Contax G2 - repair of winding mechanism

[nick_oba]

hi everyone! i keep landing at the archives of this forum when i search for G2

related info at google. i'm very impressed with the overall knowledge of members

here.

 

i didn't know much about the G2 until i inherited my dad's. i tried using it and

after a few days off to ebay my canon went! the G2 has allowed me to do things i

didn't dream possible, such as get paid for shooting. i was as happy as can be

with my G2 and an illustrious photography career, including shoots for the local

newspaper (last week) as well as national geographic (possibly 2030 or

thereabouts), loomed.

 

then came the day forever known as Black Monday. the very first frame of the

very first roll of the day, the boss of the company poses - to be polite i have

to shoot the boss in a formal pose, before letting loose on my creative

instincts - and i push the shutter release but what do i get? instead of a

satisfying "kshak!" i get "ngzzzzz." what the??? battery dead already? changed

the batteries, sorry sir, here we go again, step forward a little, thank you,

great, perfect, and... same result. changed the lens - getting desperate, now,

changed the film also - but no can do. frame counter's stuck stubbornly at 01.

 

so i sent it to kyocera in nagano prefecture, japan, and they wrote back a week

later and said the film winding mechanism is busted (duh) and they will change

it, clean everything else, inspect the camera, and so on and so forth, that will

be 18,580 yen please.

 

i'm like, huh??? that's 165 dollars, if i cough up a bit more i can get a

second-hand G2! i always wanted three G2 bodies, one for each lens...

 

anyway, i am just wondering, is this a fair price? should i go ahead and pay it?

it's an awful lot of money in the philippines. i did send them a long email

asking for a breakdown and how much the price would be if they used second hand

materials, or if it would be any cheaper if they didn't do anything except

change the part, no inspection, no cleaning, etc. etc. etc. i also threatened

them in a subtle way, asking how much it would be if they didn't do nuffink and

just sent the camera body back to me.

 

the breakdown is 6000 yen for the parts and 13000 yen for the labor. now i know

labor is expensive in japan... but 13000 yen to change a teensy-weensy part that

shouldn't be failing in the first place? i don't know but i am kinda miffed. i

expected something like $50 at most. i mean, we are not talking about a hi-tech

part like a shutter or auto-focus chip or whatever. it's just a servo motor.

right??? it shouldn't cost 13,000 yen or 110 bucks to take out the old one and

put in the new one.

 

i have a feeling a big company which needs to feed the bottom line is taking

advantage of the consumer here, it wouldn't be the first time in history. but

the problem is i am ignorant about the market rate for replacing winders.

 

has anyone had a winder replaced? how much damage did it do to your wallet?

 

any advice would be appreciated. as much as i love the G2, i might just tell

them to forget it and go for something newer and possibly - dare i say it -

digital.

 

nick

cebu, philippines

 

p.s. i'm even considering just buying the part and changing it myself. somebody

please stop me.

[alberto_c]

I don't know about the laws outside my little EU, so maybe the following doesn't apply to your case, but a full repair, inspection and all that perhaps gives you a (1-year, 2-year?) warranty, so you don't have to worry about new troubles. Actually, you would <b>pray</b> for new troubles, so you can "renew" your warranty for free :-).

 

Anyway if I was in your place, I would pay (eyes shut) and don't look back, it hurts the budget... Enjoying your camera is a better choice.

[nick_oba]

alberto, that is an excellent point. kyocera did not say anything about it in their email, and it did not occur to me to ask them about that. i sent them an email right away asking about warranty, guaranty, etc. thanks for the advice - i am glad i posted on this board.

 

i suppose one of the reasons i was annoyed about the price is that if the camera breaks down again, i would have to pay them another huge amount to get it fixed, over and over again - it is like being under the control of a blackmailer.

 

luckily the yen is weak now; if they can provide a warranty, i will do as you say it, swallow a few painkillers, and pay it.