G2 Repair at Illinois Service Center

I've seen plenty of negative feedback with regard to the quality of service at this facility, so I thought I would share my experience. I sent my G2 back to Canon twelve days ago to have the defective back replaced. My camera was just returned and looks/works great. I had just returned from vacation when I sent the camera out, so being without it for nearly two weeks wasn't a great inconvenience. I'm certain the camera I sent is the camera that was returned because I made a very discreet mark in the battery compartment. It doesn't appear that the technician created any problems while replacing the back.

That said, I have one question for you G2 owners. I noticed that a faint line is visible in the optical viewfinder when I look into it from about 20cm back. It's a horizontal line that travels all the way across the viewfinder and fades as I move the camera closer to my eye. I never noticed this before and wonder if one of you could look into your viewfinder and tell me if you see the same thing. It seems to work normally; the zoom works and the cross hairs are in the center. Why am I seeing a line?

Thanks for humoring me!

-FF

I checked my viewfinder no Horz. line.
Ivan
======

Freddy Foto said:

I've seen plenty of negative feedback with regard to the quality of
service at this facility, so I thought I would share my experience.
I sent my G2 back to Canon twelve days ago to have the defective
back replaced. My camera was just returned and looks/works great.
I had just returned from vacation when I sent the camera out, so
being without it for nearly two weeks wasn't a great inconvenience.
I'm certain the camera I sent is the camera that was returned
because I made a very discreet mark in the battery compartment. It
doesn't appear that the technician created any problems while
replacing the back.

That said, I have one question for you G2 owners. I noticed that a
faint line is visible in the optical viewfinder when I look into it
from about 20cm back. It's a horizontal line that travels all the
way across the viewfinder and fades as I move the camera closer to
my eye. I never noticed this before and wonder if one of you could
look into your viewfinder and tell me if you see the same thing.
It seems to work normally; the zoom works and the cross hairs are
in the center. Why am I seeing a line?

Thanks for humoring me!

-FF

Click to expand...

The line is there on my G2, just like you described it. I wouldn't worry about it. My camera has been repaired by Canon and I would advise against asking them to fix ANYTHING unless absolutely necessary. I wish they would send the camera back to Japan for repairs or manufactured it locally. As it stands those repair people don't strike me to be very good at all.
vk

Freddy Foto said:

I've seen plenty of negative feedback with regard to the quality of
service at this facility, so I thought I would share my experience.
I sent my G2 back to Canon twelve days ago to have the defective
back replaced. My camera was just returned and looks/works great.
I had just returned from vacation when I sent the camera out, so
being without it for nearly two weeks wasn't a great inconvenience.
I'm certain the camera I sent is the camera that was returned
because I made a very discreet mark in the battery compartment. It
doesn't appear that the technician created any problems while
replacing the back.

That said, I have one question for you G2 owners. I noticed that a
faint line is visible in the optical viewfinder when I look into it
from about 20cm back. It's a horizontal line that travels all the
way across the viewfinder and fades as I move the camera closer to
my eye. I never noticed this before and wonder if one of you could
look into your viewfinder and tell me if you see the same thing.
It seems to work normally; the zoom works and the cross hairs are
in the center. Why am I seeing a line?

Thanks for humoring me!

-FF

Click to expand...

I used to work for a nationwide retail chain that had its own repair service and was certified by most major brands. I frequently had to send items back two and three times before they would even acknowledge there was a problem. Getting them to fix something right the first time was nothing short of a miracle. The fact that my camera came back intact with all parts and no sign that it was apart was enough to impress me. The messages I was reading prior to sendin it in had me so paranoid that I called Canon and asked if there was any way I could get the part without sending the camera in. They said no. Like you, I tend to not trust repair people. I do my own repairs where possible and practical (cars, appliances, computers, etc.). Highly integrated and miniaturized electronics don't fall into this category. Although, they rarely drill down to the component level any more.

I was just curious if something came loose in transit, or slipped while the back was off. Since yours is the same, I guess I'll ignore it. Otherwise, I'd probably have it apart by now!

FF

vk said:

Freddy Foto said:

I've seen plenty of negative feedback with regard to the quality of
service at this facility, so I thought I would share my experience.
I sent my G2 back to Canon twelve days ago to have the defective
back replaced. My camera was just returned and looks/works great.
I had just returned from vacation when I sent the camera out, so
being without it for nearly two weeks wasn't a great inconvenience.
I'm certain the camera I sent is the camera that was returned
because I made a very discreet mark in the battery compartment. It
doesn't appear that the technician created any problems while
replacing the back.

That said, I have one question for you G2 owners. I noticed that a
faint line is visible in the optical viewfinder when I look into it
from about 20cm back. It's a horizontal line that travels all the
way across the viewfinder and fades as I move the camera closer to
my eye. I never noticed this before and wonder if one of you could
look into your viewfinder and tell me if you see the same thing.
It seems to work normally; the zoom works and the cross hairs are
in the center. Why am I seeing a line?

Thanks for humoring me!

-FF

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I noticed the same line in the S40's optical viewfinder. No idea what it is, but apparently 'as designed'.

I'm ambivalent about my experiences with them.

My G1 has been to the Illinois repair facility three times now. The first time was for a new CCD about three months into ownership. Total round trip was 14 days, and while the new CCD was noise-free at ISO 50, at higher ISOs it was far worse than the one it replaced.. The other two trips were for a new Status LCD on the top of the camera, and both times they failed to repair it and it will need to go back again. In the last four months the camera has been out of my hands for seven weeks, and will probably be gone for another three weeks. They promised that they would turn it around within two days, but they made the same promise last time. The last time the camera came back it had dust behind the viewfinder that wasn't there before. They did replace the "optical unit" both times, but that wasn't the problem I had and when they do this I need to make a new pixel map.

All of these repairs have been done either under warranty or through AMEX Buyer's Assurance after the Canon warranty expired. I have a few weeks left on my 90-day repair warranty to get this back to them to get it fixed, but I'm waiting so that I'll have my Iron Maiden on hand for the 4th of July.

--rhb

Two questions:

1) what do you mean by, "make a new pixel map"?
and
2) what is the AMEX assurance?

AMEX extends manufacturer's warranty. I haven't used this feature of my card yet, but I hear that they it works well.
I'd like to know how to make a pixel map too.
vk

s©tt said:

Two questions:

1) what do you mean by, "make a new pixel map"?
and
2) what is the AMEX assurance?

Click to expand...

A pixel map is, more accurately, a map of hot and/or stuck pixels at various exposures and ISOs. You can do it the old-fashioned way by taking a shot with your lens cap on, and then pannin around in the shot (use your computer, not the LCD) to spot the hot or stuck ones. Stuck pixels are always on, and may be of any color, usually but not always happen in clumps, and are caused mainly by a chip defect in manufacturing. Hot pixels are those that are overly sensitive to light and will appear brighter than their neighbors; they are worse at longer exposures or higher ISO setting.

The easy way to map them is by using a free program such as StarZen Technologies' Dead Pixel Test:
http://www.starzen.com/imaging/deadpixeltest.htm

--rhb

vk said:

s©tt said:

Two questions:

1) what do you mean by, "make a new pixel map"?
and
2) what is the AMEX assurance?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...