Looking after you and your camera for up to two years.
The OTA Camera Club is for people who buy their astronomy camera from us. It covers your camera for the length of its manufacturer's warranty, up to two years, with priority repair handling, member pricing on the gear that goes with it, and a first chance to trade up when the next camera comes out.
Priority warranty support
- Free repair handling. If your camera has a fault, we manage the whole claim: the manufacturer's troubleshooting steps, the RMA, all the communication with the manufacturer, and the shipping both ways. Members go to the front of our queue. Up to two repair claims are covered during your membership, for the camera you joined with.
- Join before 2027, get the loaner program. We're planning a loaner camera program for 2027, so a repair doesn't cost you weeks of clear skies. Members who join on or before December 31, 2026 get access to it once it goes live, for the rest of their membership. No loaner is available before then.
- Out-of-warranty help. If a fault isn't covered by the manufacturer, we'll still arrange the repair and quote it based on the manufacturer's repair quotation, with access to our discounted shipping rates.
Trade up when you're ready
Members get a camera trade opportunity: when you're ready to move to a new camera, we'll offer you a trade value for your current one toward the new one. This is a direct trade with us, not consignment. Trade values depend on the camera's age and condition at the time of the trade, and on whether it comes with all of its original packaging and accessories.
Member pricing
- 5% off filters and camera accessories.
- 5% off new camera models when you buy without a trade-in.
Member pricing applies to regular-priced items and can't be combined with sale prices.
Help and community
- Priority imaging support. Questions about capture settings, back focus, guiding or your control software go to the front of the line.
- Member image of the month. Send in your best images. Each month we feature a member's image on our home page and in our newsletter.
- Early access. Hear first about new courses, new products and our in-house promotions, before they're announced publicly.
Camera Club or Warranty Handling Service?
Choose one or the other for your camera. The Warranty Handling Service covers claim handling and shipping. The Camera Club includes all of that, plus priority support, member pricing, the trade opportunity and early access.
Membership terms
- Length of membership. A membership covers one new camera bought from Ontario Telescope. It starts on the date of purchase and ends when the manufacturer's warranty on that camera ends, up to a maximum of two years. If the manufacturer's warranty is shorter than two years, the membership ends with it. The membership is tied to that camera's serial number, which we record when you join. Each additional camera needs its own membership.
- Membership ends with the camera. A membership ends early if the covered camera is traded in, returned for a refund, or sold. It does not move to another camera, except to a replacement unit issued by the manufacturer under warranty.
- Additional cameras. Customers with an active membership can add another camera for $80. This price is not guaranteed and may change.
- When to join. The membership must be purchased with the camera it covers, or within 30 days of buying it. New astronomy cameras only; used cameras and DSLR or mirrorless cameras are not eligible.
- Canada only. Available on orders shipped to addresses in Canada.
- Repair handling. Warranty repairs are performed by the manufacturer under its warranty and its terms. Before a manufacturer will issue an RMA, the owner must complete the troubleshooting steps it requires. We cover shipping to the manufacturer or its service centre and back to you.
- Not a warranty extension. The Camera Club does not extend or add to the manufacturer's warranty under any circumstances. Whether a fault qualifies for warranty repair is decided by the manufacturer, and the manufacturer's decision is final.
- Repair limit. Up to two repair claims are covered during the membership, for the camera you joined with only, identified by its serial number. A repair claim is counted when the manufacturer approves the camera to be sent back for service. Troubleshooting and support that don't require the camera to go back to the manufacturer don't count. We keep a record of each approved repair against the camera's serial number. A replacement unit issued by the manufacturer under warranty stays covered for the rest of the membership; please send us its new serial number. Repair claims for any other camera are not covered.
- Claims open at expiry. A repair claim opened before the membership ends will be handled through to completion, even if it finishes after the end date.
- Faulty on arrival. A camera that is faulty on arrival will be handled under our regular return policy and does not count toward the two repair claims.
- Shipping. We choose the carrier and service level for repair shipments. Repaired or replacement cameras are returned to the original shipping address in Canada. Repair times are set by the manufacturer, and we can't guarantee how long a repair will take.
- Loss or damage in transit. Repair shipments are insured. If a shipment is lost or damaged, it is settled through the carrier's insurance claim, up to the insured value.
- Loaner program. A loaner camera program is planned for 2027 and no loaner is available before it goes live. Members who join on or before December 31, 2026 will have access to the loaner program for the remainder of their membership once it goes live, at no extra cost. No launch date is guaranteed, and the timing of the launch does not make the membership refundable. If the loaner program has not launched by December 31, 2027, the membership of each member who joined on or before December 31, 2026 will be extended by six months. This extension does not extend the manufacturer's warranty, and repair handling still ends when that warranty ends. All other member benefits, including member pricing, priority support, the trade opportunity and early access, continue for the extra six months. The terms below apply once the program is live.
- Loaner cameras. Once the program has launched, a loaner is provided only when we have one available and is not guaranteed. The loaner may not be the same model as your camera and may be from a different manufacturer. If all loaners are in use, you will be placed in a priority queue for the next available camera. A loaner is secured with a credit card. We cover the loaner's shipping both ways.
- Returning a loaner. The loaner must be shipped back to us within 5 days of you receiving your repaired camera, once you've tested it as working. It must come back complete, with everything it was sent with, including cables, caps, adapters and case. If a loaner is not returned within 5 days, or is lost, damaged or returned incomplete, the cost of repair or replacement will be charged to the credit card on file.
- Loaner limits. One loaner is provided per repair claim, and loaners are available for warranty repairs only. No compensation is provided for imaging time lost while a camera is being repaired or while waiting for a loaner.
- Trade-ins. Trade values are set at the time of the trade, based on the camera's age and condition. Cameras should be traded in with all original packaging and accessories. Missing items, such as the box, spacers, adapters or cables, will reduce the trade value by the manufacturer's replacement cost of those items. A trade is a direct sale to Ontario Telescope, not consignment.
- Trade quotes and value. A trade quote is valid for 5 days. The final trade value is confirmed once we receive and inspect the camera; a camera that isn't working or has damage not disclosed beforehand may be revalued or returned to you. Trade value is applied toward a new camera from Ontario Telescope and is not paid out in cash. Your membership must be active at the time of the trade.
- Member discounts. Apply to regular-priced items only, using your member code. The 5% camera discount applies when no trade-in is used on that purchase.
- Member code. Each member receives one personal code, for their own use only. It can't be shared or combined with other discount codes, and we may cancel it if it is misused.
- Member image of the month. By submitting an image, you allow Ontario Telescope to display it, with credit to you, on our website, in our emails and on our social media.
- Packaging. Please keep your camera's original box, foam and caps for the length of the membership so it can be shipped safely if it ever needs service.
- Non-transferable and non-refundable. The membership applies only to the original purchaser and is non-refundable once purchased, except where required by law.
- Chargebacks. A chargeback or payment dispute on the membership ends it.
- Misuse. Ontario Telescope may refuse service or end a membership without refund in cases of abuse or fraud, such as deliberate damage to a camera or loaner, false claims, or repeated failure to return a loaner.
- Changes to the club. We may change the club's perks from time to time. Changes will not reduce the core benefits of a membership already purchased: repair handling, member pricing and, for members who joined on or before December 31, 2026, loaner access once the program is live.
- Liability. Ontario Telescope's total liability under the membership is limited to the price paid for it.
- Questions and governing law. If you ever have a concern about your membership, please contact us first and we'll do our best to make it right. These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario.
Run by the team at Ontario Telescope and Accessories, at our shop in Bolton, Ontario.