Canon Professional Services “Clean & Check” Equipment Service

If you’re a regular reader of my site, you’ve probably seen the photos I’ve been posting from my recent Palm Spring vacation.  On that trip, I took both my Canon 5D Mark II, and my Canon 7D.  We did a LOT of hiking in desert areas and in mountain terrain – a couple of the days were pretty windy too.  BOTH my camera bodies developed dust spots on their respective sensors as a result to exposure to all that wind and dust.  🙁

Fortunately, as a Gold Level member of Canon Professional Services, I get two free “Clean & Check” services from Canon each year.  I’ve written in the past about the Canon Professional Services (CPS) program, and its many advantages and benefits for those of use who do photography professionally.  But in terms of pure cost justification, as long as you use the two clean and check vouchers which come with the gold membership, it pays for itself.  All the other benefits are pure gravy.

Don’t think that because the service is free it’s diminished.  Depending on your membership level in CPS, you get increasingly better service options.  As a mid-tier Gold Member, I get 3-day express turn around time, and free return shipping!  With your membership packet, you even receive pre-printed shipping labels:

Those perks apply to any service work you send your camera gear in to Canon for, and not just the free clean and check vouchers.  You also receive a 30% discount off of any paid service work Canon performs.

I shipped off my Canon 5D Mark II (I decided to ship the 7D after the 5D Mark II made it back), and had it back in my hands in less than a week.  The clean and check was quite comprehensive – they send a detailed summary of the work performed with the return shipment (click on the image to see a larger version):

In addition to removing the dust spots on the sensor, they adjusted the focus and exposure (not that I noticed and problems prior) and even upgraded me to the latest firmware version!  Absolutely outstanding service.

I’ve said it before, but the point is worth repeating – if you’re a pro or even a semi-pro shooter, membership in Canon Professional Services is outstanding investment and one of the many things which keeps me shooting with Canon.