Repairs Grief

My Pentax camera has developed a fault again. Yes. Again. After this recent failure, I suddenly realised that every Pentax DSLR I've used (*istD, K10D, K20D) and the last film camera (MZ-5) all failed.

The hot-shoe on the K20D isn't firing in M mode. I can't use X mode because it has never worked properly with any radio trigger I've used. I always get the curtain in the frame.

I sent it off to Johnsons Photopia and the quote has just come back as £180. That's £180 parts and labour to replace a PCB. That's absolutely outrageous.

This failure rate is unacceptable and that cost to replace a PCB is really taking the piss.

When people say that Pentax kit is amateur, I always thought they were having a dig at the photographers and not the people making the cameras.

I've been a Pentax user all my life since my first SLR - an ME-Super; followed by a string of Pentax cameras: Super-A, MZ-5, *istD, K10D, K-m, K20D and a load of compacts, but I've had it now. I'm seriously considering jumping ship.

I bought a Canon S90 a few weeks ago and the low light performance is superb. Way better then my K20D. In many situations it's a better choice to use. I'm afraid Pentax just isn't cutting it any more.

Is it over 2 years old?

If not, invoke the UK warranty, assuming of course that you bought it via a UK Pro dealer.

How about "the reasonable period of time?" Could be worth looking on the BBC One Show website for a downloadable letter/form. I feel sure Dom Littlewood did a piece on early failure of goods.

Cedric

No. Actually. I bought it in August 2008 so it's well inside two years. I'll look into this. Thanks.

If you bought it from a Pentax Pro dealer, warranty is 2 years.

Even if it was not a Pentax Pro dealer you could try you luck citing the Sale of Goods Act under which your contract is with the shop that sold you the item. The goods must be of "merchantable quality" and I think it could be argued that an expensive item like a K20D should last for more than a year.

Archie

Well, I got the K20D repaired under guarantee. It was a few months inside it's two years and I'm indebted to Richard Day for first alerting me to this possibility.

That's the good bit.

The bad bit is it took them over a month to repair it and now that I have it back, I find that they've introduced a new fault and nicked my strap.

The AE-L button no longer has a positive action and is hypersensitive to touch - or even camera movement.

Sigh...

How annoying!

This is turning into a drama.

I sent the camera back to Johnsons Photopia on March 11. Having heard nothing, I called them today only to find, that 11 days later, they haven't even looked at it yet. Not only that. The ONLY(?) guy who can work on it is in two days training.

What an utter shambles. This has completely eliminated any possibility of me getting a K-7, which I had been toying with, or any other Pentax kit, for that matter.

Not all that long ago, I used to pop down to Langley, which is only a few miles down the road, and hand the camera over for repair. I'd collect it or they'd post it back a week later. Whilst it was convenient, it does highlight what unreliable cameras I've had.

My gx20 failed after 18 months i contacted samsung to find out how much it would cost to repair (sensor problem) gave them the serial number THEY told me it was still under guarantee (even though i did not have the reciept) and told me to send it to one of their repair centres,they could not repair it so i was sent a BRAND NEW gx20.I had great service from samsung,pity pentax is not the same..

Roy

But chaps, this is most unfortunate and very rare, isn't it? I mean, I've only had my K100 for about eight months and all this is making me twitchy.

There's got to be some tales of years of faithful reliable service, hasn't there?

Regards,

Andrew

3 years and no problems so far.....>knock on wood<

Bret

You must be seriously fed up and I really sympathise, however, this forum wouldn't exist and neither would Pentax if your experiences were in any way typical.

I have been using Pentax cameras professionally for 30 years, I had some problems eventually with my 645 but that was probably just fair wear and tear after hammering it for 15 years or so, one problem with my K20 which came back within a week.

So far my one and only problem has been a minor software fault on a new I-10, exchanged instantly by SRS.

And this is covering a lot of time and a lot of cameras.

Off topic I know but as you're on just now KEN Gartmore. How did you get on with that V512 power pack. CHEERS Vic.