[steve1307]

I thought that buying from dcxpert guaranteed you were going to get a returned or refurbished item, rather than an untouched one. If that's the case then it's fairly likely you were going to get some issues. I would have also thought that a temporary replacement would have come the same way, so I suspect your judgment may have been a little harsh. Although my lens buying has slowed down considerably in recent times, I can only say that the one recent Pentax lens I've had issues with has been the 16-50, and that was purchased secondhand and at a fair price.

I thought that was a possiblity too but the ad clearly states "new never used" on all the Pentax lenses that I looked at

Elsewhere in the store, I looked at a couple of SLIK CF tripods and they are marked with "slightly damaged packaging ... blah ..blah ... tripod is brand new and in perfect condtion" . However they are superceded models and don't have anti rotating legs.

I didn't se any "used" gear on there at all. Well.... not any that was stated as used.

[bossa]

I thought that was a possiblity too but the ad clearly states "new never used" on all the Pentax lenses that I looked at

Elsewhere in the store, I looked at a couple of SLIK CF tripods and they are marked with "slightly damaged packaging ... blah ..blah ... tripod is brand new and in perfect condtion" . However they are superceded models and don't have anti rotating legs.

I didn't se any "used" gear on there at all. Well.... not any that was stated as used.

And the items are sent directly from CRK.

I just received an email re' my FA31 and I've decided to keep the one with the 'fault' as it is definitely sharper than the 'better' unit they offered as a replacement. I may buy another Pentax camera down the track and/or a DA*300 and maybe a zoom but that will definitely be all she wrote. There's definitely more QC issues here than 2 years ago... makes me wish I hadn't sold my lenses to finance my Nikon kit.

[rawr]

I thought that buying from dcxpert guaranteed you were going to get a returned or refurbished item

All my purchases from dcxpert - be they Tamrac, Vanguard, Sigma or Pentax stuff - have been new.

On the other hand, there is another CRK affiliated seller (surveysupplies or something now - used to be called a different name) who I have bought from who does sell 'ex-demo' stuff that sometimes literally looks like it has been sitting around in a warehouse or on a store shelf for years. For example a macro lens I bought from that CRK dude came with the rear-element coated in a liberal layer of dust and grime, like it had never had a rear lens cap on it in it's whole life on the shelf. Lens performed fine though, once I de-gunked the rear element.

[bossa]

All my purchases from dcxpert - be they Tamrac, Vanguard, Sigma or Pentax stuff - have been new.

On the other hand, there is another CRK affiliated seller (surveysupplies or something now - used to be called a different name) who I have bought from who does sell 'ex-demo' stuff that sometimes literally looks like it has been sitting around in a warehouse or on a store shelf for years. For example a macro lens I bought from that CRK dude came with the rear-element coated in a liberal layer of dust and grime, like it had never had a rear lens cap on it in it's whole life on the shelf. Lens performed fine though, once I de-gunked the rear element.

Oh Dear! That IS crap!

[Erd§]

In their defense, in all my years of buying Pentax gear, I've not once had an issue with a camera or lens, ever...including the silver 77 that arrived via dcxpert yesterday. Besides, the other manufacturers are not immune either. Most of my friends shoot canikony, and almost every one of them has had their fair share of dodginess with the qc of lenses or cameras.

[RobA_Oz]

All my purchases from dcxpert - be they Tamrac, Vanguard, Sigma or Pentax stuff - have been new.

On the other hand, there is another CRK affiliated seller (surveysupplies or something now - used to be called a different name) who I have bought from who does sell 'ex-demo' stuff that sometimes literally looks like it has been sitting around in a warehouse or on a store shelf for years. For example a macro lens I bought from that CRK dude came with the rear-element coated in a liberal layer of dust and grime, like it had never had a rear lens cap on it in it's whole life on the shelf. Lens performed fine though, once I de-gunked the rear element.

OK, that's probably who I was thinking of – apologies all round. I have to agree, then, that two below-standard lenses of different types from the one source would be causing me to think a little harder about QC.

[southlander]

Well, quick play tonight with the FA77 that arrived today. Little bit of quick'n' dirty dialing in of the focus adjustment - not too far away from my other lens which is reassuring - and then a few flash shots of the pets and one of the kids who was too transfixed to the tv to move. Wow! Why hasn't this lens been in my bag before now???? It is just another league.

Not likely to get a chance to use outdoors until Sunday, but the anticipation is high, that's for sure.

Now, to find a keenly priced FA43...

PS: The FA77 box had Hoya Corp marked on it, so it's been ex-factory for some time. Well maybe the box has, but not so sure the lens. Box is stamped 27980 on bottom which I assume is the serial number, but the lens itself is 29346 which will be the newest in the S/N database when I add it. So go figure? My copy seems A-ok, which is all that really matters I suppose.

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Last edited by southlander; 05-16-2013 at 07:35 AM.

[tzrenz0]

Well, quick play tonight with the FA77 that arrived today. Little bit of quick'n' dirty dialing in of the focus adjustment - not too far away from my other lens which is reassuring - and then a few flash shots of the pets and one of the kids who was too transfixed to the tv to move. Wow! Why hasn't this lens been in my bag before now???? It is just another league.

Not likely to get a chance to use outdoors until Sunday, but the anticipation is high, that's for sure.

Now, to find a keenly priced FA43...

PS: The FA77 box had Hoya Corp marked on it, so it's been ex-factory for some time, I would think. My copy seems A-ok.

you've got some serious LBA mate, it arrived today and you're already looking for a 43?

[rawr]

Oh Dear! That IS crap!

It wasn't as bad as it sounds. The very slim rear element was perfectly flush with the rear of the lens, so I didn't need to dig in deep into the rear body of the lens or anything. But it did need more than your average clean, that's for sure.

[bossa]

I just looked at my FA31 and FA77 boxes and the FA31 is marked as Hoya but the '77 is a Ricoh-Pentax production.

[southlander]

you've got some serious LBA mate, it arrived today and you're already looking for a 43?

It was always going to happen, wasn't it? The Pentax-specific strain of LBA: LLBA, Limited Lens Buying Addiction.

[southlander]

@bossa Out of curiosity, what serial number is your 77?

[tzrenz0]

It was always going to happen, wasn't it? The Pentax-specific strain of LBA: LLBA, Limited Lens Buying Addiction.

the 43 shines as one of my day to day photographic arsenal. It gives you that special rendering on otherwise boring happenings, like preparing lunch, having coffee, indoor portraits, and much more. Do yourself a favor mate, go for the silver. (I am blatantly fueling your in-satiety here. And I'm not ashamed, not one bit.)

[bossa]

@bossa Out of curiosity, what serial number is your 77?

You first

0026568

[twitch]

Here's a link to bookmark for Australian Pentaxians with LBA

Pentax Compare Prices - Australia - Shopping and price comparison for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras, Pentax Camera Lenses and Pentax Camera Flashes