What are your hours of operation?

We are open weekdays from 8 AM until 5 PM (CST), Monday to Friday.  We are closed weekends.  You do not need an appointment if you wish to bring your equipment in.

Is there an estimate fee?

There is no estimate fee for most equipment.  If you are bringing your equipment in, we can often estimate it while you wait.  For MiniDV, and DVD camcorders there is a $35 estimate fee.  Please note, to give our customers the most accurate estimate, we need to see the equipment, so phone or email estimates may not be provided.

Is my camera worth repairing?

A good rule of thumb is if you have paid more than $80 for your camera we can repair it economically. Cameras which retail less than this are usually not worth repairing unless it has a simple problem such as a broken battery door. Parts are usually not available for cameras in this price range. If a camera is severely liquid, sand, or impact damaged, there is no way to determine if it is worth repairing unless it is inspected. If your camera is older and parts are not available, it may very well still be worth repairing. Depending on the make and model, an overhaul can return your camera to like-new condition and provide many years of reliable service. We also carry a large inventory of parts which are no longer available from the manufacturers or other shops.

Can I repair it myself?

There are a few things you can check yourself which may solve your problems and save you time and money. There are also a few don'ts that can cost you big.

Never:

Never force something that is jammed. Forcing a winding lever, lens cover, etc. is a guarantee something else will break and result in additional parts and labour costs.

Never put any kind of oil or lubricant into a camera. Oil will ruin light seals, rubber parts, and composite plastic parts. This can do major damage, most often making it uneconomical to repair.

Never dismantle equipment. No matter how mechanically inclined a person is, there is no substitute for experience and training. Taking a camera or piece of equipment apart almost always results in additional broken parts or labour time to reassemble.

Always:

Film Cameras:Try new batteries. In order for a camera to operate properly, batteries must be at more than 40% of their rated peak. You cannot trust a simple voltage measurement of a battery. We use expensive battery load testers to ensure proper operation. If a battery works in a radio, toy, etc., this does not mean it will operate in a camera. Use only alkaline batteries if using AA or AAA batteries. Never use the "heavy duty" type.

Digital Cameras:
Alkaline batteries are NOT recommended.  When using in a camera that calls for AA batteries, the best bet is Rechargeable Ni-MH, or Lithium batteries.  The cost of the rechargeable cells will be far outweighed by the long life.  When viewing images on a digital camera with the LCD, alkaline batteries can die within 5 minutes!  A good rule of thumb is to always check with FULLY CHARGED batteries.

Clean battery contacts. You can use an eraser on the end of a pencil to clean and polish battery contacts. If batteries have leaked and corroded, try using ammonia on a cotton swab to clean the contacts first, then polish them with an eraser.

Make sure you are operating the camera properly. Many problems are due to operating error. For instance, improper loading of a film can cause a camera to stop functioning or rewind prematurely. Double check your operating manual or talk to an experienced retailer who is familiar with your particular make and model.