Canon is screwing us with their repair policies.

Question

      I have been using Canon digital cameras since the venerable D60...I have owned the 1Ds, 1Dsmk2, IDsmk3, 5d, 5d2
5d3 , 1d2...mostly full frame cameras. I have used these in the practice of my successful photography business. Quite a
while ago...I learned of a very hard working, talented independent repairman...trained in Japan...now working here. He is
a great guy and will give you quick, very personal service at a very fair price. While I occasionally sent items to the Canon
factory repair in the past...they usually took too long, didn't really listen to your problem accurately, and charged way too much. So when I found my independent guy...I was ecstatic....the very first repair...I had a body that was not focusing accurately....this is before microfocus adjustments built into cameras. It was way off. He personally tested this camera and
worked on it for two hours while I waited there....then when it was done and knocking off razor sharp images....he said..."no
charge this time". This is the kind of guy he is. For the last 4 years I have had such confidence in my equipment...knowing that if something happened (such as when I dropped my 24-70 lens) I could have it back usually in
time for my next important assignment....without too much sting to my wallet
      I have just found out that Canon...in their ultimate wisdom, has decided not to produce parts for some of the older cameras like the 1Ds mk2...1Dmk2....so now my guy can't repair them. They have also blocked his ability to get software
and calibration targets for the newer bodies like the 1ds mk3...5d3,  1dx, etc. So now pros like me will have to ship our
cameras to Canon Service and hope we get them back in a reasonable time and without taking out a mortgage.
        Not only have they obsoleted some very useable and excellent camera bodies.....but they are now punishing
hard working , honest guys like my tech. I suppose he will have to go out of business soon. Pros out there....lend your
voice to this cause.....complain to Canon about these imperialist policies.

Answer 1

I'd suggest you do a bit more research on this because it's slightly old news when it relates to Canon. From what I've read Nikon went that way long before Canon, but I think both still supply parts for the bodies they no longer service BUT I MAY BE WRONG on that. The real question then becomes which manufacturers if ANY will sell parts / tech support / software / test & calibration equipment to the independants. I doubt any of them will when it comes to the pro level equipment. In return they will need more qualified repair technitions to handle the extra work load
You'd like to believe your independant shop can fix anything, & he probably could IF he could afford to keep up on his training & buy the latest tools & equipment necessary to do the job right in a reasonable time. Everything from cars to cameras has gotten more complicated, smaller physically, and more precise re fit & finish. When the independant shop does a repair right it looks good & so does the camera they repaired so all is well, but if the shop doesn't get it right, blames the manufacturer for a poor design, inferior parts, loose tolerances etc is it the shops fault or the camera makers & just who gets bad mouthed as a result of the now sick but repaired camera or lens?
FYI I'm in another service / repair industry where things have gone way past where many independants can repair everything, and I'm an independant who once worked for a manufacturer at a local level.  
"A skill is developed through constant practice with a passion to improve, not bought."