Originally posted by cristigj I doubt, in this situation, I would prevail on court or in arbitration on the basis that a) the problem was rectified using off-the-shelf, commercially available solvents b) I have already admitted in this forum that it was more or less my ignorance of what was on the sensor to begin with and my subsequent attempt to clean it that made the camera unusable (again, I could see the marks with the aperture wide open in live view).
Let me cover this number of issues in a slightly different order.
First of all when anyone purchases a digital camera (in which one also has the ability to actually reach the sensor to also be able to clean it); then one would expect that the sensor remain basically as close to perfect as possible; especially under the warranty period and (more so) that it would not have ANY defects which would ever cause issues - even outside of the warranty period.
One also must realize two main issues here. 1. How much longer before one might have to clean the sensor again, and exactly how routine would this be? 2. Could the sensor possibly be getting damaged by this (visible to the naked eye, or possibly beyond that)?
...And not to be confused with any type of licensed professional legal advice; which would also depend on where one lives and all...
But you do have a legal case in all fifty plus states; especially if you also happened to purchase any additional gear at the same time or since. At the very least Pentax would actually owe you a new camera body.
Or if you would elect to pass on that one... Pentax should reimburse you for any sensor cleaning efforts, even if done completely by you. As a matter of fact they would also be liable for full service center servicing, and then some.
I know of many a lawyer (or even a firm) who would love this case.
Also in closing for now; consider how one paid for the camera. Typically using a credit card gives one an additional warranty; even technically - a type of double payday