Optio 33l simply won't start

Hi, everybody... I've had my Optio 33l for a year and a half now, and had second to no problems with it at all - the software did freeze a couple of times, but a restart solved that problem. A few days ago, while on a photoshoot, its zoom froze (the rest of the functions worked fine) and a restart helped there too. But, this morning, I took it out of my carrying pouch and pressed the On/Off button - nothing. Changed the batteries - again nothing. Another (all used) - same result. Went out and bought a new pair - nothing. I haven't dropped it, or damaged it in any way, there's nothing on the outside that could be labeled "out of the normal" - the thing just won't start!

Has this happened to anyone? What could be wrong?

I purchased my Optio 33l about a year ago and it has worked flawlessly until today. Nothing now. I've been stealing batteries from all the remote controls around the house and can get a peep out of my camera. I'll get a new set tomorrow and try again but it's not looking good. About 6-8 months ago a sales person at one of the local shops here in Ottawa, Canada told my wife about some problem with this model but I never followed up at the time.

.... Jerry

I was so pleased to find this camera and have treated it so well but was horrified today that it just would not switch on. when I used it earlier in the day it seemed fine, even had newly recharged batteries in but now nothing, my fisrt digital camera is now looking like a compleate waste of money. Could I demand a refund it looks like a coen problem.

i dropped mine about a week ago....had a couple of problems with the little shutter not shutting properly but it seemed to fix itself. The other day while using it the battery ran out while the camera was on (the lense was extended)

Now the lense is extended when the camera is off. tried new batteries but now it makes like a sound when turning it on, the lense moves out then in then makes the sound again and turns off again. (the sound is like a depleting sound)

has anyone had a problem like this? can it be fixed? was it expensive to get fixed?

I have also have our camera for about 18 months and it is having the same issue now.
put in any battries and it will not start. Old, new, Alk or NMHi, does not make any difference.
Mine is the 33lf, we have two friends with the same model they had exactly the same issue. Lucky for them it occured during the 12 month warranty period and where fixed under warranty.
So before I go get a quote, what have other people done and found?

whoops. My camera has the same situaitons after i bought it one year and half. The crazing thing is that i found that i cannot turn it on right after the 2005 boxing day. Before i think the pentax is a good brand and trust it very much. From other posters i found it is common manufacture fault. I went to the repair shop in canada and asked the repair staff. He told me it is because the main circuit board has some problem and had to be replaced, which would cost 150 canadian dollars. This is almost the same price to buy a new one or even a better one. I also got the informaiton from the repair store that many buyers also has the same problem. So I am quite sure that all our customers have bought a product with manufacture fault. Can we ask for a explanation from Pentax. I think we have to claim our rights.