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Apple kills off 3rd party iPhone 12 camera repairs thanks to proprietary Apple tool requirement

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If you’re one of those who’s jumped on the new iPhone 12 smartphones, be ready to take very good care of it because if you kill the camera, there’s no inexpensive repair option. It will have to go back to either Apple or one of the few (expensive) authorised repair centres, iFixit has discovered in some more extensive testing of the new iPhones.

A leaked internal Apple training guide suggests that this is intentional on Apple’s part, and also indicates that it’s true of all four models of the new 12 series iPhones, as they have to be tested through Apple’s proprietary software – although iFixit has only seen issues with the iPhone 12 so far. Oh, yeah, and screens can’t be user replaced without errors, either.

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Nikon USA has opened back up its repair service – but not for walk-ins

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After Nikon shut down its repair services in the USA and Canada in March, Nikon USA has reopened its service centre, but only for mail-in customers, not walk-in customers over the counter. This is expected to change as measures are put into place to protect both their staff and customers.

As a result of COVID-19, an announcement on the Nikon USA website says that there is a longer turnaround time than usual and that delays should be expected.

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The DJI Mavic Air 2 is actually super easy to fix

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The folks at iFixit have been working hard during the lockdown, including building a massive repository of repair information for ventilators and other devices to help those who need to repair life-saving equipment. But they’re also managing to keep up with their regular YouTube duties, too, still regularly posting teardowns and instructional videos to repair your personal devices.

Most recently, their latest video is the new DJI Mavic Air 2 drone; DJI’s follow-up to 2018’s popular Mavic Air. iFixit’s video takes the Mavic Air 2 apart to show how all of the major components fit together, and how easily they dismantle to provide access to pretty much every component contained within.

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Canon USA suspends its repair centers in four states due to coronavirus pandemic

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After Nikon, Canon has also decided to temporarily shut down some of its repair shops in the USA. In California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Hawaii, Canon is closing the repair facilities “until further notice,” and of course, it’s all because of the current coronavirus pandemic.

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Nikon has suspended camera repair services in the USA and Canada

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If you’re a Nikon shooter based in the USA or Canada and your gear goes down over the next few weeks, you’re going to have a wait on your hands to get it back up and running – not that most of us will have jobs to go shoot anyway. Nikon USA has announced that it has closed down its camera repair service and are currently not accepting equipment.

This follows an announcement a few days ago that Nikon Canada had also suspended their repair service as well as Nikon Pro Services (NPS) loaners. Nikon Australia has also closed its Sydney Office and their Service Centre, although they are still accepting deliveries by courier only.

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Nikon is about to make it a lot more difficult to get your camera repaired

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Nikon is soon killing its authorized third-party repair program. Starting from early 2020, more than a dozen repair shops will come down to only two facilities at the ends of the US. This way, the Authorized Repair Stations will become non-authorized and likely lose access to official parts and software. Therefore, you will need to mail your gear directly to Nikon, no matter where you live.

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Nikon is ending is free D600 sensor “dust” repair service in January 2020

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Back in 2014, Nikon issued a technical service bulletin over “dust” issues with the D600 DSLR. It was an issue that Nikon initially seemed to deny existed but then replaced the D600 with the D610 less than 13 months later. But then, shortly after that, in February 2014, Nikon finally admitted there was a problem with the D600 and issued the service advisory offering free repairs – even if the warranty had expired.

Not too long after that, China even ordered Nikon to stop selling the D600 within the country. And later in 2014, Nikon was finally just replacing D600 bodies with D610s for many owners who had been involved in a class-action lawsuit. Now, Nikon is finally ending that free repair programme.

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Tearing down a $2,300 Sony GM lens for a DIY repair

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As a photographer, it’s one of the worst things that can happen. You’re away for three weeks travelling and shooting – for work – and right at the beginning of the trip you drop the only lens you’ve brought with you. That’s what happened to Pierre Lambert and his $2,300 Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens recently.

With part of the body of the lens twisted, there were obvious issues. Pierre chose to take the rather unconventional decision to attempt to repair the expensive lens himself. Fortunately for us, he shot video so the rest of us can see what’s contained inside this $2,300 lens.

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Nikon repairs may be invalidating your insurance and future warranty

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So, this is an interesting one and not something I’ve come across before. But a British photographer we spoke to reports having had serial numbers in his Nikon lenses changed after sending them in to be repaired by Nikon Professional Services in the UK.

He says that Nikon told him they sometimes have to replace the part which contains the serial number. However, this may invalidate your insurance or future warranty when numbers no longer match up. Especially if Nikon isn’t providing any documentation for the new number or even telling you that it has a new one.

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Watch a timelapse of craftsman replacing a Canon 6D shutter

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Have you ever wondered what it looks like when a technician repairs your camera? This timelapse will answer the question what happens when a shutter is being replaced. While it’s purely technical, it’s mesmerizing to watch. Not to mention I’m in awe when I see how many tiny, fragile parts the technician needs to deal with and leave them unharmed. In particular this case, the guy is working with Canon 6D. But I imagine it’s equally demanding with all DLSRs.

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