Near Disaster...

[Daisy14'sDH]

As some of you may know I recently acquired the Pentax DA* 50-135, it nearly met an untimely demise... and has claimed another victim. My beloved Kx has gone blind... but there is light at the end of the tunnel my friends, the backlight still works on the Kx and if I get lucky I can get it warrantied, if not all I have to replace is the LCD screen, and that would mean a screen upgrade!!!

The lens on the other hand is another story, I rushed it to the ER (Drove it directly to Pentax Canada with tears in my eyes) their resident came and gave a quick triage and informed me that the glass and elements are intact, but the mount is broken, I get the quote for repair tomorrow or Friday.

Now all this has brought up a unique situation, I have purchased a Kr to get me through while waiting for the repairs to be completed (I should have that Friday) Pentax has informed me that they will calibrate the lens with my bodies to ensure optimal performance as a service! Yay, that my friends is the light at the end of the tunnel. It is the one thing I wish that the Kx and Kr could do, lens calibration... now I am thinking about sending in my 12-24 as well wonder what the actual charges are....

Anyway I thought I would share...

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I'm curious as to how the "near disaster" occurred. It sounds like a drop, but is there something we can learn "not to do"?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

My new camera bag is not nearly as supportive as my Slingshot... it didn't get pushed around any harder than normal, just bad luck or a bad angle....

 

[Groucho]

Yipes! That's pretty scary. I'm glad that the doctors will be able to bring your baby back to full health.

I take it that your bag broke or opened and spilled its contents onto the ground?

Not long after getting my first DSLR (*ist DL), I picked up a cheapie holder bag that mounted on your belt. I liked it a lot - until, after just a few hours of use, the belt loop came unsewed and the whole thing crashed down onto the sidewalk. Fortunately, it was padded fairly well and the camera was unscathed, but it's always a little scary.

Then there's the time that Jack unsnapped one of the quick-releases on my then-new K20D at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot and it did a slow-motion drop to the ground, landing on a metal screw-in lens hood... again, fortunately no damage done, but scary!

Oh, and regarding camera calibration... they will do that for free under warranty; I've ended up sending in my K20D and K-7 to get it done just to be safe. The K20D was done just shy of its one-year anniversary; the K-7 was similar but has a 3-year-warranty. FWIW, the DL and K100D were still darn near perfect when I sold them, when they were a few years old.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

No the bag was placed on the ground... a little rougher than normal, but enough I guess...

As for the camera calibration, what they told me was that the lens will be calibrated but because the Kx and Kr don't have in body calibration there can be some FF or BF, so I asked if while it was being repaired if they could ensure spot on focusing. I did notice with the 50-135 it was FF a little but mainly in low light situations. Hopefully it will all came back better than ever!

The Kr is pretty cool, it takes pretty much everything that I diliked about the Kx and corrected it!

Remote now works from behind the camera (that was Pain!)
Focus light
Way better LCD Screen
Extra !ISO
6 FPS!

I am likikng it so far, but the AF on it is a lot noisier than the Kx. Anyone else notice this?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Thought I would post an update, I have'nt been around for the last 2 weeks (very busy with work)

I dropped my Kr off and got it and the 50-135mm back focusing flawlessly, fast and silent! At the same time I dropped of my Kx for cleaning and repair.

Got hoe using them, I was in love with it all! That night go to use the Kr and the E-dial starts doing some crazy stuff, like it won't scroll left only right!

Call Pentax the next morning and they said they'd put a rush on my Kx so I wasn't cameraless for 3 weeks...

Yesterday morning I go and trade camera bodies once again. I also tell the rep that the 50-135 doesn't always autofocus it needs to be turned on and off to make it "work" on occasion but not all the time.

She brings it to the tech real fast and returns with grim news.... the SDM motor is gone!!!! again I've only had the lens back for 10 days!!! ARGGGGHHHH!!! but Pentax will fix it free of charge.... and put a rush on it and re-re-calibrate it to my Kr.

I have to say that I am really pleased with the high level of customer service and user satisfaction I've received from Pentax. Realistically the only thing they "had" to repair for me was the Kr e-dial.

I did pay to repair the DA* and they warrented the Kx LCD screen. All in all eveything should be perfect by next Friday... I hope...

 

[Denamac]

Daisy,
We are looking into making our first SLR purchase. Top of my list right now is the K-r. Would you recommend it for a newbie? We know absolutely nothing about cameras; but DH is definitely wanting to learn.

Can you please give me the pros and cons for the K-r?

Thanks!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Not many cons with it really. Great package at a cheap price! Plus the compatability with so many other lenses is incredible!

 

[Denamac]

Thanks! I'm so confused. My sister-in-law is really into photography and she is recommending Nikon or Canon; but everything I read I prefer Pantex. DH did not like the Rebel when we were looking around.

UGH! Decisions, Decisions!!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

To tell you the truth the biggest reason I went with Pentax was the price point of extra equipment over and above the "kit" gear. Go and price out all the high end lenses you want, Pentax will come in at a price point more comfortable with your wallet for top end gear than anything from the "other" companies. It was a no brainer for me. I have no intention of turning pro, sure full frame would be awesome, but its not that important once you start using the APSC sensor and learning to use it for what it can produce.

If you think you want to go above amatuer level than Pentax probably isn't the best option, but they are still very capable in the right hands. Just look at the Pentaxian thread to get an idea.

All this of course is just my 2 cents!

 

[Denamac]

Thanks for all the information!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Semi good news update!!! Recived my DA* 50-135 back today, I was very suprised with how fast they replaced the motor and got it back to me! Now I am just waiting for my Kr and my family will be complete!!!

Using the 50-135 on my Kx and it backfocuses just a hair, like a tiny hair. to correct that I aimed a tad higher and voila! Hopefully it will still be nuts on when mounted to the Kr!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Yay! My kit is finally back together! Received my Kr back today!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

That's great news!!!