Scobra
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2010
- Messages
- 13
I dropped my trusty GX200 the other day, it soldiered on taking nearly 100 photos for a panorama, retracted the lens in and out a few times, then the lens stopped and remained extended. It now makes a scratchy, scraping sound when it turns on but still wouldn't retract the lens. So I took it to Señor Felipe, supposedly the best camera repairman here in Cartagena, Colombia. He said a drive gear had broken, and was unable to source a new one.
Now, if I wasn't in South America it would probably be no problem getting it fixed, or buying a 2nd hand one on FleaBay. But Ricoh cameras are not well represented here in South America - where I plan on staying for another 6 or 7 months. Mention Ricoh and all they sell in SA is photocopiers and projectors. And sending cameras via UPS or Post Office to these countries is sometimes a rsiky, expensive, difficult and/or corrupt process. So I am asking if anyone knows of a good camera repair shop in Colombia, Ecuador or Peru, who could possibly fix it.
You know you don't appreciate what you've got till its gone. My GX200 was released in 2008, yet it has RAW capture, 180s exposures@64ISO, full manual controls, bracketing with a time delay, AAA batteries, unlimited interval shooting, external filter thread, and nifty accessories such as EVF, external power adapter, cable remote and top-grade teleconverters. Unless I want to carry the bulkier, more expensive Canon G1x with the CHDK, as far as I can see there is no comparable point and shoot on the market. Plus I have invested in all the above accessories, and Im travelling around on a motorbike. Thats why Im keen to get it repaired.
Someone suggested take the broken gear to a clock repair service and see if can be replaced or made anew. Its a possibility. But I think a good camera repairshop could do it as well.
The combination of bracketing with interval shooting was great for HDR timelapse, while bracketing with time delay was great for HDR panoramas on a Gigapan, allowing the rig to "settle" the teleconverter before each shot. Here is one example http://gigapan.com/gigapans/151897
So... (I hope its not) R.I.P. my beloved GX200 boo hoo
Now, if I wasn't in South America it would probably be no problem getting it fixed, or buying a 2nd hand one on FleaBay. But Ricoh cameras are not well represented here in South America - where I plan on staying for another 6 or 7 months. Mention Ricoh and all they sell in SA is photocopiers and projectors. And sending cameras via UPS or Post Office to these countries is sometimes a rsiky, expensive, difficult and/or corrupt process. So I am asking if anyone knows of a good camera repair shop in Colombia, Ecuador or Peru, who could possibly fix it.
You know you don't appreciate what you've got till its gone. My GX200 was released in 2008, yet it has RAW capture, 180s exposures@64ISO, full manual controls, bracketing with a time delay, AAA batteries, unlimited interval shooting, external filter thread, and nifty accessories such as EVF, external power adapter, cable remote and top-grade teleconverters. Unless I want to carry the bulkier, more expensive Canon G1x with the CHDK, as far as I can see there is no comparable point and shoot on the market. Plus I have invested in all the above accessories, and Im travelling around on a motorbike. Thats why Im keen to get it repaired.
Someone suggested take the broken gear to a clock repair service and see if can be replaced or made anew. Its a possibility. But I think a good camera repairshop could do it as well.
The combination of bracketing with interval shooting was great for HDR timelapse, while bracketing with time delay was great for HDR panoramas on a Gigapan, allowing the rig to "settle" the teleconverter before each shot. Here is one example http://gigapan.com/gigapans/151897
So... (I hope its not) R.I.P. my beloved GX200 boo hoo
