The EOS 5D Mark IV camera builds on the powerful legacy of the 5D series, offering amazing refinements in image quality, performance and versatility. (1) Scene Intelligent Auto (2) Program AE (shiftable) (3) Shutter-priority AE (Safety shift possible) (4) Aperture-priority AE (Safety shift. † Prices and specifications subject to change.
I have.loved. my 5D. But the last few shoots I did, the shutter would freeze up and the image wouldn't record. I would turn the camera off then turn it on again and could proceed, until it happened again. At random intervals. I presumed since my 5D was three years old and had over 100,000 actuations on it, I would just need the shutter replaced.
I took it into a local shop, they estimated it would be @ $300, but since they couldn't reproduce the problem, they sent it off to Canon. Canon gave an original estimate of $220 to 'check all functions and repair to good working order'. They have since sent another, final estimate of $640 to 'replace the shutter + mirror box'.
Considering the camera's value is @ $900 by now, I almost fell out of my chair. I called Canon but they wouldn't discuss the issue with me due to their contract with the store that sent it in on my behalf. I called the store and they indicated it was an 'it is what it is' type of situation. Needless to say, I'm having them send the camera back.Wondering if others have had this problem and/or familiar with the going rate? This was my first DSLR and I can't believe that at 3 years old, it's already obsolete?! I'm trying to decide if I should take it somewhere else to have it fixed or just buck up camper and buy a new camera.
Ugh.A bit frustrated and disillusioned with Canon. Insights would be appreciated.Thanks, Andrea. Actually, your 5D is worth more than that, probably.
![5d Mark 3 Shutter Change Software 5d Mark 3 Shutter Change Software](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125499031/678170466.jpg)
I've never seen well-used ones for less than $1,200, unfortunately. But yes, I recently had almost the same issue with mine and I paid $900 when all was said and done. NOT happy about it, but I am not surprised. Maintenance on cameras has never been cheap, unfortunately. Your 5D sounds like it is old and starting to give out.
It's like needing to overhaul a car engine; it would be expensive to do so, and yet it is either that, or buy a new one. Never a fun position to be in. I opted for repairing mine.
It's still a lot less than a new one, and the new parts will make it seem new. (It really works like a charm now.) Good luck! Well, the real question is not how much is your camera worth today. Buying a used camera on Ebay only gets you a camera with some # less actuations on it. So, six months from now you could end up in the same boat.Choices:.
Buy a new 5D Mark II - $2500 - + the $220 you've paid to Canon already. Replace the shutter - $640 - bring the camera to 'like new' condition. Buy a used 5D on Ebay - $1000 - $1200 (plus the $220 you've paid to Canon) - and then wonder how the former owner really treated the cameraMy humble suggestion - first choice - buy a 5D Mark II, but if money is tight, replace the shutter. Here in Germany I had a similar discussion with the head at my local Canon repair service. I was talking about my old EOS 5D with 86,000 actuations and the possible costs of shutter or camera replacement. He told me that the parts (the shutter or whatever is replaced) would be only around €40 (which you apparently can buy for yourself from Canon), but the main costs were for the hours a certified technician would work doing this replacement. His overall estimate was around €300-400, at least that's what he said.
The sad truth is that mechanical things break every now and then. If I had a 5D shutter go south, I would get over it quick, and have Canon fix it (not a local shop. It is not the norm for a 5D shutter to die before the camera owner, but it happens, and spending $300-$600 to make it right is far cheaper than any alternative I can think of.
Even if the owner had a phobia about using a camera that was once repaired, he could then sell it off with a clear conscience.As far as the general quality of Canon products is concerned, my overall experience has been that it's far easier to beat the gear to death with a hammer, than to attempt to use it to death. As I stated earlier, all mechanical things are subject to random failure, but Canon has a good track record in general. Here is a shot of some of my Canon gear that spans about 40 years of time, and is still used to one degree or another to this day.
There has never been a single failure in this lot over the years, even though most have seen heavy commercial service. Again, it's a tough deal to draw the short straw in terms of camera failure, but it isn't very likely that you will ever suffer the same award twice.