If you’ve ever wondered how much warranty you get with a camera, then this guide is for you. It can play an important role, and give extra peace of mind, when choosing a new camera, particularly when they cost so much money!
Many new cameras come with a one year warranty, but some offer a two year warranty (or guarantee). Some even offer a five year warranty! But where does Canon, Nikon, and the other big brands like Sony come when needed?
Sure, most cameras will work perfectly for many years, but if you found yourself with a broken camera, through no fault of your own, after 13 months, wouldn’t you be annoyed if you then had to pay to have it repaired?
Perhaps it’s time to vote with your wallet when buying your next camera, and choose a model with a 2 year (or longer) guarantee…
This damage probably won’t be covered by the warranty.
Here’s a round-up of what each company offers in terms of warranty.
Nikon only offer a 12 month warranty on their cameras, and when they cost $4000 / £4000 for the Nikon Z8, and $5499 / £5300 for the Nikon Z9, and are sold as professional cameras, this seems very short.
Canon, in comparison, offer a 2 year warranty in the UK and US, on all Canon cameras, including the Canon EOS R5, a $3899 / £4299 camera, and the Canon EOS R3, a $5999 / £5999 camera.
Sony offer a 1 year warranty on Sony Alpha cameras in the UK and US. This seems very short, particularly on a camera such as the Sony Alpha A1, priced at $6499 / £5779. Strangely enough, Sony Xperia phones offer a 2 year warranty.
Fujifilm offer a 2 year warranty on cameras in the UK, but only a 1 year warranty on Instax cameras, and only a 1 year warranty in the US.
OM Digital Solutions / Olympus offer up to a 5 year warranty on the OM System OM-5, and OM System OM-1, $1199 / £1199, $1999 /£1999 cameras respectively, depending on when they were purchased, and whether the offer was included at the time of purchase. A 3 year warranty can be bought for £99 (in the UK) if the offer has expired.
Panasonic offer a 1 year warranty on Panasonic Lumix cameras, but in the US, you benefit from a much longer 3 year warranty.
Pentax/Ricoh offer a 1 year warranty in both the UK and US on DSLRs and compact cameras.
Leica offer a 2 year warranty in both the UK and US on their mirrorless cameras and digital rangefinders.
Sigma offer a 3 year warranty on lenses in the UK, a 4 year warranty on lenses in the US, and a 5 year warranty on lenses in Europe. Camera warranties vary, but are 12 months in the US.
What are the warranty periods for cameras in the UK and US? :
| UK warranty period in years | US warranty period in years | |
| Canon | 2 years | 2 years |
| Sony* | 1 year | 1 year |
| Nikon | 1 year | 1 year |
| Fujifilm | 2 years (1 year Instax) | 1 year |
| OMDS (Olympus) | 1 year, up to 3/5 years^ | 1 year, up to 3/5 years^ |
| Panasonic Lumix | 1 year | 3 years |
| Pentax / Ricoh | 1 year | 1 year |
| Leica | 2 years | 2 years |
| Sigma** | 3 years (lenses) | 4 years (lenses) |
| Phase One | 5 years | 5 years |
* Sony Xperia phones have a 2yr warranty
^ depending on model and purchase offer, 3yr warranty can be bought for £99 in the UK
** Sigma warranty varies depending on location, see above
Related reading
- Repairing your camera equipment – a guide
- Camera maintenance: how to clean your camera and equipment
- How to clean your camera sensor – Safe and simple
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