Rocky Cameras??

I should have queried the Forum first, but I was caught in the moment: A Pentax ring flash which would work perfectly with my LX and at a not-unreasonable price.

So, off goes the order to RockyCameras.com via PayPal; order accepted instantly, apparently sent off very soon. Not being used to dealing out of the US I sent off an email to insure that they had the proper shipping address, no response, and after 10 days I emailed to inquire of the order status, citing the furnished order number. That was yesterday, again no response. No indication that the email lacked a proper address.

I hope that, as suggested by several members, "Rocky" is a decent sort but a little disorganized.

I'll keep the forum posted.

Good luck with that George.
I would have thought that you would be fairly secure with PayPal and if you don't receive the goods, can make a complaint and get a refund.
Cheers.

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PPG

Thanks for the post.

I do hope to receive the ring flash, but if nothing materializes soon, I'll give RockyCamera a phone call - wonder how much that will cost! PayPal does have a resolution center, and that would be the next step if the phone call bears no fruit.

Wish I'd used MasterCard, since contesting a charge is relatively easy....

Oh well, the Voitglander Vitessa L should arrive tomorrow. Hope it works properly!

George,
Keith Rock the man who runs Rocky Caneras is not too good at answering emails but he does answer his phone. Actually the two items I have bought from him were dispatched very promptly by Royal Mail (I live in UK). I did have a bit of bother getting a refund on an unsatisfactory item but a couple of phone calls did the trick and I got a full refund.

His business seems to be a one man band and he goes on his travels at times. In fairness to him one item I got from him was a real bargain.

It would be worth a phone call as a real human being answers - you do not get stuck in a queue listening to silly music while your phone bill ticks up.

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Archie

Per Keith a lot of his business is export (Far East) so doubt USA is the problem per se.

But unlike USPS, Royal Mail still offers surface mail as well as air mail across the Atlantic, and that can take a long time outside of the Xmas season.

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My PENTAX Page

I often send packages to the US via my eBay sales and regular airmail normally takes around 7-10 days. Having said that, sometimes things get caught up in customs checks and *can* take up to 21 days (in my experience). The Post Office itself won't consider a missing package claim until 28 days have elapsed.

As for Rocky, yes he's disorganised but I don't believe he's deliberately fraudulant. If he says it's been sent when you call him then I'd take that as being true.

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Joining the Q

Many thanks to all for the reassurances. Gareth, thank you for the kind offer. I think that shipping is included in the cost, but without an invoice I can't be certain.

The Vitessa L arrived yesterday and looks GOOD! The Ultron f2 lens is clean, no visable marks, rangefinder clear, bright patch, body has one small dent and a very few flaws in the chrome. Shutter sounds right. The selenium meter even works, mirabile dictu!!

Any one familiar with the Vitessa L? It apparently takes a bayonet lens hood and filters, although it lacks the bayonet around the lens that my Retina IIIc has. I'd like to get a skylight filter on that Ultron f2.

It came with a nice everready case in fine condition. I'm running some Kentmere 100 through it to check focus accuracy, etc, although given its cosmetic condition I imagine that all is well.

One little oddity: with the plunger film advance mounting a flash in the shoe is a problem; the flash fouls the plunger. I'll have to come up with a bracket, or an extender to mount the flash higher, not a bad idea to avoid red eye. I'm a happy camper!

Now when the ring flash from RockyCameras materializes all will be well!

The Vitessas with the Ultron lens (excellent choice by the way) changed over time from screw-in to bayonet (not sure which came first or if it was an option). I believe the screw in filters were 40.5mm (fairly common for Leica thread mount lenses which were popular at the time) but the bayonet was unique to Voigtlander (picture here).

Your only options are to trawl eBay or ring around some second hand camera shops to see if you can find any. If it's any consolation the front of the camera won't close with the filter attached anyway so they're of limited use - one of the rigid hoods would be a better buy for lens protection (if that's what you're worried about) if you can find one.

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Joining the Q

Hefty1, many thanks for the info.

I had just figured it out myself, it amounts to sort of an interrupted thread. Just insert the filter, give a little twist and voila! But of course no one else used such.

Ah, the hoods! I've seen what might be such for (gasp!) $60 or so!

I guess I'll look into the old fashioned series adaptors we all knew and often hated back in the day. Trouble is they often scar the lens rim, and this camera's cosmetics are so good I'd hate to do that.

I had a problem with something from Rocky once, when he used Ebay. I can't remember the details,now, but he sorted it out to my satisfaction, and I would deal with him again.

G

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Keywords: Charming, polite, and generally agreeable.

The situation is resolved. I called Mr Rock and obtained a tracking number. Delivery had been attempted to an old address - since then corrected - furnished by PayPal, no one was there to sign for the delivery and it was returned to the post office (about 4 miles from my home) where I was able to pick it up. I do wish that Mr. Rock had read his emails from me and had furnished a tracking number on the "dispatched" email he sent me on June 10, the day after the order.

The ring flash is as described, and will be a welcome addition to my LX kit; I may be able to use it on my 645n with a step up ring, if it doesn't vignette. All is now well.

Again, thanks to the folk who responded to my plaint.

Glad to hear that the issue has been resolved. I think it confirms that Keith Rock is basically ok but unfortunately does not keep abreast with his emails.

Also a reminder to all PayPal users to check that they have our current address. Most sellers quite reasonably will only deliver to a confirmed PayPal address.

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Archie

Well I for one had never heard of Rocky Cameras, but after reading this thread I just had to go and have a look, unfortunately that look cost me £300

I still cant believe I got what I did for that price, and I'm not going to shout about it until the postman has knocked on my door, watch this space guys

Incidently, I did notice he has the quite rare KF lens for the ME F, so if any of you guys want to go totally retro you know where to look, IIRC it was £80.

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My Names Alan, and I'm a lensaholic.
My PPG link
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Dealt with Rocky twice before, no complaints. Had a look at his site yesterday and something tempted me - reckon this is the same thing...

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