I just sent off my EOS 5 (purchased from B&H) to Mack Camera repair for the third time in less than six months for the same problem. The first time I sent this off for repairs the camera was 8 months old.

-To make a long story short the camera stops autofocusing and start depleting batteries at a rapid rate (new battery to dead in < 6hours)

-Since the EOS 5 does not have a US warranty, I purchased an extended (7 year) warranty from Mack Camera Service.

-Both time Mack has forwarded the camera to Canon for repairs

-The first time it came back I got ~12 rolls through it before the identical failure. The second time only one roll.

So my question to the group is, what should I expect from Canon at this point? Is Mack my ally in negotiating with Canon at this point? (In my letter to Mack this morning I pointed out that I am sure they don't want to keep getting my camera back 4 times per six months for the remaing six years of their warranty any more than I want to send it to them)

Thank you for any help thinking through how to approach this.

bruce

-- Bruce Fuchs (bfuchs@erols.com), June 05, 1999

Answers

Bruce--

Although I have not dealt with warranty stuff with my grey market stuff. The warranty is honored by Canon. So, you really did not need to purchase a exteneded one. To confirm this, you could look on Phil's EOS 5 page and search the Original Q&A.

As for the battery, it sounds like a problem that should be fixed easily. In fact, I recall a thread similar to this on one of the Q&As in photo.net. But, I cannot remember where. You should also check that the shutter button is not depressed. It is my recollection that others have commented that the metering works even when the dial is locked. The meter just measures throught the lens, but does not display expaosure information. This would happen if you had it stuffed in a bag. Even better chance with a VG-10 on it and its extra button.

Can anyone confirm this metering with the main dial switch to the off position, or am I talking out my photo pass?

-- Chris Gillis (cagillis@concentric.net), June 05, 1999.

As a note for the record, this page talks about EOS battery woes. It does not apply in this case, but is useful to know about. I revisited it after I thought my EOS 5 might have the above problem, but it looks like I was playing with it too much. Although, at the sstart of a shoot, I had to to a brisk walk to a store to get another. That got me thinking.

http://www.csri.utoronto.ca/~acs/photography/canon/eos-faq-text/8batte ries.html#q1

-- Chris Gillis (cagillis@concentric.net), June 15, 1999.