LC1 worth repair?

[uptong]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

My LC1 sensor started to play up, Panasonic UK arranged collection and have now contacted to advise it requires PC Board W/Component. later advice note states, CCD unit is to be replaced and camera set up to spec. They have agreed to replace sensor FOC but will make a charge for the cost of labour and handling. They are quoting 1 hours labour to do the job which seems a bit quick to me after seeing on Fliker whats involved in a stripdown, can't see that they could strip it down, replace CCD, re assemble, set up and test in that time. Their documentation you have to sign and return does state, I understand that the final repair charge may differ from that estimate, which leaves the door wide open for unspecified additional fees. What do people here think, is it worth the risk in signing ok'ing them do the job and risking (knowing) much higher fees (appears £6 per 10 mins work) will probably result. Are the new sensors they fit that much better than the originals, anything noticable in image quality? If not could be better off seeking out a used one, there have been quite a number around recently for about £200 or therabouts sold with g/tees through dealers, not inflated fleabay examples!

 

Thoughts would be interesting on this

[lesh]

What can I say?.... if it was me, I'd go ahead and have the work done, absolutely. Did it before and I'd do it again if I needed to. It's a classic camera which takes fantastic pics, but do I detect that you're not particularly attached to it? The repair will make the camera perform as it did when new, nothing more nothing less.

 

But only you can decide whether to invest your hard earned cash.......

[bill]

My LC1 sensor started to play up, Panasonic UK arranged collection and have now contacted to advise it requires PC Board W/Component. later advice note states, CCD unit is to be replaced and camera set up to spec. They have agreed to replace sensor FOC but will make a charge for the cost of labour and handling. They are quoting 1 hours labour to do the job which seems a bit quick to me after seeing on Fliker whats involved in a stripdown, can't see that they could strip it down, replace CCD, re assemble, set up and test in that time. Their documentation you have to sign and return does state, I understand that the final repair charge may differ from that estimate, which leaves the door wide open for unspecified additional fees. What do people here think, is it worth the risk in signing ok'ing them do the job and risking (knowing) much higher fees (appears £6 per 10 mins work) will probably result. Are the new sensors they fit that much better than the originals, anything noticable in image quality? If not could be better off seeking out a used one, there have been quite a number around recently for about £200 or therabouts sold with g/tees through dealers, not inflated fleabay examples!

 

Thoughts would be interesting on this

 

Uptong, can you clarify; which of the authorised repairers did you contact? Panasonic UK does not do repairs themselves, but point you at one of three sub-contract repair companies.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[koray]

Are they changing the circuit board, too? Or only sensor? Which service centre did you send it to? In my case I paid only £33 and the rest was paid by Panasonic UK. I think labor was about £50. Regarding the time to do the repair, it is perfectly doable in less than an hour for an experienced technician. I think it is well worth spending up to £50-75 for this camera. If you are considering to sell it in faulty state, please send me a personal message.

 

K.

[uptong]

Panasonic Uk arranged collection, was picked up by courier so no idea where it is sitting awaiting repair. Had letter today again from panasonic simply asking to complete a form and fax back to them Backnel tele number. with vat contribution well over £80

[audidudi]

Regarding the time to do the repair, it is perfectly doable in less than an hour for an experienced technician. I think it is well worth spending up to £50-75 for this camera.

 

I agree that one hour should be plenty for an experienced technician to replace the sensor and main PC board inside an LC1/D2. I've been inside mine a few times now and it takes me all of 15 minutes to disassemble it to the point where I could replace the sensor and main PC board and about the same to reassemble it.

 

Whether it's worth the money or not is something only you can answer. If you were happy with its perfomance before it broke, then having it fixed makes sense since you will be hard-pressed to replace it with another camera that performs anywhere as well for the same £50-75 you'll spent to repair it.