K5 Sensor Issues...

TBH I am getting a bit tired of hearing about the sensor issue. It's not only Pentax that seem to have some problem here (if you read the whole thread) and it is not all K-5's that where sold that have the issue. Yes I got one of the 'mucky' ones but it has been dealt with and I get my replacement in the first week of January with a Delivery/Return from SRS so I can not see what still is the big issue. It has been addressed and Pentax is dealing with it.
Yes I feel sorry for the ones that did not get their camera from a pro dealer and have to wait ages for a replacement or even have to go over Pentax to get a replacement but in all honesty that is what you get if you buy for someone who could not care less as they got your money.
Buy from a pro dealer and you will not have those problems (plus other dealers may be fine as well) but some dealers seem to tale the Michael here and this is what gets up peoples nose.
As John said , logistics where the main issue here and to get the cameras where they where needed.
SRS dealt professional with it and so did some other dealers.
I am sure the same problem is with the other makes no matter where you bought them from.
PR disaster, WHAT PR disaster?
Pentax dealt with it and so did the other makers. Nothing lost but still plenty gained as still new reviews come out the put the PK-5 by miles ahead of competitive products.
Give it a few more weeks and we all be laughing at the 'big two' as I even know Press Photographers that got the K-5 now, so that shows what seasoned pro's think of the camera. None ever mentioned the sensor issue unless directly approached about it. None that I know has a problem of how Pentax dealt with it.
Make out of this whatever you want, but for me the issue is over.

QUOTE I would advise you to check the serial-number of the camera before you buy it: only cameras with an SN starting with 38 can be affected; cameras starting with 39 should not have the problem.
QUOTE Oh one final thing someone in NL has one with a S/n starting with 39 which is affected

Yes or no??? I have a serial starting 38 and I don't think I have a problem. So confused. Or do they mean only 38's but not all of them. Or should I return it to SRS to be sure - to be sure

SmutjeUK, Surely you meant "tired of reading"?

If so, don't read each new post on this thread.

Everyone has a right to post.

Best regards

To be quite honest, I agree with K10D.... if it was not for the sensible conversation, comments and conclusions that I have drawn from members of this particular thread then I would not have found an earlier solution to my particular case. (Nor have discovered SRS which is a major plus for me).

However, SmutjeUK is bang on with the benefit of buying from a Pro Dealer (something which I did not really consider until now). Good to see that Pentax have acted quickly to distinquish the packaging (it seems) to put minds at rest after fixing the problem. I will see if mine has the added 'O' on the box when it arrives tomorrow just as a matter of interest.

Dave

That's two of us in the NE that are awaiting deliveries from SRS.

Best regards

I know but its not only that its 'should I buy' or 'is the issue resolved' etc. I just was following this thread and read every one of the post's and now it becomes a vent to let of steam but no longer is in any relation to the original thread.
Everyone HAS THE RIGHT to voice their opinion and I am the last one to stop this but by now it repeats itself and it becomes more annoying then actually the issue was.
Playing in your enemies hand comes to mind here.
It is sorted now and most of us know it so why banging on against Pentax when the issue is more local with the original supplier of the camera.
Sorry, but this is my opinion and I do not mean to undermine anyone else's opinion on this matter.

To be fair I think the thread heading sort of gives an idea of what to expect here

Mine was from a pro dealer.

I was under no illusion that should there be a problem then SRS were going to go that extra mile to satisfy their customers. I should think Chris does fairly well through selling a much larger volume of Pentax gear compared to other so called "pro dealers" so it is probably more in his interests to do so.

Anyway .. I'm not complaining .. yet.

True, people vent. It does not help the situation. There are worse things going on than a camera issue.

In the bigger picture, Pentax have responded admirably.

Let's see if the thread is healthy by week two of 2011?

(probably not as all will be racking up shutter counts on their K5's).

Best regards

Mike-P - I think you are missing the point which I tried to make ( and it may be me who has not bought it over correctly ).
The thread is fine but it got way out of the original issue than it should have been.
Yes, we all have our little problems, some are bigger and some are smaller but what is happening now is that people start blaming Pentax, or other retailers for the way they dealt with the problem.
Honestly, that is not what the thread was there for. I appreciate everyone's difficulties and I am one of the lucky ones that may not have such a problem but please, be real.
No matter where you bought your k-5 from or what your beef is with the particular retailer, this thread should have only be dealing with the sensor issue and not with what dealer does what to whom. But this is what it has become and it is by now way off the OP topic.
That's all I mean with it. Sorry if it came over the wrong way.

Personally I do not see it as off topic, as I said, it's all in the title and the thread is just evolving as time goes on. I would rather everything to do with the K-5 sensor issue (including how Pentax and retailers have handled it) was in one thread rather than spread around in different places.

Infact Chris has picked up at least one new order purely because certain other retailers have been mentioned here and I think it's fairly obvious to most people reading who they should be using in future.

Unless of course another bargain comes up and you are prepared to take that chance

Further to my earlier post I too have now ordered a K-5 from SRS and am expecting it to come tomorrow. SRS quickly dealt with their promise to cover delivery charges for forum members after I couldn't find the necessary box to put my username in - thank you.
Guess they must be pretty busy with K-5 sales given their competitive pricing since Christmas and sorting out residual sensor issues.
I'm sure Pentax will want to get this one right to help rebuild their brand.
Nearly midnight, hopefully not too long to wait now!

John

I'm not complaining about the costs of carriage, I'm just explaining why I used the European guarantee to send the camera to my local service area. At my expense, of course.

Personally I wish I had heard of SRS before all this blew up, and I'll certainly use them in the future as they seem to be the only ones who have come out of this with (some considerable) credit.

As for Pentax, they have absolutely NOT dealt with this well. Have you actually looked at their website(s)? Can you tell me where, exactly, there is any reference to this well known problem and what they are doing about it? If you can, I'll be amazed; I've been checking regularly for news and advice and there is NONE.

They've left it to the internet forums to disseminate information. It's pathetic and inexcusable.

When emailed Pentax Europe and explained that I was not in the country where the camera was purchased their response was 'take it back to the dealer you bought it from'. Frankly I don't think they give a toss. They're meeting the minimum of their legal obligations and no more.

Certainly in the UK that would be correct advice. All the K-5s were so new that they were well within the time scale for a refund or replacement. You only refer to Pentax as a second line of redress if the dealer fails to deliver.

That rule is a European wide rule I believe.

I know of a couple of people in the Netherlands who bought from the UK as they were fed up with waiting for the K-5 to come out here. They too had problems - one bought from SRS and is talking to them now about what to do, another sent his back to the Pro Dealer he used, and had it exchanged, all postage paid. The third is dealing with the importer here, who is being helpful from what I gather, even though it is not really their responsibility.

I debated whether or not to buy in the UK, but I trusted SRS and went ahead with it, rather than wait a further couple of months for the cameras to reach the Netherlands. The service from SRS has been far far better than from the shop I would have used here btw.

WET CLEANED MINE , IT TWAS DUST CHUFFED NO SENDING BACK