ttk is one of the cynical pentaxians...

Here it goes, I’ve shut up for months. For months I have been reading angry posts of angry customers and forum members appalled by the disgusting Pentax customer service; and for months I have claimed that they were exaggerating, and that customer service is rubbish everywhere, and many many other reasons not to dismiss Pentax for its complicated relationship with customers.

So here goes the story that will really shock you, cynical Pentax users...

About 6 weeks ago I was setting up for a shoot, and realised that the lens attached to the camera was broken. A two-month-old DA* 50-135, completely bent at the mount, result of a probable knock in the Tamrac bag that fell from about a foot high. I was desperate. Being accidental damage I rang my insurance, and asked what to do. I had a shoot the day after, and many other shoots coming up on my calendar. The insurance told me the same old story, to get a quote for repair, and take it from there.

I then called Pentax, and to my surprise, they tell me that all the servicing and repairs of Pentax UK has been moved to an external company, JP Service Solutions, up in Staffordshire. I call them up, and they tell me that the change had been done only a week earlier, and to send the lens in, for an estimate on the repair. I sent the lens on May 13th, thinking that it was not going to be repairable and looking forward to not having it for a long time....

In the following week I was very anxious to have the quote on the repair, even just to start the claim with the insurance; I kept on calling JP Service Solutions to get this quote, and on June 1st, I finally receive an email with the quote - £92 for the repair.
Great News!!!

I authorise the repair before this is accepted by the insurance, and ask when I would have the lens back, as on June 21st I have an important shoot and 2 days later I leave for Italy, where I have 2 other shoots, my own wedding, and my photo-thirsty honeymoon. They tell me that the lens would be with me before the 19th, and I am very happy with this arrangement.

I must say that the company doing the repairs has clearly just started, and whilst they are very kind and always answer the phone, and have plenty of information, it is obvious that, taking on the full repair service for a large company like Pentax, will surely bring some issues, and time loss. They tell me to call back in the weeks to follow, to make sure all is fine with the repair.

And we get to last Tuesday, the 16th of June. I call them up, and the secretary tells me that there are some issues with the repair, and I should speak with ---- the Service manager. I get a phone number, and for a long day try to speak with this person, without any luck. I then get a call late in the afternoon, and we have a brief chat, where he explains that they are still waiting for the parts to repair the lens (which come from Brussels) and therefore there is no chance the lens will be with me before the shoot on Sunday, and the travelling the next week.
I am rather upset, and trying to keep calm, I try and insist for a solution to this really big problem (Cannot afford another DA* - and MUST have one for all the shoots coming up). The service manager is incredibly kind, and, after another long chat, he offers to ask Pentax (Langley) for a replacement lens, IF they have one. He says he’ll call me back with news.

Following the cynical pentaxian nature, I don’t believe him.

Today, (18/6) around 10 in the morning I get a call from JP Service Solutions, saying that the Service manager has arranged for me to pick up a replacement lens in Langley. I drive to Pentax house and receive a replacement. The Pentax person tells me that this is a completely exceptional case, and it has never been done before, and also tells me that they will try to establish a replacement service for customers, although he says that it cannot be done at the moment because of the lack of stock, and the complications of posting expensive equipment.

So I drive home, with a replacement lens that I will keep until I return from Italy, and hopefully get my repaired copy back. I write this to show all the forum members that there is hope for Pentax customer service, and having a real repair company commissioned to do the repairs is actually a great improvement on the old “we have to send the lens to Germany” story.

Hopefully all you cynical pentaxians can appreciate this, and stop throwing judgments and rubbish on Pentax customer service.

Nathan

Matt, where are you located?

I would never use program mode, and would also learn something about how a camera works....

but this is just me.

ANyway dont use ISO higer than 400 if possible. Look at this video and try to understand the settings - applying them to the on-camera flash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NEmufNi70w

Good luck

I've had dells before.

I can't stand having to send the laptop in for repairs.

THis assistance comes with a technician on call, and free support on the phone.

And because I already bought it, there is no point suggesting buying something else. Good advice though!

I also got a complete care plan.

It covers absolutely everything, for £7 a month - through Pc-world.

I recently bought an Advent
Pentium dual core,
2.16 GHz , 3 GB Ram - and 300 GB Hard drive.
17" monitor as well.

Just to give you an idea, I can run Adobe Bridge, and Photoshop CS4. Open up to 60-80 RAW files on ACR, and process everything together. As smooth as you can imagine. Really really quick.

SPent £400 at PC world.

HOpe this helps

What do you think about this?
Have you ever seen better sharpness and better bokeh in the same photo?

K10d, FA 31mm ltd, f1.8, 1/800s, ISO 100 - Basically no PP

[IMG]http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u332/nathanever82/TurkishBokeh.jpg[/IMG]

Too busy, and there is no context, so no focal point.
the lighting is quite flat, and the contrast is rather boring.
Also the DOF is great, and I personally like it shallow on this type of subjects, BUT the petals in front of the centre of the flower are very distracting, and detract from the focal point of the flower.

Hope this helps,

ahahhhhhahahaahhahha

that's gonna happen....