How long will a G2 last?

[rjstep3]

I'm sorry if anyone has asked this before, but with an electronic camera like the G2, how long is it expected to last?

Assuming you keep the thing clean and dry, don't abuse it or drop it, and take nice care of it, how long can we expect the electronics to hold up? Or basically can it just conk out at any time and that is the end of it?

The same could be asked of any electronic, automatic camera, but the G2 is expensive ... are they living on borrowed time by now?

rjstep3

 

[arseniii]

It will last long enough for you to enjoy it and make a lot of great pictures!

 

[Bob Michaels]

How long did the electronic radio in your car last?

 

[Waus]

I have mine since 2001-together with the 28/45/90, never had any troubles with it...

 

[rjstep3]

thanks guys - so no-one seems to have (serious) troubles - but do you ever wonder how long that will go on for?

rjstep3

 

[B-9]

I wouldn't be to worried, there are still plenty of shops servicing these cameras!

As for longevity, I have automatic/electronic compacts twice the age of my G1, still working nicely.

 

[nobbylon]

Why because it's electronic should it be prone to failure? One could post the same about mechanical cameras, ie when will my Leica slow speeds gum up? when will my F2's meter ring gear fail, ad infinitum.
As far as I'm aware there are no cameras with auto expire by dates. Most electronic issues that I've seen on cameras are to do with the mechanical side of the interface anyway.

 

[rjstep3]

I worry about electronics because any little speck of dust can get in, short the PCB inside and that's it.

Another problem with electronic cameras is that they have little ribbon cables inside - they become brittle with age, and break, again causing the demise of the whole camera.

If a mechanical camera is kept lubricated, it will last for more or less forever: I am thinking of my late father's Oly RC35, still going strong in my hands now since 1970, when he bought it! A true great of a camera.

rjstep3

 

[arseniii]

Ohhh gosh, how little you know about modern electronics 😉

I worry about electronics because any little speck of dust can get in, short the PCB inside and that's it.

Another problem with electronic cameras is that they have little ribbon cables inside - they become brittle with age, and break, again causing the demise of the whole camera.

If a mechanical camera is kept lubricated, it will last for more or less forever: I am thinking of my late father's Oly RC35, still going strong in my hands now since 1970, when he bought it! A true great of a camera.

rjstep3

 

[Major Tom]

I worry about electronics because any little speck of dust can get in, short the PCB inside and that's it.

Another problem with electronic cameras is that they have little ribbon cables inside - they become brittle with age, and break, again causing the demise of the whole camera.

Am I the only one getting the joke here?

 

[sevo]

About as long as it takes to fall from 1.5m and hit a stone pavement. YMMV, I have cameras that are eighty years and still haven't made that final plunge.

Seriously, there is only one inevitably time-related point of failure, namely its use of liquid crystal displays - the counter on my spare G1 has already dried up. The rest will wear out with use, but that is no matter of (shelf) time. Kyocera seem to have assumed a service life of ten years past last manufacture, which is long by consumer electronics standards.

 

[lewis44]

ToCad is the service for kyocera and as far as I know, they still service them. Usually do a complete service when you send it in.
http://www.tocad.com/

 

[Peter_S]

I had a G2 for a year and have used (and continue to use) a T3 intensively for about 4 year, without problems or failures - except the shutter blades of the T3, OK; but ever any complete failures during use. And I tend to use my cameras quite intensively.
I am thinking about switching back to a G2 again, because I really trust them. I cannot say this necessarily of the Ms. This does not answer your question directly, but with the time and money my Ms spent in repair/service I could have bought more than one G2. One full failure of an M7 was purely mechanical - not the evil electronics.

So...not sure deterioration of electronics in a solid analog camera are a reason to prefer a fully mechanical camera, that those are more solid is a myth in my book. My toughest camera had/have Contax written on them.
d mine
A mint one can deliver good service for many many years I would think (you can buy two for relatively little money). If I found the guy I sold mine to I would buy it back.

 

[john_s]

......

Another problem with electronic cameras is that they have little ribbon cables inside - they become brittle with age, and break, again causing the demise of the whole camera.
......
rjstep3

The ribbon cable failure has caused the demise of my GR1v. It doesn't take much to stop electronics. I could talk about my SAAB too..........

 

[kbg32]

We all become brittle with age. Stop worrying. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[sevo]

The ribbon cable failure has caused the demise of my GR1v.

Not really - the cable itself is quite hard to kill. The usual failure there is deterioration of the conductive rubber contact pad connecting the cable to the PCB.

written on the road

 

[john_s]

Not really - the cable itself is quite hard to kill. The usual failure there is deterioration of the conductive rubber contact pad connecting the cable to the PCB.

written on the road

That's interesting. How hard would it be to replace the conductive rubber pad? Would it be an off-the-shelf item or would I be looking at replacing the whole board (assuming that there are still stocks of them somewhere)?

 

[btgc]

As far as I'm aware there are no cameras with auto expire by dates. Most electronic issues that I've seen on cameras are to do with the mechanical side of the interface anyway.

Wait, but what's about those expire-shortly-after-warranty-ends horror stories?

Speaking of cameras, I remember reading Minolta X700 (or close model) suffered from dying capacitors. Obviously not programmed expiration issue, just a bad design or selection of part supplier, I guess.

 

[kuzano]

Iv'e owned three....

Iv'e owned three....

An upgraded G1 (green lable) and two G2. All had the three standard lenses. 28, 45, 90.

Never had a problem with any of them. Had the last set for three years. Still no problems.

My concern was I loved the lenses, but I thought the bodies were inferior to the quality of the lenses. Got used to the focus, lock, recompose situation. If you buy one, make sure you get the secondary manual which is all about focusing the camera, a problem a lot of people complained about. I had no problem adjusting to focus-lock-recompose-shoot using the half push on the shutter button.

I have no reason to believe one should be concerned about the camera.

I just never warmed up to the camera. Sold the last set, hating to sell the lenses. However, there was no way to use the lenses on anything else because of the unusual focus motor connection to the lens actuator.

In the meantime, I started shooting digital and Olympus 4/3 and m4/3 PEN. Then someone made an adaptor which had a special focus wheel on the side and mount for the
Contax G lenses. I wish I had kept the three lenses at least. I would have loved to try them with that special adaptor on my Olympus. That adaptor would also work on Panasonic.

Therefore, if the body did die, one could keep the lenses in use with that 4/3 adaptor.

The lenses however would be 56, 90 and 180 FOV or 35mm equivalent. But they are great glass.

 

[sevo]

That's interesting. How hard would it be to replace the conductive rubber pad? Would it be an off-the-shelf item or would I be looking at replacing the whole board (assuming that there are still stocks of them somewhere)?

There is no DIY fix for the pad itself, you need a spare. I have heard of nobody so far who identified a suitable replacement. These connectors seem to be cut to measure, so there is no real off the shelf solution. But there are related connectors widely used on smartphones for which the makers offer replacements, so it might just be a matter of asking the right telephone repairman.