Was my 'new' camera previously unboxed?

I've just received a new Pentax K-3 from what I always considered to be a highly reputable UK retailer - small but a Pentax specialist.

However on receiving my new body a few things just didn't feel right so I want to ask others if you think that these things add up to the Camera having been unboxed.

It was a K-3 body only.

The first odd thing was that the bos didn't have any form of seal.

The second that the paperwork had an extra sheet of bubblewrap under it that seemed to serve no purpose (like someone had unpacked it and couldn't remember where it went)

Thirdly the mount cover was loose and a very small bit of paper/card dust was on the mirror - easily cleaned off with a lens pen.

Fourth the mount had a very slight scuff on it as if a lens had been mounted and removed and above the mount the body a very small mark I would never have noticed if my suspicions had not already been alerted.

Fifth the LCD didn't have any sort of protective stciker on it, and it did have a finger mark.

So I took an image and uploaded it straight to https://www.camerashuttercount.com/ the count was 2 - so it arrived with me with a count of 1. Some people have said that 1 is fired on production line as a check and others have said it is always reset to zero when shipped.

What do you guys think - unboxed, clicked and returned or genuinely new?

I would say that we should never touch the mirror with anything. The mechanism is fragile, of a very high precision and it's essential with a DSLR that it is in the correct position.

I don't know the answer to your question, but it's possible that it's been out and demonstrated. If you're unhappy, then send it back for an exchange?

Hi John, can't give you a definite answer to all your concerns but I have had the K10d, K3 and K1 all from new and none had a seal on the box ( a point made many times by others). None had any protective film on the lcd's either. Shutter count is as my K3 but other than the K10d no finger marks were present. This may put your mind at ease, I hope so as the K3 is really a great camera. Tony

Thanks Tony, just to clarify - your k3 came to you with a shuttercount of 1 instead of zero?

if brand new i would be tempted to put a lens on the camera take a photo and see how many actions the shuter as done

read the original post to the end

Is it possible that it was supplied to the shop as a body with kit lens and that to supply your order of body only, the shop split the box (as it were!).

But you should perhaps ask the supplier to explain ...

Sounds distinctly iffy, cannot understand how anything would get on the mirror with the mount cap properly in place as it should be. A lens pen isn't the right tool for a mirror, and this should be pristine on a new body. Scratches? Definitely contact the seller and request a replacement or refund. If you are otherwise happy with it then negotiate a discount as it is not as described.

I have emailed the shop SRS - but wouldn't expect a response until tomorrow.

I doubt it has been split as the Kit's I have bought in the past have included the lens in the same box this is definitely a body only box.

I have emailed them and asked them to explain.

As I said the cap was loose on the body as soon as i picked it up it just flopped off, even before I had the bubblewrap off the body.

Well SRS should see you right, I appreciate they are a long way from Sunderland so a visit is out of the question!

Yes John it had a count of 2 from memory, not a quantity that would ring alarm bells for me if I am honest hence it didn't concern me at the time. The battery and charger etc were un touched and I didn't have one moments issue with it while I owned it. Like you it came from SRS and my knowledge in their aftersales support only helped give me confidence not to be concerned. One click on the shutter count may just tell me they checked your camera prior to despatch rather than a customer return that would I am sure have far more clicks.
I agree with Christopher however to contact SRS at least just to ease your mind. I hope you can enjoy your camera in the near future.

Regards Tony

HI Tony

I have emailed them. Hopefully they will come back to me tomorrow.

As much as anything they were becoming my goto for Pentax gear - i even paid a bit more from them once because i thought they were reliable so it's important to me to establish if this is a mistake or what.

Regards
John

well it is a busy place so they probably did test it and got busy and did it again as they forgot they had tested it
always remeber the first time i called in went in to look at a k3 and the wife was with me and she asked about a lens for her hum excuse of a camera ( a canon lol)
they actualy sorted out the same camera she had and the lens that she was looking at and said go and try it ie out the shop
i didnt by the k3 by the way i ended up with the k3ii and am enjoying every momment that im out with it
good bunch of guys and gals down there

Hi,

I've just noticed this and wanted to answer the points raised.

We have had a few batches of K-3's recently. This last batch is the final stock from Ricoh.

We wouldn't have used the camera as we have separate display stock so if anyone wanted a demo of the K-3 we would use the display unit. If we get any returns i.e unwanted, these are sold as 'Open Box' returns with full details of shutter counts and condition etc

I shutter-counted a K-1 the other day as we were updating the firmware for a customer and this was also at 2 when I'd taken 1 image. I've never had a definitive answer from Pentax about how many actuations can be on a camera when new. With Olympus it can range from 50 to 150!


The first odd thing was that the bos didn't have any form of seal. - They don't have a seal

The second that the paperwork had an extra sheet of bubblewrap under it that seemed to serve no purpose (like someone had unpacked it and couldn't remember where it went) - This is normally present on top of or below the manual so the box won't sag.

Thirdly the mount cover was loose and a very small bit of paper/card dust was on the mirror - easily cleaned off with a lens pen. - I've lost count of the times this has happened and it's due to Pentax using a cheap white 'slip-on' body cap instead of the black plastic bayonet type, which is sold as an optional extra. Nikon do the same and the same thing happens

Fourth the mount had a very slight scuff on it as if a lens had been mounted and removed and above the mount the body a very small mark I would never have noticed if my suspicions had not already been alerted. - I can't comment on this without seeing it, but as I mentioned above, we wouldn't have mounted a lens on it.

Fifth the LCD didn't have any sort of protective stciker on it, and it did have a finger mark. - They don't have an LCD protector on from the factory.

I hope this helps put your mind at rest. Please be assured that the item you have bought is brand new!

If you need to speak to me then please send me a PM or email.