Is it worth fixing a damaged digital camera?
Aug 13, 2009
Michael Kiryowa, a business man in Kampala, recently found himself looking for a place to repair his camera that had been damaged while he tried to salvage it from an attempted robbery.
By Thomas Pere
Michael Kiryowa, a business man in Kampala, recently found himself looking for a place to repair his camera that had been damaged while he tried to salvage it from an attempted robbery.
However, after two months of searching for a mechanic and failing to find one, he sent the camera to the UK where it could be fixed.
With only one authorised digital camera repair centre in Uganda, many are living in frustration once cameras breakdown and cannot be used.
Richard Banaddawa, a technician with Camera Doctors on Wilson Road advises people to purchase commonly used brands like Sony, Canon and Casio, whose spare parts are readily available at repair workshops.
Cosmas Ojara, an information technology consultant with Xtreme Computers on Kampala road says: “Sometimes the issues are not as complicated as they seem. Before you take your camera for repair, check the batteries and other functions.
Bipin Solanki, a service engineer at Anisumas Sony Authorised service centre on Jinja Road, says failure of a camera lens is a common occurrence with digital cameras. Other frequent problems are broken hinges on memory card doors, battery covers and cracked LCDs.
“As authorised agents, we supply these products as consumables without spares in market. But we have genuine spares for Sony, Canon and JVC cameras at sh50,000 only,†he says. A digital camera repair costs 30 to 50% of its original price. If your camera needs repair, weigh the cost over buying a new one.
Jayadeba Nayah, a service engineer at Modern Electronics says: “Before taking a camera for repair, contact the manufacturer or visit it’s website to find out if there is a service advisory for your model.
“Our service centre repairs all types of digital cameras. We normally order spare parts from the manufacturers. The charges start from a of sh35,000 depending on the problem at hand,†he says.
Michael Kiryowa, a business man in Kampala, recently found himself looking for a place to repair his camera that had been damaged while he tried to salvage it from an attempted robbery.
However, after two months of searching for a mechanic and failing to find one, he sent the camera to the UK where it could be fixed.
With only one authorised digital camera repair centre in Uganda, many are living in frustration once cameras breakdown and cannot be used.
Richard Banaddawa, a technician with Camera Doctors on Wilson Road advises people to purchase commonly used brands like Sony, Canon and Casio, whose spare parts are readily available at repair workshops.
Cosmas Ojara, an information technology consultant with Xtreme Computers on Kampala road says: “Sometimes the issues are not as complicated as they seem. Before you take your camera for repair, check the batteries and other functions.
Bipin Solanki, a service engineer at Anisumas Sony Authorised service centre on Jinja Road, says failure of a camera lens is a common occurrence with digital cameras. Other frequent problems are broken hinges on memory card doors, battery covers and cracked LCDs.
“As authorised agents, we supply these products as consumables without spares in market. But we have genuine spares for Sony, Canon and JVC cameras at sh50,000 only,†he says. A digital camera repair costs 30 to 50% of its original price. If your camera needs repair, weigh the cost over buying a new one.
Jayadeba Nayah, a service engineer at Modern Electronics says: “Before taking a camera for repair, contact the manufacturer or visit it’s website to find out if there is a service advisory for your model.
“Our service centre repairs all types of digital cameras. We normally order spare parts from the manufacturers. The charges start from a of sh35,000 depending on the problem at hand,†he says.