After three reliable years, my Sony DCS F717 finally kicked the bucket. Looks like the CCD chip died because everything else seems fine. I think it may have been victim to a power surge because it was working fine before being recharged. In the end, the camera took over 3000 photos. So that’s not too bad. I'm pretty bummed though because it was a great camera. Because replacement of a CCD is almost as expensive as getting a new camera, I may as well get something new. I'm looking at 7+ megapixles and full manual control. I would like something I can focus manually easily and Macro mode is essential. I would like to pay between 650 and 750. Anyone know what would be a good replacement? This will be used mostly for N scale model photography.
Sorry to hear about your Sony, we are all in the Lap of the Gods when it comes to Digital Cameras, most manufacturers only keep spare parts for about two years after a model has been released. I would be very upset if I paid the kind of money you would have paid for the F717, 3,000 photos, that is terrible, from what I have read of many camera forums there are many folks with Kodak DX7590s, P850s etc that have taken over 15,000 shots and their cameras are still going strong, if that were me I would never consider another Sony.
I'm at 13,000 shots for both DSLR cameras. I have no idea of what my 1968 Nikon F had accumulated. It still works just fine. I know I shoot much more with the DSLRs than I did with film--electrons are free, after all.
