Passa al contingut principal

Will Custom Firmware Void My Warranty? Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Respond

Will Custom Firmware Void My Warranty? Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Respond canonwarranty1


Installing custom firmware on your DSLR is becoming more and more standard. Like jailbreaking an iPhone, the new firmware often offers much more customization and features you couldn’t otherwise have. Magic Lantern in particular has been on a rampage lately, unlocking RAW video in cameras as cheap as $500.


But before you jump on the bandwagon and install Magic Lantern on your Canon or Nikon Hacker on your Nikon, it would probably be a good idea to get in touch with those companies and find out if installing third party firmware voids your warranty. Thankfully, Udi over at DIY Photography did it for you.


Will Custom Firmware Void My Warranty? Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Respond canonwarranty2


In an attempt to answer this yet unasked but very important question, Udi sent emails to Canon, Nikon and Panasonic asking them if installing third party firmware (Magic Lantern, Nikon Hacker and Ptool, respectively) on his 5D Mark II, D7000 and GH2 would void the companies’ warranties.


Each company eventually got back to him, though some took more prodding than others, and it looks like Canon owners are the only ones who are in the clear. Here’s a snippet of the email he received from Canon:



There is no such thing as “voiding” the Canon warranty, there are simply repairs that are covered, and those that are not.


For instance, the repairs for a failure of the buttons on the back of the camera within the warranty period, on a camera that does not show any evidence of mishandling or misuse, would likely be covered. Repairs for a camera that is “bricked” or otherwise having issues directly related to using a third party firmware would not be covered.


Even if a camera had to have the main board replaced due to it being “bricked” by a third party firmware, and then at some point later (but still within the warranty period) the buttons malfunctioned, the same rules still apply.



Will Custom Firmware Void My Warranty? Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Respond nikonwarranty


So damage caused by Magic Lantern wouldn’t be covered, but any covered damage, whether or not you’ve ever installed ML before, will still be taken care of pro bono during the warranty period. Nikon and Panasonic owners, however, aren’t as lucky.


Here’s Nikon’s response:



Thank you for contacting Nikon, I’ll be more than glad to assist you. Using a firmware version from an unknown source will void your warranty.



And Panasonic’s:



Yes, if you do proceed to use this option your warranty will be voided. We hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you for contacting Panasonic.



There are many reasons why a company might choose to void your warranty if you use a third party’s firmware, but Canon’s policy still seems to make the most sense. If you run into a manufacturer defect, it seems right that the manufacturer cover the repairs, even if you chose to use third party firmware on their camera.


Will Custom Firmware Void My Warranty? Canon, Nikon and Panasonic Respond panasonicwarranty


That’s just our take though, what do you think? And does knowing that your Nikon and Panasonic warranty goes away if and when you install custom firmware make you any less likely to use it? Let us know in the comments.


Dear Canon/Nikon/Panasonic Can I Use Custom Firmware With My Camera? [DIY Photography via Canon Rumors]




Image credit: Warranty by Sweetsop







via PetaPixel http://petapixel.com/2013/05/27/will-custom-firmware-void-my-warranty-canon-nikon-and-panasonic-respond/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PetaPixel+%28PetaPixel%29

Comentaris

Entrades populars d'aquest blog

10 alternativas a Cuevana para ver películas online

10 alternativas a Cuevana para ver películas online : Durante este último tiempo, en Cuevana se sucedieron varios “problemas” por los cuales hubo que ajustar algunas cosas antes de tiempo (como el rediseño del sitio), que dejaron a algunos usuarios ciertos problemas para acceder a las películas o series del portal. Pero realmente esto es algo que no incumbe a los usuarios y, como sabemos, existen muchas otras alternativas a Cuevana dando vueltas por Internet, que intentaremos presentar aquí mismo. Los sitios que repasaremos funcionan del mismo modo que Cuevana, mediante la instalación de un plugin que permite visualizar los videos de Megaupload o WUShare, entre otros servicios, en una calidad de imágen realmente excelente. Tal como sucede con el más popular servicio, todos ellos tienen publicidad que en algunos casos resulta insoportable, pero como dice Federico en DotPod “a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes”. Alternativas a Cuevana 1. Moviezet Posiblemente el mejor clon d

Sitio alternativo a Cuevana: Moviezet

Sitio alternativo a Cuevana: Moviezet : Nadie se quiere enfrentar al monstruo Cuevana , tan popular por estos días que es casi imposible ver tu serie favorita o tu película sin tener problema de saturación de tráfico. Pero hay proyectos muy sanos y prometedores, sobre todo porque están basados como una muy buena alternativa . Señores estamos hablando obviamente de un sitio alternativo a Cuevana, llamado Moviezet. Como bien dijimos, Moviezet es una excelente alternativa a Cuevana, ya que podremos ver películas y series de forma gratuita sin necesidad de que existan cortes – al mejor estilo Megavideo – y que podremos tener un seguimiento, es decir, si miramos una serie, podremos ver toda la lista con los capítulos disponibles. Lo que tiene de novedoso este sitio web Moviezet , es que tiene películas y series que quizá en Cuevana no se puedan conseguir, pero atención, que puede suceder lo mismo, pero al revés. Entonces aquí intervenimos nosotros y te daremos un sabio consejo, para no

Learn Composition from the Photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Do you see it?” This question is a photographic mantra. Myron Barnstone , my mentor, repeats this question every day with the hopes that we do “see it.” This obvious question reminds me that even though I have seen Cartier-Bresson’s prints and read his books, there are major parts of his work which remain hidden from public view. Beneath the surface of perfectly timed snap shots is a design sensibility that is rarely challenged by contemporary photographers. Henri Cartier-Bresson. © Martine Franck Words To Know 1:1.5 Ratio: The 35mm negative measures 36mm x 24mm. Mathematically it can be reduced to a 3:2 ratio. Reduced even further it will be referred to as the 1:1.5 Ratio or the 1.5 Rectangle. Eyes: The frame of an image is created by two vertical lines and two horizontal lines. The intersection of these lines is called an eye. The four corners of a negative can be called the “eyes.” This is extremely important because the diagonals connecting these lines will form the breakdown