A piece of plastics chipped away from a new K3 body

himijendrix84 · 07-15-2014, 07:16 AM

Hi,
just wondering if I am the only one or that happened to anybody else. Received my brand new K3 (have already K5 iis, K5, K20D etc). Did initial set up and took it on initial photo shoot. Pretty sure I did not expose the camera to any mechanical stress. (It was a summer day in NYC - around 80F though). After two days I noticed a small crack next to the double SD compartment. When I touched it a chip of plastics went off. I will add a picture to describe this better.

This came as a complete surprise to me. Wondering what to do. Bought it from a 3p seller on Amazon.

Anybody same or similar experience?

Thanks in advance / cheers / HJ

rawr · 07-15-2014, 08:41 AM

Unusual.
What's the shutter count? Maybe the unit wasn't as new as you thought it was?

himijendrix84 · 07-15-2014, 09:02 AM

It was indeed new. Double checked with the tool. Uploaded a JPEG from day 2.
It returned:
Camera PENTAX K-3
Manufature Date 2014:03:20
Shutter Count 702

So It did not only leek new, I'd it WAS new.

Thanks for your response anyway / cheers HJ

himijendrix84 · 07-15-2014, 09:17 AM

Hope the pics illustrate what I tried to describe verbally. I guess it might impact the "weather sealing".
/ thx / HJ

Attached Images

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View Picture EXIF

stevebrot · 07-15-2014, 09:33 AM

Are my eyes wrong or am I seeing a huge chip of the body shell (polycarbonate at this point, I think) missing? This appears to be either impact damage or a fault in the casting. Is there any indication of glue residue on the chip or body indicating an attempted repair?

Steve

JimmyDranox · 07-15-2014, 09:35 AM

This isn't normal, but sometime, plastic, and even metal cast pieces can have contaminants inside, and can break unexpectedly. Anyway, a replacement is normal in this case.

rawr · 07-15-2014, 09:59 AM

Interesting.

That's not normally what I'd think of as a stress point on the camera - eg like the hinge area of the SD card door, or the lens mount. And any direct or side impact damage would have hurt the SD card door too, since it seems to cover the area of the crack, but the door seems undamaged.

See if you can send it back as a warranty return, due to deteriorating plastic. Or if that isn't possible, and everything else seems to work, just seal the crack up with some silicon or super-glue to ensure that you have a seal there.

aleonx3 · 07-15-2014, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by himijendrix84

It was indeed new. Double checked with the tool. Uploaded a JPEG from day 2.
It returned:
Camera PENTAX K-3
Manufature Date 2014:03:20
Shutter Count 702

So It did not only leek new, I'd it WAS new.

Thanks for your response anyway / cheers HJ

I thought all brand new (direct from factory) cameras from Pentax are now shipped with "zero" shutter count. My k-5 was when I bought it several years ago.

VoiceOfReason · 07-15-2014, 10:31 AM

My K5 had less than 50 when I decided to check it. My K-01 had less than 20 when I decided to check it. Over 700 isn't new.

himijendrix84 · 07-15-2014, 10:51 AM

Thanks guys for your replies. I guess, provided the "cracking" will not continue I can live with that. I have some practical / logistics problems with doing the warranty claim". Unfortunately I dod not buy directly from Amazon (whose customer srvice is ususally WERY good & fast) but from a 3p seller on Amazon. Just hope this is not a first sign of this particular piece being a lemon.

cheers / HJ

PS: Sorry for confusing you with the 702 count. I chose a picture from second day of shooting, It waspicture number 702. Meaning it started NEW:

rawr · 07-15-2014, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by himijendrix84

It waspicture number 702. Meaning it started NEW:

There's a difference between the image number of the JPEG, as allocated by the camera, and the shutter count. The shutter count is recorded in the EXIF quite seperately.

What does EXIFTOOL tell you?

bdery · 07-15-2014, 12:40 PM

Even a third-party should replace it if it's in bad shape straight out of the box.

**crewl1** · 07-15-2014, 01:37 PM

This was the count on my K-3 when purchased from Adorama.
With 700 shots on your camera I would say you got someones returned body.

stevebrot · 07-15-2014, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by rawr

And any direct or side impact damage would have hurt the SD card door too, since it seems to cover the area of the crack, but the door seems undamaged.

Drop it or swing it into something with the door open.

Steve

rawr · 07-15-2014, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Drop it or swing it into something with the door open.

Hadn't thought of that.

I'm also intrigued to see the white interior of the crack. I thought the colour of the plastic inside would match the outside.

07-15-2014, 07:16 AM	#1
himijendrix84 New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 7	A piece of plastics chipped away from a new K3 body Hi, just wondering if I am the only one or that happened to anybody else. Received my brand new K3 (have already K5 iis, K5, K20D etc). Did initial set up and took it on initial photo shoot. Pretty sure I did not expose the camera to any mechanical stress. (It was a summer day in NYC - around 80F though). After two days I noticed a small crack next to the double SD compartment. When I touched it a chip of plastics went off. I will add a picture to describe this better. This came as a complete surprise to me. Wondering what to do. Bought it from a 3p seller on Amazon. Anybody same or similar experience? Thanks in advance / cheers / HJ

07-15-2014, 09:02 AM	#3
himijendrix84 New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 7 Original Poster	It was really new It was indeed new. Double checked with the tool. Uploaded a JPEG from day 2. It returned: Camera PENTAX K-3 Manufature Date 2014:03:20 Shutter Count 702 So It did not only leek new, I'd it WAS new. Thanks for your response anyway / cheers HJ

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07-15-2014, 08:41 AM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Unusual. What's the shutter count? Maybe the unit wasn't as new as you thought it was?

07-15-2014, 09:33 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Are my eyes wrong or am I seeing a huge chip of the body shell (polycarbonate at this point, I think) missing? This appears to be either impact damage or a fault in the casting. Is there any indication of glue residue on the chip or body indicating an attempted repair? Steve

07-15-2014, 09:35 AM	#6
JimmyDranox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ploiesti, Romania Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,632	This isn't normal, but sometime, plastic, and even metal cast pieces can have contaminants inside, and can break unexpectedly. Anyway, a replacement is normal in this case.

07-15-2014, 09:59 AM	#7
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Interesting. That's not normally what I'd think of as a stress point on the camera - eg like the hinge area of the SD card door, or the lens mount. And any direct or side impact damage would have hurt the SD card door too, since it seems to cover the area of the crack, but the door seems undamaged. See if you can send it back as a warranty return, due to deteriorating plastic. Or if that isn't possible, and everything else seems to work, just seal the crack up with some silicon or super-glue to ensure that you have a seal there.

07-15-2014, 10:13 AM	#8
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by himijendrix84 It was indeed new. Double checked with the tool. Uploaded a JPEG from day 2. It returned: Camera PENTAX K-3 Manufature Date 2014:03:20 Shutter Count 702 So It did not only leek new, I'd it WAS new. Thanks for your response anyway / cheers HJ I thought all brand new (direct from factory) cameras from Pentax are now shipped with "zero" shutter count. My k-5 was when I bought it several years ago.

07-15-2014, 10:31 AM	#9
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	My K5 had less than 50 when I decided to check it. My K-01 had less than 20 when I decided to check it. Over 700 isn't new.

07-15-2014, 10:51 AM	#10
himijendrix84 New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks guys for your replies. I guess, provided the "cracking" will not continue I can live with that. I have some practical / logistics problems with doing the warranty claim". Unfortunately I dod not buy directly from Amazon (whose customer srvice is ususally WERY good & fast) but from a 3p seller on Amazon. Just hope this is not a first sign of this particular piece being a lemon. cheers / HJ PS: Sorry for confusing you with the 702 count. I chose a picture from second day of shooting, It waspicture number 702. Meaning it started NEW:

07-15-2014, 10:58 AM	#11
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by himijendrix84 It waspicture number 702. Meaning it started NEW: There's a difference between the image number of the JPEG, as allocated by the camera, and the shutter count. The shutter count is recorded in the EXIF quite seperately. What does EXIFTOOL tell you?

07-15-2014, 12:40 PM	#12
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Even a third-party should replace it if it's in bad shape straight out of the box.

07-15-2014, 01:37 PM	#13
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	This was the count on my K-3 when purchased from Adorama. With 700 shots on your camera I would say you got someones returned body.

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07-15-2014, 02:12 PM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by rawr And any direct or side impact damage would have hurt the SD card door too, since it seems to cover the area of the crack, but the door seems undamaged. Drop it or swing it into something with the door open. Steve

07-15-2014, 06:43 PM	#15
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by stevebrot Drop it or swing it into something with the door open. Hadn't thought of that. I'm also intrigued to see the white interior of the crack. I thought the colour of the plastic inside would match the outside.