Buy new or repair old?

[Stormsong]

Here is a list of second hand camera dealers in the UK (I assume you are in the UK?)

http://www.ukcamera.com/usedcams/index.htm

Mostly, they list what the condition of the camera body and lens is in, and most will also not sell something that is complete 'junk'. Also, most offer guarantees on the equipment they sell, unless it is really old. Perhaps it is an idea to buy a second-hand camera that is guaranteed? As stated earlier in the thread, often you would pay more to have a camera repaired than buying a new one. But buying a good second-hand one from a reputable dealer may also be an option.

I had this dilemma a few years ago when I wanted to have my very good Canon FD 100mm-300mm telephoto lens (for an old Canon 35mm film camera) callibrated as it was more than 30 years old. However, I nearly fainted when I was given the quote! Decided against it as the lens itself is not worth more than £100 and now compensate by either over or under-exposing the shots by a couple of stops, on the rare occasions when I haul out my old (also more than 30 years of age but still brilliant) film camera. I upgraded to a digital camera about three years ago.
Hope this helps!

Regards,
Denise

[jinky]

I`d suggest you do a google search on "Lehmann`s service reviews" and see what you get. A quick one I did showed a mixture of good and bad with revisions to estimates and delays getting parts but others praising them. They are accredited service agents so should be OK - whether they are cheapest for repairs might be another matter. That said if they are local to you and you can take it into the shop for discussion re: faults it might be worth the extra. Re: delays this is probably standard - if you send it off to Nikon for an authorised repair it will take some weeks so don`t think it will be an overnight job.

Re: shutter life on a D80 Nikon say it should last 50,000 activations. You see a lot of threads on Flickr and the like worrying about shutter activations but this is really a finger in the air conservative estimate I`d say. I`ve heard of sme D80`s going within the first 20,000 activations - though I`m sure those people got the problem resolved through Nikon if they had any sense- but man more going beyond 50,000. My onw D80 now relegated to back up body has done around 55,000 with no problems arising yet even after a 6 ft drop on to concrete in it`s last week of regular use (hey you have to justify buying the D700 somehow )

To check activation numbers if you are on flickr you can just upload a straight from the camera jpeg image and you can see the activations in the exif data which is under Actions, View exif data when you click on the image. You can set up a free account on flickr if you want or there are other ways of checking activations but I forget as I have never needed them.The D80 is a great camera - yes it`s dynamic range is more limited than newer cameras and it`s low light capabilities are not as good as higher end models but it`s a geat camera to start out on if it works out cost wise for you.

[Oly Paul]

Originally Posted by sadiqabsar

get the D80 repaired (no idea how much this will cost but apparently there is something wrong with the flash unit and all pictures are just coming out as black screens - with or without flash)

Any help or advice you can offer would be greaty appreciated.

If it is a Black image regardless of the shooting mode in daylight this would indicate a broken
shutter mechanism, if only when using flash then it is still the shutter but a flash sync problem.

Take the lens of and fire the shutter at a low shutter speed, if you see it move across the lens throat it is working and not completely broken.

Average price for replacing a shutter is £250.

[sadiqabsar]

Thank you, everyone, for all your advice and comments. You have been really helpful.

I collected my camera from Sendean and they explained the fault - usually caused by the camera taking a heavy knock. Rather than leaving it at that the engineer I spoke to showed me that a hot shoe flash would still work and fire automatically (as if it were the internal flash - sorry, but I don't know correct terminology for this). They also said if I could wait a couple of weeks they could do the repair and service for £180, so all in all I came away with a fairly good impression of them in case any one was thinking of using them.

Because of this I'll probably use it as it is for now (now comes the stress of buying lenses....) and get an external flash in due course - tilt and swivel. For now, a colleague at work has lent me a 28-200mm lens

As my nephew said in an email to me yesterday... 'we are now partners in photography'!

[silversnapper1]

Good to know that you are getting it sorted. The lens should give you pretty good versatility for most of your needs.

[jinky]

I`d be tempted to get it repaired now for that price. It`s OK as it is then with another flash mounted but you`d be losing Nikons CSL off camera flash system which brings great results is used with an SB600,700,800 0r 900 or other dedicated flash that works with CSL. You get much better ligh off camera with such flash use and it`s a bargain price for a D80 to you.