All Forum Comments
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Can this be repaired? at 22/03/2009 - 12:44
Is this the powerzoom version? It looks like it has additional contacts on the mount.
I seem to recall reading a while ago that this lens have a history with this problem.
If you take it apart , also watch out for the small springs, behind the mount contacts. You can buy replacement 1mm ball bearings, but I have never been able to source replacement springs.
Steve
I seem to recall reading a while ago that this lens have a history with this problem.
If you take it apart , also watch out for the small springs, behind the mount contacts. You can buy replacement 1mm ball bearings, but I have never been able to source replacement springs.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Can this be repaired? at 22/03/2009 - 09:49
gartmore wrote:
Good to see you back, Peter.
I read your very practical test with interest having just bought the 16-45 in Jessops pre-closing-down sale. I have to say I'm a little disappointed with my copy. It isn't bitingly sharp until f11 - tests done using studio flashes, so no issues about shaky hands etc! All in all I think my 18-55 might be better, although I do suspect I might have a particularly good one of those since I've never understood the widespread criticism of it.
What has shocked me most is the truly awful PF/CA apparent at 16mm, I have never seen anything like it before.
I'd really appreciate comments from other owners before I return it to Jessops.
Ken
Ken, I debated long and hard over the 16 -45 before finally biting the bullet last Christmas. I had concerns over the PF/CA that certain reviews claimed was problem. I can honestly say that I have been very pleasantly surprised. Yes there is some PF/CA if pushed, but with my copy it is no worse than any other DA or FA lens that I own. Good to see you back, Peter.
I read your very practical test with interest having just bought the 16-45 in Jessops pre-closing-down sale. I have to say I'm a little disappointed with my copy. It isn't bitingly sharp until f11 - tests done using studio flashes, so no issues about shaky hands etc! All in all I think my 18-55 might be better, although I do suspect I might have a particularly good one of those since I've never understood the widespread criticism of it.
What has shocked me most is the truly awful PF/CA apparent at 16mm, I have never seen anything like it before.
I'd really appreciate comments from other owners before I return it to Jessops.
Ken
As for sharpness, I find the images acceptably sharp at F4 and very good from, F5.6 upward.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on pentax 16-45mm or sigma EX18-50mm at 18/03/2009 - 13:35
If it was posted via Royal Mail website, they give quite clear instructions on the procedure for making a claim. As I understand it , the claim needs to be made by the seller, but be aware it can take 4-5 weeks.
I have only had one item go missing in the post. It had a nominal value of £10 that I stated at the time of posting. I made the claim, but since I could not prove the value of the item , Royal Mail sent me a book of 1st class stamps as compensation, which just about covered my inital postage costs. Further telephone calls got me nowhere.
In your case since this was a eBay transaction the seller will be able to provide details of the sale price and also any postage costs.
hope this helps - Steve
I have only had one item go missing in the post. It had a nominal value of £10 that I stated at the time of posting. I made the claim, but since I could not prove the value of the item , Royal Mail sent me a book of 1st class stamps as compensation, which just about covered my inital postage costs. Further telephone calls got me nowhere.
In your case since this was a eBay transaction the seller will be able to provide details of the sale price and also any postage costs.
hope this helps - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on What would you do? at 11/03/2009 - 11:06
jon.dc wrote:
If any one is interested I have a brand new spare standard focus screen for the K20D, with the tweezers in a kit, available for £20.
I had a PENTAX LL-80 DIVIDED MATTE FOCUSING SCREEN supplier fitted from new, freeing up the one in the camera, hence surplus to my requirements.
PM Sent - SteveIf any one is interested I have a brand new spare standard focus screen for the K20D, with the tweezers in a kit, available for £20.
I had a PENTAX LL-80 DIVIDED MATTE FOCUSING SCREEN supplier fitted from new, freeing up the one in the camera, hence surplus to my requirements.
Comment by stevejcoe posted on k200d focus screen at 10/03/2009 - 10:37
shim wrote:
I was told that if the BUY button was showing they had stock of that item. It disapears when they are sold out. I was told today by someone in a camera shop that this has happened before with Play.
A similar thing happened with Kodak about 8 years ago. They advertised a £229 camera for £29 on their website and loads of people ordered it and Kodak turned round and said because of the mistake they weren't going to supply. Then they had second thoughts and decided they would honor the deal and supply all orders even when someone ordered three.
The £1 wasn't debited and credited from my account, but I was told it had been approved and also got an email.
shim
My understanding is that they under no obligation to supply until money has actually change hands. philstaff wrote:
Wonder if it would be worth while forwarding this thread to there site and let them see just how upset we all are LOL.
Ian
Possibly better forwarding to a solicitor for a BIG Class Action Suite over Loss of Bargain we all clicked BUY and then Checkout and then gave them our Credit Card details..... transaction complete.... they are now our camera(s). All that other crap they come out with wouldn't stand up in court, it wasn't mentioned on the buy button. If you gave someone £300 in notes for the camera, he couldn't come back on you saying "It's not yours until I pay these notes into the bank and put the camera in the post".... Sorry pal I've paid you for the camera now give it here Wonder if it would be worth while forwarding this thread to there site and let them see just how upset we all are LOL.
Ian
I was told that if the BUY button was showing they had stock of that item. It disapears when they are sold out. I was told today by someone in a camera shop that this has happened before with Play.
A similar thing happened with Kodak about 8 years ago. They advertised a £229 camera for £29 on their website and loads of people ordered it and Kodak turned round and said because of the mistake they weren't going to supply. Then they had second thoughts and decided they would honor the deal and supply all orders even when someone ordered three.
The £1 wasn't debited and credited from my account, but I was told it had been approved and also got an email.
shim
I had a similar situation before Christmas when I was tempted by the dark side. I was browsing rather aimlessly when I came across a N...n D300 for sale on Amazon marketplace for £1, yes £1. The marketplace trader was Pixmania.
I ordered 2 one for me and one for the wife, the order was accepted by Amazon and I received confirmation emails from Amazon and Pixmania. Of course I knew it was a mistake and sure enough later that day I received an email cancelling the order. What annoyed me at the time was that they claimed that the order was cancelled at my request.
Amazon completely washed their hands of it and accepted no responsibility and kept referring me to Pixmania. I wrote several emails to both Amazon and Pixmania and also talked to consumer advice, but was told that since no money had changed hands, then I did not have a case.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Brand new Samsung GX20 at 05/03/2009 - 18:37
Mannesty wrote:
From my experience it would seem that anybody who had an account with play.com already stood a fair chance of getting one of the five available.
My account needed an "additional security check" because this was my first order and it was over £100.00. By the time that check was made there was no stock left.
I've cancelled my account with them but to my surprise, 2 debits of £1.00 each have been made on my credit card account since I gave Play.com my CC details.
I'll not be dealing with them again even if they knock out K20D's at £199.00.
Peter, I had to go through this procedure with Play.com last year. In my case they charged me £1 and then credited £1 back into my account a day or so later. It was a pain at the time, but it was a one off.From my experience it would seem that anybody who had an account with play.com already stood a fair chance of getting one of the five available.
My account needed an "additional security check" because this was my first order and it was over £100.00. By the time that check was made there was no stock left.
I've cancelled my account with them but to my surprise, 2 debits of £1.00 each have been made on my credit card account since I gave Play.com my CC details.
I'll not be dealing with them again even if they knock out K20D's at £199.00.
All in all I find them pretty good for things like DVD's memory cards ect. You can also get a further discount with them (4-6 %) if you go through someone like Quidco or Topcashback.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Brand new Samsung GX20 at 05/03/2009 - 16:18
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Not a Successor for K20D...a new concept... at 05/03/2009 - 15:32
loskeran wrote:
I agree with you on this one, just because others bring out new models like Olympus, the new 620 will be out soon and looks like a larger sensor mod, when they upgraded the 510 to the 520 the price of the older ones dropped like a stone, and the 500's are now rock bottom prices.
The most expensive parts are the lenses/flashes etc,and if they don't fit the new camera
I am surprised that no one has broken ranks and starting making lenses to fit rivals cameras. I agree with you on this one, just because others bring out new models like Olympus, the new 620 will be out soon and looks like a larger sensor mod, when they upgraded the 510 to the 520 the price of the older ones dropped like a stone, and the 500's are now rock bottom prices.
The most expensive parts are the lenses/flashes etc,and if they don't fit the new camera
The Pentax reputation for superb prime lenses is the envy of others and could represent a big opportunity, especially since profit margins on glass are much higher than on cameras.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Samsung and Pentax. New, at 05/03/2009 - 12:28
Quote:
Is the market approaching saturation? Will the supply problem with credit cause the bubble to burst? Is there any dramatic and essential improvement there to be had?
Some interesting questions John and worthy of a good chin wag over a pint at the May meet.Is the market approaching saturation? Will the supply problem with credit cause the bubble to burst? Is there any dramatic and essential improvement there to be had?
I don't think that we are near to saturation yet. DSLR's certainly where I live are not that common. Less than half the people I know with a 35mm SLR have made the move to DSLR's. Samsung's focus on the hybrid is interesting.
Regarding the credit crunch, it may not burst the bubble, but it has certainly stalled growth. I do believe that Japanese manufacturers have shot themselves in the foot somewhat, by increasing prices at this time. I know that there have been major shifts in currency exchange rates, but they have had it good over the past few years especially with rates in Europe. Reserves should have been put aside to ease the current situation, until normality is restored.
As for improvements, I do think that there is still room to improve dynamic range and reduce noise. Whether those improvements are significant is very subjective. No doubt we will see more bells and whistles added that add little to the actual IQ.
Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Samsung and Pentax. New, at 05/03/2009 - 12:22
Yes it's a Power Zoom lens (which interestingly works on some digital cameras as well as the certain film ones it was origially designed for).
Hopefully I can fix it with Hefty's tweezer 'n' rubber method instead taking it apart. Not much to loose since the lens is only worth twenty quid.
I'm not happy about the eBay and postage costs I've wasted though. The buyer is in Germany and I've offered to refund postage both ways as well as the item price.
Cheers.
I have never taken a power zoom lens apart , so I am not sure what lies behind the power contacts.
Steve