FA 31mm Limited assembled in Vietnam - bad QC or bad luck.

Voe · 06-26-2009, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by ltdstar

the two photos that you took are different, one is 1/50sec and the other is 1/90sec...if you want to test a lens you should shoot it in manual and have same setting on both lens...

If you read my post you will see that the photos were taken at different time and thus the difference in the amount of light and exposure speed.

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

...and put it on a tripod and focus manually. The last point is absolutely mandatory unless you want to test the AF system and not the lens. If there are some sharpness problems, try focus bracketing...

You can see on both images where the DOF is.

Pentaxor · 06-26-2009, 10:29 PM

I always get a lil bit turned-off if something is made in Vietnam. all the products that I had seen that's been made in vietnam seems to be poorly designed. not an speculation but first-hand observation. atleast the ones that are made in China are getting better, unless you get those counterfeits.

octavmandru · 06-26-2009, 11:46 PM

This is "normal"evolution course. First items on the production line are top quality, folowed by "improoved" ones. Cheap to make and hard to get rid of.

Should not be the case with our Limiteds though

nostatic · 06-27-2009, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

I always get a lil bit turned-off is something is made in Vietnam. all the products that I had seen that's been made in vietnam seems to be poorly designed. not an speculation but first-hand observation. atleast the ones that are made in China are getting better, unless you get those counterfeits.

Care to elaborate? And which of these things were both made and designed in Vietnam?

Made in Vietnam

Pentaxor · 06-27-2009, 12:57 AM

Originally posted by nostatic

Care to elaborate? And which of these things were both made and designed in Vietnam?

Made in Vietnam

the dress.

roentarre · 06-27-2009, 01:12 AM

I know, Voe. I was very sad to discover that in your house the other day. Keep me updated what happened.

kristoffon · 06-27-2009, 05:44 AM

I have no problem with stuff made in Vietnam. The vietnamese are very hard working and QC issues happen even with stuff made in japan.

There's even a lot of top-quality chinese made stuff. Iphones are made in China and we don't see people complaining about them. But the cheap stuff is just garbage.

Pentaxor · 06-27-2009, 10:10 AM

the sade thing is that a poorly designed item is being sold expensive or the same as that of a highend product. one particular example are shoes.

I love shoes, especially Nikes. and what I have noticed is that there is really a significant difference as to shoe QC. how the shoe was threaded, glued, materials used, etc.... etc.... and yet the price remains the same by virtue it is a Nike. they say that they are not counterfeits but just manufactured in Vietnam. but the way how the shoe looks and feels when you wear them is like wearing a crappy counterfeit shoe. this is just one example. I could still point out other goods as well from electronics, etc...

btw, in my experience, China made products are now better. the Vietnam made items have the same problems when China started manufacturing international goods, >>> POOR QC !!!

Steve Beswick · 06-27-2009, 11:09 AM

The two big things that I own that were made in Vietnam, my printer and my 18-55 lens, have been phenomonal. I've had more trouble with my Chinese made iPhone.

nostatic · 06-27-2009, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

the sade thing is that a poorly designed item is being sold expensive or the same as that of a highend product. one particular example are shoes.

I love shoes, especially Nikes. and what I have noticed is that there is really a significant difference as to shoe QC. how the shoe was threaded, glued, materials used, etc.... etc.... and yet the price remains the same by virtue it is a Nike. they say that they are not counterfeits but just manufactured in Vietnam. but the way how the shoe looks and feels when you wear them is like wearing a crappy counterfeit shoe. this is just one example. I could still point out other goods as well from electronics, etc...

btw, in my experience, China made products are now better. the Vietnam made items have the same problems when China started manufacturing international goods, >>> POOR QC !!!

Do you understand the difference between design and manufacture?

axl · 06-27-2009, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Spot on. It shows that Pentax have no plans for discontinue them in the near future....

My guess is that the Japan made FA Limteds will in the future reach astronomical prices on e-bay. Particularly the early batches; those that came with different color leather lens bags: A brown for the 43mm, Green (77mm), and red (31mm)....

do they have other colours now???
I bought my 31 just in January but it was one of those with red bag.

Pentaxor · 06-27-2009, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by nostatic

Do you understand the difference between design and manufacture?

yes I do. but in anyway, you still get my point, righT?

**Pål Jensen** · 06-27-2009, 04:26 PM

Originally posted by axl

do they have other colours now???
I bought my 31 just in January but it was one of those with red bag.

At least the 43 and the 77 came with black bags awhile after introduction...

nostatic · 06-27-2009, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

yes I do. but in anyway, you still get my point, righT?

Yes, I just don't agree. Every country manufactures both good and bad products. I've seen excellent workmanship come out of Vietnam and crap come out of Japan. I've seen some especially bad workmanship on US-made products. There is no way I would make a blanket statement about a certain country having poor QC on manufactured goods. It just isn't that cut and dried.

Pentaxor · 06-27-2009, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by nostatic

Yes, I just don't agree. Every country manufactures both good and bad products. I've seen excellent workmanship come out of Vietnam and crap come out of Japan. I've seen some especially bad workmanship on US-made products. There is no way I would make a blanket statement about a certain country having poor QC on manufactured goods. It just isn't that cut and dried.

I understand. but personally speaking, as long as I don't see any improvement as to how the item is manufactured in Vietnam, my decision stands. I do accept the fact the there are badly manufactured or defective goods coming from well-known and high standard countries, but the ratio are minimal.

China also had that kind of a problem before because they had this thinking of mass production at the expense of QC. they though that they could compete numbers to quality. later realized that product recall or customer complaints and dissatisfaction would cause a problem. atleast now they have are aware and improved their products but not totally.

I'm also hoping that Vietnam would improve their products, because people pay good money on items that are supposed to be quality standard. I don't mind it though if they sell it cheap.

06-26-2009, 10:29 PM	#17
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	I always get a lil bit turned-off if something is made in Vietnam. all the products that I had seen that's been made in vietnam seems to be poorly designed. not an speculation but first-hand observation. atleast the ones that are made in China are getting better, unless you get those counterfeits. Last edited by Pentaxor; 06-27-2009 at 12:07 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
photos of assembled in Vietnam FA Limiteds?	Albert Siegel	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	24	02-14-2011 11:00 PM
New PentaxA 50mm f1.2 assembled in Vietnam	Gregs	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	10-02-2010 11:13 PM
Now the FA77mm is assembled in Vietnam	henryjing	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	23	04-26-2010 08:36 AM
ASSEMBLED IN VIETNAM - Pentax A50mm/1.2	ogl	Pentax News and Rumors	53	03-03-2010 08:40 AM
Tamron Adaptall... Bad lens or bad adapter	Okami	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	05-01-2008 06:52 PM

06-26-2009, 06:43 PM	#16
Voe Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 719 Original Poster	Originally posted by ltdstar the two photos that you took are different, one is 1/50sec and the other is 1/90sec...if you want to test a lens you should shoot it in manual and have same setting on both lens... If you read my post you will see that the photos were taken at different time and thus the difference in the amount of light and exposure speed. Originally posted by Pål Jensen ...and put it on a tripod and focus manually. The last point is absolutely mandatory unless you want to test the AF system and not the lens. If there are some sharpness problems, try focus bracketing... You can see on both images where the DOF is.

06-26-2009, 11:46 PM	#18
octavmandru Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: somewhere around Posts: 615	This is "normal"evolution course. First items on the production line are top quality, folowed by "improoved" ones. Cheap to make and hard to get rid of. Should not be the case with our Limiteds though

06-27-2009, 12:18 AM	#19
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	Originally posted by Pentaxor I always get a lil bit turned-off is something is made in Vietnam. all the products that I had seen that's been made in vietnam seems to be poorly designed. not an speculation but first-hand observation. atleast the ones that are made in China are getting better, unless you get those counterfeits. Care to elaborate? And which of these things were both made and designed in Vietnam? Made in Vietnam

06-27-2009, 12:57 AM	#20
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by nostatic Care to elaborate? And which of these things were both made and designed in Vietnam? Made in Vietnam the dress.

06-27-2009, 01:12 AM	#21
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	I know, Voe. I was very sad to discover that in your house the other day. Keep me updated what happened.

06-27-2009, 05:44 AM	#22
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	I have no problem with stuff made in Vietnam. The vietnamese are very hard working and QC issues happen even with stuff made in japan. There's even a lot of top-quality chinese made stuff. Iphones are made in China and we don't see people complaining about them. But the cheap stuff is just garbage.

06-27-2009, 10:10 AM	#23
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	the sade thing is that a poorly designed item is being sold expensive or the same as that of a highend product. one particular example are shoes. I love shoes, especially Nikes. and what I have noticed is that there is really a significant difference as to shoe QC. how the shoe was threaded, glued, materials used, etc.... etc.... and yet the price remains the same by virtue it is a Nike. they say that they are not counterfeits but just manufactured in Vietnam. but the way how the shoe looks and feels when you wear them is like wearing a crappy counterfeit shoe. this is just one example. I could still point out other goods as well from electronics, etc... btw, in my experience, China made products are now better. the Vietnam made items have the same problems when China started manufacturing international goods, >>> POOR QC !!!

06-27-2009, 11:09 AM	#24
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736	The two big things that I own that were made in Vietnam, my printer and my 18-55 lens, have been phenomonal. I've had more trouble with my Chinese made iPhone.

06-27-2009, 02:20 PM	#25
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	Originally posted by Pentaxor the sade thing is that a poorly designed item is being sold expensive or the same as that of a highend product. one particular example are shoes. I love shoes, especially Nikes. and what I have noticed is that there is really a significant difference as to shoe QC. how the shoe was threaded, glued, materials used, etc.... etc.... and yet the price remains the same by virtue it is a Nike. they say that they are not counterfeits but just manufactured in Vietnam. but the way how the shoe looks and feels when you wear them is like wearing a crappy counterfeit shoe. this is just one example. I could still point out other goods as well from electronics, etc... btw, in my experience, China made products are now better. the Vietnam made items have the same problems when China started manufacturing international goods, >>> POOR QC !!! Do you understand the difference between design and manufacture?

06-27-2009, 03:42 PM	#26
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Spot on. It shows that Pentax have no plans for discontinue them in the near future.... My guess is that the Japan made FA Limteds will in the future reach astronomical prices on e-bay. Particularly the early batches; those that came with different color leather lens bags: A brown for the 43mm, Green (77mm), and red (31mm).... do they have other colours now??? I bought my 31 just in January but it was one of those with red bag.

06-27-2009, 04:16 PM	#27
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by nostatic Do you understand the difference between design and manufacture? yes I do. but in anyway, you still get my point, righT?

06-27-2009, 04:26 PM	#28
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by axl do they have other colours now??? I bought my 31 just in January but it was one of those with red bag. At least the 43 and the 77 came with black bags awhile after introduction...

06-27-2009, 05:01 PM	#29
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	Originally posted by Pentaxor yes I do. but in anyway, you still get my point, righT? Yes, I just don't agree. Every country manufactures both good and bad products. I've seen excellent workmanship come out of Vietnam and crap come out of Japan. I've seen some especially bad workmanship on US-made products. There is no way I would make a blanket statement about a certain country having poor QC on manufactured goods. It just isn't that cut and dried.

06-27-2009, 05:28 PM	#30
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by nostatic Yes, I just don't agree. Every country manufactures both good and bad products. I've seen excellent workmanship come out of Vietnam and crap come out of Japan. I've seen some especially bad workmanship on US-made products. There is no way I would make a blanket statement about a certain country having poor QC on manufactured goods. It just isn't that cut and dried. I understand. but personally speaking, as long as I don't see any improvement as to how the item is manufactured in Vietnam, my decision stands. I do accept the fact the there are badly manufactured or defective goods coming from well-known and high standard countries, but the ratio are minimal. China also had that kind of a problem before because they had this thinking of mass production at the expense of QC. they though that they could compete numbers to quality. later realized that product recall or customer complaints and dissatisfaction would cause a problem. atleast now they have are aware and improved their products but not totally. I'm also hoping that Vietnam would improve their products, because people pay good money on items that are supposed to be quality standard. I don't mind it though if they sell it cheap.