor repairs of lenses) and 15 centres can repair
Compact cameras.
Besides the above, Nikon India has a total of 64 Collection Centres where Nikon equipment can be collected and sent to the nearest service centre. Nikon India will be adding 2 more service centres by end November 2014, making a total of 24 service facilities (5 owned by Nikon India and 19 Nikon Authorised Service Centres) for D-SLRs.
Sony Service Centres
Sony India has a network of 150
Service Centres + 148 Collection
Centres
Out of these, 147 centres are L1 and L2 category, 3 are L4 category. The 148 Collection Centres also carry out minor repairs to digital still cameras and camcorders.
L1 service support includes body cleaning, firmware updates, external Lens cleaning, accessory replacement viz. lens cap, battery, charger, collar, grip etc. Both Alpha L1 and L2 service centres can repair E-mount and A-Mount bodies.
Sony India’s 3 full-fledged L4 category service centres are at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, but they will soon be adding 2 more. These L4 service centres can repair all Sony cameras and lenses and are equipped with necessary spare parts and tools like the Aori Adjuster (to ensure that the imaging sensor is exactly parallel to the camera mount), Light Box, Collimator, Vibration tester, Shutter tester, Lens projection tester to handle lens repair and adjustment up to f/1.4. This also includes lens element cleaning and replacement, all types of mechanical and electrical adjustment for camera bodies, lenses, main board, shutter, mirror box, etc. For lenses, which are affected with fungus within the elements of a group, the repair is done by replacing the entire group of lenses. Olympus Imaging Service Centres
Olympus Imaging India Pvt. Ltd has a total of 8 service centres + 19 Collection Centres. Seven service centres are L3 category and 1 service centre is Master Service Centre (L4 category) which repair all Olympus products. The Collection Centres collect the product and send the same to the nearest service station.
Panasonic
Service Centres
Panasonic India has 64
Service Centres + 118
Collection Centres
Ricoh Service Centre
Ricoh India Limited has one authorised service centre in Mumbai. All Ricoh India Ltd offices in India are Collection Centres of Ricoh and Pentax cameras. The quality of modern cameras, especially D-SLRs, is very good and ordinarily they should not fail. On the rare occasion that they do, it is comforting to know that the manufacturer has a service network that is easily accessible. As regards quality of service, we would be happy to know reader experiences.
