[bobbotron]

I recently contacted my favorite Camera Sales and Service Center inquiring as to how much would it cost and how long would it take to a new focus screen in for my Pentax

K-7. Much to my surprise and chagrin, I was informed that the Center can no longer get parts from Ricoh/Pentax. Let me emphasize, NO PARTS AT ALL!!! Last time the

Center ordered parts from Ricoh/Pentax was approximately one year ago and it took constant pressure to get the part to finally arrive after approximately two months.

As if that news in itself wasn't disturbing enough, the Center added that Ricoh/Pentax is going down. Well, I do not know about the second part, but I do however believe the

news regarding the discontinuing of supplying parts. That is somewhat of a nebulus area that is difficult to get an accurate read. I do wish the Company the very best in the

future.

Thanks for reading and I will certainly appreciate any and all contributions to this thread.

Tonytee

You probably just got some person with a chip on their shoulder or an axe to grind. I'd complain to their manager.

[stevebrot]

Is this the same part but with a different part number? thnx,

See below...

Hi guys.
I have a focusing screen which was ordered from Focusingscreen. com "way back when" to install on my K7.
Never installed it ... still in its original package ... is this what you are talking about? (see picture(s)) ...

No, that is an aftermarket Canon S-type screen cut to fit a K-7. The OP is talking about the stock Pentax screen (below)...



...available from B&H and other retail vendors...

Pentax MF-60 AF Standard Focusing Screen 38578 B&H Photo Video


Steve

[totsmuyco]

Ricoh/Pentax is going down. Hmmm. I'm not sure if that's true but after endorsing the 70-210, K-new, DFA 50, DA11-18 and so on. I don't think a company would put its resources on something that's going down.

[Tonytee]

Tony, Let's see....the camera repair centre could not get the part...but Amazon can, from 6 different vendors

amazon.com: pentax k7 focusing screen?tag=pentaxforums-20&

Ricoh going out of business...lets see...new camera GRiii, new DSLR lenses, new camera still coming out....

Maybe they just don't want to be an authorized parts centre????

Well, you just may be correct in that sense. Although, I have been trading there since 2009 and I know that Pentax is a major part of their operation. They do have two technicians who work on Pentax exclusively, so I cannot imagine why they would voluntarily divest themselves from Pentax. Unless, of course a huge disagreement took place between the two and the end result was Pentax refusing to accept their orders for parts. Good point on your part, however difficult to prove unless one is behind the scenes.

Thanks, Tonytee

---------- Post added 01-27-20 at 10:02 PM ----------

Tony when my k-3 needed repairs my warranty mandated service center could not get the parts from pentax as they are not an authorized pentax shop.. they were told by pentax to use Precision(or so I was told). Odds are your shop didnt want to be bothered by something like a focus screen. Im curious if after the "Ricoh/Pentax is going down" comment they happened to suggest it was time to upgrade to some other brand they had on sale.? Thats a classic tactic if they did.

AL

Well sir, sorry to disappoint, however they did not play that bait and switch game with me. In fact they did not even try to sell another used K-7 to me. This camera sales/service center does not sell new photography gear. The reason they do not sell new photography gear is because none of the manufacturers will send them any. That
is because their estimated annual sales of new photo gear is not even close to what the manufacturers require. Now sometimes as in my case, I did purchase a new old stock Nikon SB-24 speedlight that the center placed a full year warranty on. Their business as far as sales is concerned is used photography gear including used accessories.

Thanks for your comment.

TT

[lesmore49]

Nikon who is a lot bigger is doing the same thing
Nikon Shuttering Its Authorized Repair Program

This is my understanding too, about Nikon. To me it's a sign of the times. Years ago back in the '60's with cars, you bought new from the dealership, got it serviced at the dealer till the warranty ran out, then usually had it serviced at the local Shell, Esso...corner garage that sold gas, tires, fixed cars, etc. Well there are no more small, corner garages for the most part. One of the things that killed them was cars becoming ever more sophisticated...having lots of computers, electronics, complicated systems that when these items went wrong , a lot of time they needed specialist tech repair, expensive analytic systems that generally only dealers could or big store garages afford. In fact GM and Ford cut out a lot of very small country dealers who were more like corner garages who just sold maybe 10 new cars a year.

I would say...same deal with Ricoh-Pentax, Nikon, etc. Cameras are complicated computers, electronics with a lens attached.

I bought my K10D, new from a long time camera store in the city about 13 years ago. Very good firm, handled a bunch of Japanese and German makes. Bought a lot of my early Pentax digital equipment from them.

But the business was taken over and I went into the place about 2 years ago, ready to buy some new Pentax equipment. When I asked about Pentax, the new management told me they don't handle the brand anymore...better off with Canikon...they weren't going to waste their time with Pentax, etc., etc. and etc.

I thought they make a good point about wasting time ...and figured it applied to me too...so I went to another store and while they also didn't have Pentax in their store they were pleased to order what I wanted from the distributor. It takes about 2-3 weeks to come in, I buy the store's extended warranty on whatever I buy and I'm quite happy with this arrangement.

Oh...I haven't been into the other store since that last visit of a few years ago. It was at one time a good company to deal with, but due to new staff, new management ideas....wasn't the same firm anymore. Mostly, when this happens there are generally alternatives to select and sometimes finding a new place can be the best way.

My take.

[yucatanPentax]

Standard Pentax MF-60 Focusing Screen:



ML-60 "Cross-lined" focusing screen



MI-60 "Scale" focusing screen



ME-60 "Plain" focusing screen

[Tonytee]

Okay, just to stir up the hive a bit, here is an excerpt regarding the issues discussed here. This was written in 2013.

Well after waiting 2 months for B&H to ship a replacement focusing screen for the scratched one (user error) in my K-7 they just emailed me to say it was discontinued! What's up with that? Kinda annoying that I got a focusing screen for my 5D Mark II shipped the next day and at a lot lower price than Pentax wants. Not being able to get replacement parts and accessories for Pentax in a timely manner is starting to become an issue for me.

Someone want to point me to another retailer and a retailer who will ship outside of the US to a country with no local pentax dealer?


Thanks for reading, Tonytee

[BigMackCam]

Okay, just to stir up the hive a bit, here is an excerpt regarding the issues discussed here. This was written in 2013.

Well after waiting 2 months for B&H to ship a replacement focusing screen for the scratched one (user error) in my K-7 they just emailed me to say it was discontinued! What's up with that? Kinda annoying that I got a focusing screen for my 5D Mark II shipped the next day and at a lot lower price than Pentax wants. Not being able to get replacement parts and accessories for Pentax in a timely manner is starting to become an issue for me.

Someone want to point me to another retailer and a retailer who will ship outside of the US to a country with no local pentax dealer?

I can't explain it, Tony. Maybe the part number or product description in the Pentax catalogue changed around that time; maybe it was listed as discontinued in B&H's own system (which is how some items appear on their website when in fact they're merely out of stock); or maybe the rep at B&H simply wasn't doing his or her job thoroughly enough. Whatever the reason, the MF-60 focus screen has remained, and still remains, widely available. The same screen is used in the K-7, all of the K-5 series, and both K-3 series cameras. It's a common enough part that your service center could easily have sourced if they'd bothered to try.

I just looked on the website of Bristol Cameras here in the UK (a dealer I've used for many smaller accessories and the odd larger purchase), and they have the MF-60 available. It's not even the case that they can get it in if required; they actually have it in stock, ready to ship, which suggests there must be reasonable availability and demand.

[MarkJerling]

Okay, just to stir up the hive a bit, here is an excerpt regarding the issues discussed here. This was written in 2013.

Well after waiting 2 months for B&H to ship a replacement focusing screen for the scratched one (user error) in my K-7 they just emailed me to say it was discontinued! What's up with that? Kinda annoying that I got a focusing screen for my 5D Mark II shipped the next day and at a lot lower price than Pentax wants. Not being able to get replacement parts and accessories for Pentax in a timely manner is starting to become an issue for me.

Someone want to point me to another retailer and a retailer who will ship outside of the US to a country with no local pentax dealer?


Thanks for reading, Tonytee

Adorama shows it in stock, but "limited stock available". See https://www.adorama.com/ipxfsmf60.html?
B&H shows in stock: See Pentax MF-60 AF Standard Focusing Screen 38578 B&H Photo Video

Colour me confused.

[aslyfox]

all four screens appear to be available - see post #51 to see the screens

Adorama also lists

Pentax Focusing Screen ML-60 (AF Divided Matte) for K7, K30 DSLRs

https://www.adorama.com/ipxfsml60.html?rfkref=productPage


in stock ready to ship

Pentax Focusing Screen MI-60 (AF Scale Matte) for K7, K30 DSLRs

https://www.adorama.com/ipxfsmi60.html?rfkref=productPage

as a Special Order

and BH lists these as well

Pentax ML-60 AF Cross-lined Matte Focusing Screen

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/640680-REG/Pentax_38579_ML_60_AF_Cross_lined_Matte.html

Pentax ME-60 Plain Matte Focusing Screen

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/640682-REG/Pentax_38581_KE_60_All_Surface_Matte.html

" special order "

[boriscleto]

IIRC B&H listed the Pentax Adapter K as discontinued for several years. Then it showed up again at more than twice old price.

[pentaxus]

B&h photovideo has the screen in stock.

[stevebrot]

Someone want to point me to another retailer and a retailer who will ship outside of the US to a country with no local pentax dealer?

As noted above, the screen is in stock at B&H. Buy it and ask your repair place to do the swap for you; it should take them about 15 minutes. Just because someone in 2013 had trouble getting one through B&H does not mean that is the norm. The same screen (and part number) has been used in Pentax dSLRs for over a decade and for all APS-C models since 2012 and is definitely not discontinued.

Pentax MF-60 AF Standard Focusing Screen 38578 B&H Photo Video


Steve