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01-07-2011, 09:47 AM   #1
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K5 sensor stain acknowledgment

I was thinking of purchasing a Pentax K5 the other day and asked the person on the phone if he had heard anything about the sensor stains and possible serial number information in stock.
I wanted to purchase this camera in particular from B&H because of your great reputation and return policy. However, the person I spoke with knew ablolutely nothing about a problem with the K5's which seemed very unlikely to me. B&H being one of the largest on-line distributors I am certain you have dealt with this problem a number of time as far as replacements and such. I now question that reputation.
There is so much hype online these days and this is how your representative tried to deal with it.
I don't know, it just struck me wrong.

01-07-2011, 10:21 AM   #2
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Nobody still cares about Pentax, unfortunately...

However, BH has been accepting returns/exchanges of stained bodies AFAIK, so you should be kosher there.

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01-07-2011, 10:55 AM   #3
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I appreciate the response Adam. That is one of the reason I am choosing to purchased at B&H because I know I won't have any hassel with return if need be ( fingers crossed ) and they are one of the top reputable on-line sites. I have purchsed from them before with no problems.
Like I said, it just rubbed me wrong. Whether they care about Pentax or not they should at least acknowedged the problem.

On another note; I just got of the phone with another on-line dealer ( Tristate Camera ) looking at a discontinued lens Sigma EX 100-300/4( pentax mount ) that they still have listed for sale. It was just a mislisting but the sales rep said " just get yourself a zoom and try their new Kenko teleconverter that just came out. HE CLAIMED THERE WAS NO LIGHT LOSS WITH THIS NEW CONVERTER. I didn't know that was physically possible. And it just make me that much more leary of other dealers.

I just wish they had a retailer here that carried Pentax gear.

Last edited by OrenMc; 01-08-2011 at 05:26 AM.
01-07-2011, 10:59 AM   #4
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Hello,

I have made several posting's here about this issue including a statement from our Pentax rep;

HI Chuck.

Sorry for the slow reply. We have been advised by Pentax that there was a small batch of K5’s with a staining issue. Any customer with this issue should return the K5 to B & H for credit or exchange. Pentax will issue B & H a return authorization and a credit will be issued to your account. Pentax will cover the customer shipping cost for any customer that is unable to bring in back to the store.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

Regards,


Our policy is " If, for whatever reason, you are dissatisfied with your purchase, you can return it to B&H within 15 days of receipt of item(s). "

Return & Exchange Policy | B&H Photo Video

Not all Sales Associates know about this particular problem because on average they handle few Pentax customers when compared to other manufacturers.


C h u c k C a p r i o l a
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Thank you, we appreciate your business.
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01-07-2011, 04:07 PM   #5
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Hi Chuck, and thanks for answering.


"Sorry for the slow reply. We have been advised by Pentax that there was a small batch of K5’s with a staining issue. "

This is the type of information I was looking for when I called and I do understand Pentax sales are not as near as significant as some other brands. I had noticed that you have been sold out a few times meaning restocking, so I was trying to get a general idea if possibly the bad batches had already cycled through.
I'm not asking for a guarantee, just wondering if I should wait a little longer.

Last edited by OrenMc; 01-08-2011 at 02:19 PM.
01-08-2011, 11:07 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by OrenMc Quote
I was thinking of purchasing a Pentax K5 the other day and asked the person on the phone if he had heard anything about the sensor stains and possible serial number information in stock.
I wanted to purchase this camera in particular from B&H because of your great reputation and return policy. However, the person I spoke with knew ablolutely nothing about a problem with the K5's which seemed very unlikely to me. B&H being one of the largest on-line distributors I am certain you have dealt with this problem a number of time as far as replacements and such. I now question that reputation.
There is so much hype online these days and this is how your representative tried to deal with it.
I don't know, it just struck me wrong.
There's another interpretation, you know---i.e, B&H knows what they're doing, deserves their good reputation, and sensor stains just haven't been that big of an issue. It's quite possible they haven't had many calls because Pentax have said only a small number of cameras were affected. But of course this has gotten blown way out of proportion on the internet because the internet has that magnifying effect.
01-08-2011, 03:15 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by JPG Quote
There's another interpretation, you know---i.e, B&H knows what they're doing, deserves their good reputation, and sensor stains just haven't been that big of an issue. It's quite possible they haven't had many calls because Pentax have said only a small number of cameras were affected. But of course this has gotten blown way out of proportion on the internet because the internet has that magnifying effect.
Don't take me wrong, I wasn't saying B&H didn't know what they were doing, exactly the opposite. I also understand how the internet has a tendency to blow things way out of proportion.
However, I do think Pentax and the K5 is a big buzz even in Canikon world so this issue of the stain is well known.
I appreciate B&H is one of our sponsors and believe they do deserve their good reputation. Like I said, when the time comes I am going to purchase from them. I probably didn't deal with this properly anyway and should have just sent a private message. After reading my first post again it really didn't come out the way I intented and I apologize for that.

Sometimes things just strike me a little funny. Like this being your first and only post. Sorry.


Last edited by OrenMc; 01-08-2011 at 06:49 PM.
01-08-2011, 04:06 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
Nobody still cares about Pentax, unfortunately...

However, BH has been accepting returns/exchanges of stained bodies AFAIK, so you should be kosher there.
in this case that is a requirement or at least Parve.
01-09-2011, 08:49 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by OrenMc Quote
I'm not asking for a guarantee, just wondering if I should wait a little longer.
Hello,

A common customer request but one we cannot oblige is to test gear before shipping. This is not possible. What we can and do is offer one of the most liberal and customer friendly return policies in the industry. I wish I could offer you more but I can't.

Chuck
01-09-2011, 03:33 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by snipenekkid Quote
in this case that is a requirement or at least Parve.
I know, we at least have that, most up to 14 days inspection. It may not matter much but my logic was that B&H being a large distibutor may have cycled through the early batches lessening the chance of getting a stained sensor. Sorry I'm anal that way. But I am without camera right now which is quite unnerving and I don't want to deal with replacing 2 or 3 bodies.
Just playing the odds and tring to obtain as much information as possible before purchase.

QuoteOriginally posted by Chuck-B&H Quote
Hello,

A common customer request but one we cannot oblige is to test gear before shipping. This is not possible. What we can and do is offer one of the most liberal and customer friendly return policies in the industry. I wish I could offer you more but I can't.

Chuck
Thanks Chuck, I didn't ask for an equipment test, just a little info. But I do appreciate your help.

Last edited by OrenMc; 01-25-2011 at 04:09 PM.
01-11-2011, 09:10 AM   #11
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B&H - good service

Waiting on my 4th K-5 to arrive hopefully stain and speck free, last 2 had stains with the 3rd had a dirty sensor out of the boxt with a nice black speck stuck on sensor.

No problems setting up returns with pre-paid label provided to me.
01-11-2011, 09:54 AM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Mortox Quote
Waiting on my 4th K-5 to arrive hopefully stain and speck free, last 2 had stains with the 3rd had a dirty sensor out of the boxt with a nice black speck stuck on sensor.

No problems setting up returns with pre-paid label provided to me.
.... +1 for mortox... you have the patience of a saint.......
btw..... when you receive your 4th k-r, would you please post the serial number?
(hopefully a 'clean' body)......keepin' my fingers crossed... regards, dave m....
btw.......... where was the quality control during the production cycle... thank the good lord they weren't making pacemakers or 'o' rings for shuttles....
01-13-2011, 04:25 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Mortox Quote
Waiting on my 4th K-5 to arrive hopefully stain and speck free, last 2 had stains with the 3rd had a dirty sensor out of the boxt with a nice black speck stuck on sensor.

No problems setting up returns with pre-paid label provided to me.
A SMALL batch effected, RIGHT....

Good luck on the new one. I know the folks that have K5s with no issues are VERY happy.
01-15-2011, 08:20 PM   #14
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B&H return policies that items with a shutter count should have fewer than 200 actuations; can someone really test a camera's performance with that, especially considering there may be dozens of actuations on it already from factory testing?
01-15-2011, 09:06 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by pentup Quote
B&H return policies that items with a shutter count should have fewer than 200 actuations; can someone really test a camera's performance with that, especially considering there may be dozens of actuations on it already from factory testing?
The shutter count on the K-5 bodies is reset to zero from the factory. I have no idea if there is an except to the shutter count limit for a defective item. In terms of testing for the strain on the sensor, it can be determined fairly easily in a single shot. The only caveat is that there has been some suggestion that the stains can appear after prolonged used of LV/video (due to heat build up).
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