The #1 reason for defect digital (non-DSLR) photo cams sold at Ebay is... ?

[hemmerling]

The #1 reason for defect digital (non-DSLR) photo cams sold at Ebay is... ?

From my point of view this is:

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#1
"The camera does not move out the lenses when it is powered on, even though the motor makes some noise. Its just that it felt down on the floor".
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Typical models with moving-out lense systems:
Most Olympus digital cams, including bridge cams like SP-350, SP-550, bridge cam Fuji S8000fd

Bridge cam models which do NOT move out the lenses and are nevertheless very compact: Fuji S5700,S5800 ( unfortunately no optical stabilisator)

Bridge cam Models which do NOT move out the lenses but are bulky:
Fuji S5600, S9600,..

So is it a good strategy for buying bridge cams NOT to buy a bridge cam which moves out the lenses ?
Especially as moving out the lense system is power-consuming
AND may this kind of cams is not build for infinity.. as cams which do NOT use their (zoom) motors all the time...

Sincerely
Rolf

[griptape]

I'm having a hard time understanding what you're saying here (what's a bridge cam?), but I think you're asking if you should only buy a fixed lens camera since lenses that move can break. I think you'd be better off taking your chances and getting whatever camera you really like, and maybe buying an extended warranty if you're that worried about it.

[SpecialK]

I would suggest not dropping your camera on the floor.

[hemmerling]

I'm having a hard time understanding what you're saying here (what's a bridge cam?),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_camera



but I think you're asking if you should only buy a fixed lens camera since lenses that move can break. I think you'd be better off taking your chances and getting whatever camera you really like, and maybe buying an extended warranty if you're that worried about it.
Insurance against dropping down the floor is not part of extended warrenty, nor of any other insurance.


I would suggest not dropping your camera on the floor.
LOL
It just happens, every day, for the last 60 years,
and analog cameras often are not broken.

I wanted to focus on if cams which MUST move their lenses every time they are switched on, are of special danger and have less lifetime,
in opposite to those where there is no motor ( Fuji S9600 ) or at least not used to move "external" parts.

And its just that I read the fault very often ( at german Ebay ): The cam does not move the lenses when switched on.

Sincerely
Rolf

[David Metsky]

That's one way for cameras to fail, but there are lots. Most people who are selling broken cameras on eBay can identify that one; they probably can't identify the others is a way that lumps them all together in a single bucket.

So no, I wouldn't pay much attention to that. Any camera, with an external moving lens or not, can break if you drop it. The ones with an external moving lens will say "Lens doesn't move", the ones without an external moving lens will say something else, but it won't be obvious that they all broke the same way.

I agree, don't drop your camera. Or, get an extension tube and UV filter that protects your lens in all positions.