Brand New Digital Camera Complaint-Has This Ever Happened To Anyone? Update

[TeresaNJ]

After many hours of research and reading, I finally decided on a Minolta Dimage S414 digital camera. It has 4 megapixels, 4x optical zoom and 2.5 x digital, plus a few nice features, and the price was right. I specifically wanted this type of camera because it uses compact flash cards and rechargeable AA batteries, all of which I already have when I bought those items for the cheapie practice digital camera I have. I ordered it from Amazon, and was on pins and needles waiting for it to arrive. When I got home from work last night, there it was! Well, after reading all through the instruction book, I loaded the batteries, inserted the CF card, and the camera isn't recognizing the card. I keep getting a "no card" reading. I thought maybe the card was bad, so I went and got the two other ones that I have, one the same brand that was sent with the camera, and one a different brand, and the same thing happened. Then I tried to format one of my cards in the camera, thinking maybe that was the problem, and the camera says "unable to use card". The instruction book says that means the card is not compatible with the camera. It is the card that came with the camera!!! I am so irritated right now. I know in the big scheme of things this is small potatoes, but still, when you buy something new you expect it to work. So I called Minolta's help line, but of course they're closed for the weekend. I e-mailed them, but no response yet. Thanks for letting me vent. If anyone has any insight or suggestions please let me know.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We had this happen once. Can't remember what DH did to fix it. If you'd like I can ask him when he gets back home.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Please do, Merry Poppins. I'd be so ever grateful if I find out it's just something stupid I am doing.

 

[Buz]

From the Minolta web site FAQ

Question: When a CompactFlash is loaded, a "Card Error message - OK" appears and remains on the monitor display.
Answer: Please follow the procedure below.

While the message is displayed, press the center of the controller. The monitor display and data panel will turn off.

Turn the Main Switch dial to OFF position and remove the CompactFlash from the camera.

- When "No Card" message appears next time when the camera is activated in the recording mode, the camera and CompactFlash are OK.

- When "Card Error. OK" appears again, the CompactFlash may be faulty. Use other card.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Okay. He'll be home later today and I'll ask him. Ours kept saying that it was faulty. I think he had to reformat the card or something. I'll have him tell me.

 

[Chuck S]

Good grief, after reading Buz's post from the Minoilta site (No Card means OK?), it sounds like Minolta needs to re-write some of the camera messages.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thanks Buz, but I'm not getting an error message when I turn the camera on, I either get "no card" or "unable to use card", no matter if I use the card that was sent with the camera or one of my own compact flash cards. I have never gotten a message that says "Card Error message-OK", there are just three --- where the counter is suppose to be. I've searched Minolta's web site and the instruction booklet and there is no info referring to this problem.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I went on the Amazon website today to find out how to return my camera, and they sent me an e-mail with a link to print out a shipping label for UPS. Well, the link wouldn't work no matter what I did, I called UPS, they couldn't help me, they said it was Amazon's problem, I couldn't get through on the Minolta help line, and there was nothing on the Minolta website that referred to the problem I was having. I was soooo frustrated. So I e-mailed Amazon telling them how upset I was that first the camera didn't work, and second that the link didn't work to the shipping label. So tonight I get an e-mail back from Amazon telling me they are shipping me another camera express and that I should have it by the 16th, plus they are mailing me a shipping label to send the other camera back. How's that for customer service!!

 

[Carl]

That's great news. I've always had good service from Amazon.

 

[SuiteDisney]

I really like Amazon.com. I've shopped with them quite a bit and never had a problem. I've also used Amazon in the U.K. for books that were out of print here and got great service from them, too.