At Lighthouse we like to think we are constantly updating and improving.
This especially applies when it comes to professional gear. In the continuing push to have the greatest and best we will often have backup gear that might be of interest to other professionals and serious amateurs.
From excellent near new items to working but-could-do-with-some-repair items we have a nice collection of computer and camera gear for sale.
So have a sticky beck and feel free to ask questions.
I thought I took care of my professional gear, but when I picked up my gear from Camera Electronics today and was told about how much sand and dirt my lens, bodies and bag had accumulated I was totally shocked!
Here are a few things I have learnt today.
(1) always use both lens caps when finished with a lens.
(2) Take time to wipe down, blow off or clean sand particles after a beach shoot from the caps and lens.
(3) Clean the inside of your camera bag occasionally.
(4) Realise that Perth is one of the dustiest places in the world!
(5) Cleaning the body sensor is only half the problem if the lens are not spotless anyway. dust from lens is literally sucked away into the sensor as soon as a lens change is done.
(6) Don’t attempt to clean body sensors yourself if you haven’t been properly trained to do so. This will invariably cause more problems or even damage sensor.
It’s good to have the backing of such a superb Pro dealer like Camera Electronics. They not only have the expertise in sales and service but have a clear people investment in technical support as well.
CPS stands for Canon Professional Service.
This specialist department is available only to professional photographers that carry Canon’s most elite range of gear, The L-series or professional series. “L” stands for Luxury are the brand of Pro lens that each cost around $1000 to +$3000. The pro bodies, Canon’s EOS one series, includes the EOS one Mark III D and Ds, and now the Mark IV.
The top level of CPS Gold Membership, costs around $100 a year and now includes 5 free sensor cleans a year, free product evaluation and 30% off the cost of repair labour.
THUMBS DOWN ON “MYCANON”
Unfortunately the new CPS has it’s drawbacks!
The move away from it’s own dedicated website into “MyCanon” has resulted in unnecessary clutter, poor website design and a total watering down in the services provided to the working professional. Sure the free 1800 support number is still operational, but when it comes to resources and information the new MyCanon is really a marketing blog for everyday consumers of Canon.
Even the Pro Photography section is just a bunch a glorified ads and marketing spin. Gone are the resource pages that pros could find actually interesting. The supposed “Pro” accessories page is once again a copy of any and every Canon branded product on the market, pro grade or not!
Enter a postcode to find your dealer and you get dealers from more than 2000KM away! What’s the point.
THE GOOD NEWS
I’m told that the pro dealers like PRA and Camera Electronics are partnering up with CPS to provide real support and service. This means that if I want to evaluate a specialist piece of equipment like a new lens or camera body there might finally be one available for me. For more than 2 years I’ve made around 3 or 4 attempts and all but one time never had an evaluation lens or body sent to me due to equipment shortages. CPS, in the past, had mainly looked after newspaper, government and large sports photography agencies.
So the good news might be that Canon Pro Dealers will act as CPS drop off and pickup points, evaluation centres and be, in general, a familiar place to get the support pros need.
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