K7 Faulty???????????????

After a year of problems with my K20D and six return visits to the repairers Pentax replaced it with a K7, which arrived today.

I set it up in accordance with the manual. However, the first thing that happened when I turned it on was a request to input the focal length, rather than to set language, etc as per the manual and as was the case with the K20D. It seems it had already been set up as the date and time were not default and the hometown had already been input as Sao Paolo. The JPEG setting was 6mp** rather than the default.

I tried using it with the DA16-45mm in Av mode. The camera doesn't seem to recognise the lens. The aperture is shown on the LCD panel as F-- The aperture is only recognised on the monitor and I can change it with the front edial. There is no autofocus available. Regardless of the focus mode lever setting the focus mode is shown on display as MF and indeed there is no autofocus. I have cleaned the camera contacts and the lens contacts with a dry cloth and I have also tried the camera with the DA55-300 and DA*50-135 and exactly the same thing happens. It happens in other shooting modes too.

I have taken a few test pictures and downloaded them. The exif data records a K or M lens, so isn't recognising a DA lens. Also the file names begin with CMQ rather than the default IMG, so it must have been changed by someone. I have also noted that copyright information is embedded with a photographer name of 'Carolina'.

I have done a reset to factory settings but this doesn't make any difference to the problems of lens recognition and autofocus not working.

I thought this would be a new camera. It looks new but?????????? I'm hoping (rather against hope) that changing some menu settings will solve this, so if anyone can offer any advice I'd be grateful.

Are there any senior Pentax UK people members of this forum. If so, what is going on please??????????????

If that's a new K7 I would sent it back straight away for a replacement instead of trying things out yourself.
It's sad it happens to you again

First thing I would try is to install the latest firmware. This might fix it.

It might be that this has already been returned to Pentax as faulty and was meant to be reconditioned but never was.

If that doesn't work, I'd send it back.

Factory reset, check firmware, try another lens, reseat memory card.
Polish contacts, try a different reset.
Go through each menu setting putting it back to default (time).

Phone up, whinge, whinge, send it back, wait for another.

I've tried three DA/DA* lenses. I don't have another to try. I tried factory reset, two memory cards twice each. Contacts polished twice. Battery reseated twice.

I've spent the last year with my K20 phoning up, whingeing, sending it back and waiting for another. It went back SIX times. That's no fun when you live in France and have to get it back to the UK and then back again. It went through three sensors, two PCB's plus other repairs and still didn't work properly. In total I spent about four months waiting without a camera. It cost me £120 in transit costs. I know everyone at Johnsons Photopia. Pentax finally agreed to send me a K7 as a replacement. It took them four weeks after receiving the K20 to send one. And they haven't even changed the details of the previous owner. I've just checked the shutter count - 1,200 odd so it clearly looks like a faulty return, unrepaired.

I'm simply in a state of disbelief. Sure I'll be phoning and whingeing again. The director of the camera retailer chain who stepped in and negotiated a replacement with Pentax is really helpful but he is away for another week or so. So I'll sit and stew for a while longer.

Dear anyone from Pentax, are you listening please? I've spent a small fortune on your lenses. Please can I have a camera to use them with?

Like you explain now things are a bit more problematic.
If you bought at a shop near you they should simply replace the camera for you on the spot if they have one in storage.

Btw I believe the European office of Pentax is located in France, maybe they are more helpful

It sounds like the contacts on the camera are faulty. Since you've been given a dud camera as a replacement for a previous dud I would be tempted to contact Pentax directly with copies of all the documentation from this saga and threaten them with legal action unless they send you a brand new camera.

Send it back.
Ian