All Forum Comments
Comment by MattMatic posted on K10D - Good deal, or not? at 06/10/2006 - 16:17
One thing about the K10D is it takes at least 7 keypresses to perform a manual white balance (plus the shutter)!
The *ist-D could do it by holding down a button and pressing the shutter. Simplicity And having used the Expodisc for well over a year, I'm not going to go without it!
Now if only they could reuse that "RAW" button (which I know I won't use 'cause I always shoot RAW) to do the same thing as the *ist-D with whitebalance...
That, along with a few other gripes, means I'm holding off too.
Matt
The *ist-D could do it by holding down a button and pressing the shutter. Simplicity And having used the Expodisc for well over a year, I'm not going to go without it!
Now if only they could reuse that "RAW" button (which I know I won't use 'cause I always shoot RAW) to do the same thing as the *ist-D with whitebalance...
That, along with a few other gripes, means I'm holding off too.
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on K10D - Good deal, or not? at 06/10/2006 - 15:35
Just as a side note...
After duffing my lovely 24-90 lens, and phoning the insurers they suggested I take it for repair estimate to their preferred centre... Jessops.
You can imagine what I said
I wish these things didn't happen like this, but let's just hope you get your DL2 back very soon
After duffing my lovely 24-90 lens, and phoning the insurers they suggested I take it for repair estimate to their preferred centre... Jessops.
You can imagine what I said
I wish these things didn't happen like this, but let's just hope you get your DL2 back very soon
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 24/10/2006 - 15:35
Perhaps you could ask Pentax directly:
"Is there a bug in the firmware?"
The fact they are "waiting for software", and that the flash behaved as it did seems to indicate you have unwittingly uncovered a problem in the firmware - a fix would take a while for them to debug/write/test.
Peter's comment about every camera having the problem would be correct then - but the exact circumstances may not be that obvious nor easy to re-create. (For instance, I uncovered a bug in a Toshiba laptop driver which caused a blue-screen-of-death followed by instant reboot. Managed to grab a shot of the screen with the Pentax *ist-D and sent it back to Toshiba. They fixed it in a couple of weeks and the new firmware was available online )
That's my guess from what you've said (I develop firmware myself... as a developer it is absolutely impossible to get every bug out - firmware is so immensely complex these days. )
Just a hunch... worth asking
But I do agree that the feedback from Pentax seems a little lacking (and Jessops in the loop isn't helping either)
Matt
"Is there a bug in the firmware?"
The fact they are "waiting for software", and that the flash behaved as it did seems to indicate you have unwittingly uncovered a problem in the firmware - a fix would take a while for them to debug/write/test.
Peter's comment about every camera having the problem would be correct then - but the exact circumstances may not be that obvious nor easy to re-create. (For instance, I uncovered a bug in a Toshiba laptop driver which caused a blue-screen-of-death followed by instant reboot. Managed to grab a shot of the screen with the Pentax *ist-D and sent it back to Toshiba. They fixed it in a couple of weeks and the new firmware was available online )
That's my guess from what you've said (I develop firmware myself... as a developer it is absolutely impossible to get every bug out - firmware is so immensely complex these days. )
Just a hunch... worth asking
But I do agree that the feedback from Pentax seems a little lacking (and Jessops in the loop isn't helping either)
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 19/10/2006 - 09:40
The above info is "The Sale of Goods Act", which may be slightly different -
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/general/unsafe/fs_d01.shtml
Matt
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/general/unsafe/fs_d01.shtml
Quote:
When you buy your appliance from a shop you are protected by Sale of Goods legislation, if the appliance is not of satisfactory quality or fit for its purpose.
This law only applies if the appliance had something wrong with it when you bought it, although the fault may not be obvious at the time.
Just searching for legal stuff on faults within warranty period...When you buy your appliance from a shop you are protected by Sale of Goods legislation, if the appliance is not of satisfactory quality or fit for its purpose.
This law only applies if the appliance had something wrong with it when you bought it, although the fault may not be obvious at the time.
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 06/10/2006 - 11:20
Steve - very good point.
Here's the DTI information
http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page24700.html
And this:
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
Hope that helps
Matt
Here's the DTI information
http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page24700.html
Quote:
* It is the seller, not the manufacturer, who is responsible if goods do not conform to contract.
...
* A purchaser who is a consumer, i.e. is not buying in the course of a business, can alternatively request a repair or replacement.
...
Q11. The retailer has said that a repair is "disproportionately costly" and insists I accept a replacement as an alternative. Must I accept this?
Yes, and vice versa if you request a replacement and this is "disproportionately costly". However, remember any remedy has to be carried out "without significant inconvenience" and within a "reasonable time" for the consumer. Remember that you could also seek damages instead.
This link is also helpful: http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/consumer-support/index.html* It is the seller, not the manufacturer, who is responsible if goods do not conform to contract.
...
* A purchaser who is a consumer, i.e. is not buying in the course of a business, can alternatively request a repair or replacement.
...
Q11. The retailer has said that a repair is "disproportionately costly" and insists I accept a replacement as an alternative. Must I accept this?
Yes, and vice versa if you request a replacement and this is "disproportionately costly". However, remember any remedy has to be carried out "without significant inconvenience" and within a "reasonable time" for the consumer. Remember that you could also seek damages instead.
And this:
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/
Hope that helps
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 06/10/2006 - 11:15
John,
Correction accepted. I'll qualify my statement - "I don't have any faith in my main local Jessop store". Perhaps it's changed over time, but every time I think I'll test them out I'm disappointed.
As I mentioned, I was shocked to find out after Jessops had told me they'd sent it to Pentax for repair and it had gone wrong again after a couple of month's use, when I phoned Pentax they assured me that my camera had never been seen by them
But glad to hear you've had some positive experiences with them
Matt
Correction accepted. I'll qualify my statement - "I don't have any faith in my main local Jessop store". Perhaps it's changed over time, but every time I think I'll test them out I'm disappointed.
As I mentioned, I was shocked to find out after Jessops had told me they'd sent it to Pentax for repair and it had gone wrong again after a couple of month's use, when I phoned Pentax they assured me that my camera had never been seen by them
But glad to hear you've had some positive experiences with them
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 05/10/2006 - 17:10
Personally I don't have any faith in Jessops.
If I were you I would contact Pentax directly... the last time I ever dealt with Jessops (years ago admittedly) they said it was with Pentax - it wasn't, it was with one of their repair centres and Pentax knew nothing about it
Just phone Pentax, explain your situation, and see where they're at. It is worth suggesting to them, because of the time involved that you should get a replacement camera. I have had experience with the Pentax repair centre, and it wasn't 100% an easy ride. But after persisting they came up trumps
Hopefully you made a note of the camera serial number - Pentax can use that to locate it.
Usual things apply - when you phone ask for names, write everything down, and keep at it
HTH,
Matt
If I were you I would contact Pentax directly... the last time I ever dealt with Jessops (years ago admittedly) they said it was with Pentax - it wasn't, it was with one of their repair centres and Pentax knew nothing about it
Just phone Pentax, explain your situation, and see where they're at. It is worth suggesting to them, because of the time involved that you should get a replacement camera. I have had experience with the Pentax repair centre, and it wasn't 100% an easy ride. But after persisting they came up trumps
Hopefully you made a note of the camera serial number - Pentax can use that to locate it.
Usual things apply - when you phone ask for names, write everything down, and keep at it
HTH,
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on *ist DL2/jessops at 05/10/2006 - 14:22
You could well be right Don - but the discharge of flash doesn't take power, it's the recharge of the flash. But then maybe it's trying to recharge while writing to the card.
Did you shoot RAW or JPG?
Matt
Did you shoot RAW or JPG?
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on red and green horizontal lines thru image at 04/10/2006 - 13:30
Well, there's no guarantee that the Sigmas use the same wireless signalling as the Pentax guns. Sigma may use any other method they like - because as far as I know the body doesn't have to know how the signalling takes place.
You may have something though about the body knowing whether the flash is going to fire and compensating... so have a go at this:
1) Set the camera to fully manual
2) Select 1/125s, and f8, ISO200
3) Check that the viewfinder says you will be drastically underexposed (at least 3 stops under would be a good test).
4) Just have one Sigma on the body, and try:
4a) Controller only mode (should be very dark)
4b) Master mode (should be correct with flash)
5) Now power up the slave and try:
5a) Controller only mode (should be correct with shadows from only the slave)
5b) Master mode (should be correct with dual shadows)
Try taking a shot of a simple object (a tin can for instance) on a white piece of paper. Position the slave to point directly from the right hand side and this should make it easier to see where the shadows are coming from.
Note: at least with the Pentax guns you can use P-TTL flash when the body is set to fully manual. I've had great results from doing this
Matt
You may have something though about the body knowing whether the flash is going to fire and compensating... so have a go at this:
1) Set the camera to fully manual
2) Select 1/125s, and f8, ISO200
3) Check that the viewfinder says you will be drastically underexposed (at least 3 stops under would be a good test).
4) Just have one Sigma on the body, and try:
4a) Controller only mode (should be very dark)
4b) Master mode (should be correct with flash)
5) Now power up the slave and try:
5a) Controller only mode (should be correct with shadows from only the slave)
5b) Master mode (should be correct with dual shadows)
Try taking a shot of a simple object (a tin can for instance) on a white piece of paper. Position the slave to point directly from the right hand side and this should make it easier to see where the shadows are coming from.
Note: at least with the Pentax guns you can use P-TTL flash when the body is set to fully manual. I've had great results from doing this
Matt
Comment by MattMatic posted on Two Sigma EF500 DG Super's Wirelessly with DL at 05/10/2006 - 11:17
"Image 9" - the sheep is also amazing. Check out that bottom right hand area in the deep shadows. I can still pull detail out of the shadows from a JPG! I can see the sheep's legs and the straw/grass underneath. Goodness knows what you can get out of a RAW file...
If these are straight out of camera - then WOW!
I'd much rather see a RAW file though
What do you think?
Matt