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When is new not new

AnthonyB
Posted 07/03/2012 - 14:42 Link
Hi guys, just seen the light and moved over to Pentax K5 ditching my Lumix 4:3 gear. Traded my old stuff in and I got the K5 + 18-55 kit and also bought a mint M50 f1.7 results with this old lens are very good. My concern is that when I checked my shutter count yesterday 3 days after buying the camera, the total was 652!!!

Is that acceptable for a camera sold as "new" from a dealer? Should I take it back and demand an exchange?
K-5, DA 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR, M 1:2.8 28mm, M 1:1.7 50mm, M 1:3.5 135mm.
Edited by AnthonyB: 07/03/2012 - 14:43
snappychappy
Posted 07/03/2012 - 14:48 Link
Could be a demo model, was that mentioned at purchase?
greynolds999
Posted 07/03/2012 - 14:56 Link
Shutter counts are never zero when new. This is down to normal production testing procedures.

If the box was open and the unit had clearly been "used" then that would be different.

EDIT: What was the file number of the first photo you took? If you haven't changed the format and it ends in ...0001 then that would also indicate that it is new.
Edited by greynolds999: 07/03/2012 - 14:58
AnthonyB
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:08 Link
They just said it was the last one they had in stock. Which, with hindsight, I suppose might mean it had been on display at some point although that was not mentioned when they sold it to me.

I love the camera though. It's a pleasure to use and the £30 50mm M lens is staggeringly good for the money and looks good on the camera too. Overall I'm delighted, just slightly irritated at being sold a "new" camera with such a high number of shutter operations.

EDIT: Just checked the file nos and the first pic I took started at 0996.
K-5, DA 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR, M 1:2.8 28mm, M 1:1.7 50mm, M 1:3.5 135mm.
Edited by AnthonyB: 07/03/2012 - 15:14
Mike-P
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:10 Link
greynolds999 wrote:
Shutter counts are never zero when new. This is down to normal production testing procedures.


With the K-5 the shutter count is normally zero. It seems Pentax reset them before shipping the camera out.

My 3 all started with zero.
Mike-P
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:12 Link
AnthonyB wrote:
Hi guys, just seen the light and moved over to Pentax K5 ditching my Lumix 4:3 gear. Traded my old stuff in and I got the K5 + 18-55 kit and also bought a mint M50 f1.7 results with this old lens are very good. My concern is that when I checked my shutter count yesterday 3 days after buying the camera, the total was 652!!!

Is that acceptable for a camera sold as "new" from a dealer? Should I take it back and demand an exchange?

Did you use the SD card from the Lumix and if so did you format it before use? If not then the K-5 will carry on from the last number used by the lumix.
greynolds999
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:16 Link
Deleted my last comment.

If Mike is correct (I never had a K5) then this may have been a demonstrator. There is nothing specifically illegal in calling it new in this case. You still get the full warranty.

But if you bought it over the internet then you would be able to return it for a full refund within 7 days (Providing it has not been used excessively).
AnthonyB
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:19 Link
greynolds999 wrote:
If it's ex-display and they didn't tell you then I would be annoyed. Likewise if it was a return then they should also have told you.

But as I say, the best way to tell is look at the file numbering. It could well be that it was picked for additional testing in the factory (as they would do random testing).

If you bought it over the internet in the UK then you can return it for a full refund. Where did you buy it from?

Bought it from LCE and got a really good deal. (Especially since I bought the Lumix there and the guy who sold it to me made an error and invoiced me for £100 less than the transaction should have been - of course I kept quiet and got out as fast as I could )Plus, as I've now realised, I did just bung one of my cards in that I'd previously used in the Lumix and I didn't format it for the Pentax. I just started snapping away and never thought to set it up. I'll try formatting it and then do another upload to check the shutter count. Cheers guys for the heads up.
K-5, DA 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm AL WR, M 1:2.8 28mm, M 1:1.7 50mm, M 1:3.5 135mm.
Edited by AnthonyB: 07/03/2012 - 15:22
Mike-P
Posted 07/03/2012 - 15:26 Link
Its a bit more complicated that just formatting the card as the Pentax will now just carry on from 652 no matter what you do.

You have to find the shutter count using photome (with an unedited file straight off the camera) then rename the file to the next number. Insert card into camera and go to menu on K-5 that has the menu memory options and un-tick remember last file number. Then take a photo and re-tick file number. From there it should carry on.

All this is from memory when I did it years ago so may be slightly wrong but it will give you an idea.
AndrewA
Posted 07/03/2012 - 20:38 Link
Hello and welcome to the forum!
Andrew

"I'm here because the whiskey is free" - Tyla

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