Starting to HATE waterproof compacts.

schmik · 01-17-2012, 06:35 PM

I used to own a pentax w30. It was great. It lasted 1.5 years and then died due to water ingress.

I replaced it with a pentax w90. It was purchased from adorama.

I purchased it on 7 Jan 2011. It was delivered on 13 Jan 2011.
It died on 12th Jan 2012.

5 days out of warranty. I had the camera in my possession for LESS than 1 year. I had it in my hands for 364 days and it died...
I did contact adorama about it and they said "too bad, so sad!"

Do i bother replacing it with another pentax?

mike

panoguy · 01-17-2012, 07:07 PM

I think Panasonic and Sony make pretty good "rugged cams" (with better video and image quality - that's always bothered me about the Pentax W-series). Of course, it depends on what you use the camera for. Is it the water seals giving out each time or impact or what?

The reason I still like the W90 (aside from not dying after 2 years) is that I can hold onto it when it's wet. Look at the rest of these slippery little buggers! (Link has reviews and images - enjoy!)

Philoslothical · 01-17-2012, 07:09 PM

Try taking it up with Pentax directly. I wouldn't bother contacting a retailer about a manufacturer warranty. They'd likely just try to sell you another camera.

schmik · 01-17-2012, 07:29 PM

Yeah... both died of water ingress. I just like to keep the camera in my pocket when swimming with the kids. Never been deeper than 5 foot.

I'll try pentax USA as that is where it came from.

mike

Bob from Aus · 01-17-2012, 08:37 PM

Big thumbs down for the panasonic. (talking latest models) I know 3 people had theirs destroyed diving. Mine and others are Ok for snorkeling when the water is tropical. However when I hit colder water the glass fogs up. The GPS is nasty. The menu system is poor. The claim it is measured in metric, but it is in feet. The only good thing is its small. Pentax couldn't be any worse.

hcarvalhoalves · 01-17-2012, 10:08 PM

They claim it is waterproof, so even if it's just over warranty, I would contact the manufacturer. Their company image hopefully costs more than a replaced/repaired unit.

Adam · 01-17-2012, 11:21 PM

I agree, if it's a manufacturing defect, they will definitely replace it.

Adam
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Bob from Aus · 01-17-2012, 11:37 PM

panasonic don't replace cameras that get fizzled underwater even in the warranty period. the three mentioned cameras were all under a year old.

**Chuckie** · 01-17-2012, 11:38 PM

I bought a WG-1 last year and I'm loving it.

Zav · 01-18-2012, 12:08 AM

Olympus made no problem to replace my sunken TG camera and even replaced it with a newer generation one.

panoguy · 01-18-2012, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by schmik

Yeah... both died of water ingress. I just like to keep the camera in my pocket when swimming with the kids. Never been deeper than 5 foot.

I'll try pentax USA as that is where it came from.

Good luck! Not sure how well Pentax USA handles any type of warranty or just out of warranty service from 'grey-market' goods (which is what we get when we shop from the US and ship out). I've always assumed that I wasn't covered, being just north of them and all.

schmik · 01-18-2012, 01:37 PM

Well... i did not get a response to my email. If they do not reply tomorrow I'll give them a ring.

mike

Helen Oster · 01-19-2012, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by schmik

I used to own a pentax w30. It was great. It lasted 1.5 years and then died due to water ingress.

I replaced it with a pentax w90. It was purchased from adorama.

I purchased it on 7 Jan 2011. It was delivered on 13 Jan 2011.
It died on 12th Jan 2012.

5 days out of warranty. I had the camera in my possession for LESS than 1 year. I had it in my hands for 364 days and it died...
I did contact adorama about it and they said "too bad, so sad!"

Do i bother replacing it with another pentax?

mike

Did you contact Pentax directly? Your warranty would have been with Pentax rather with Adorama. Try here: Product Repair & Service - PENTAX Imaging USA

**Ahab** · 01-19-2012, 12:51 PM

Wow, I have a W20 and a W90. Both work like new. I always clean the seals and smear a light coat of Silicone O-ring grease available in any dive shop on them. Yes, I know Pentax recommends having the seals replaced every so often but this has worked for me.

Immunogirl · 02-05-2012, 11:10 PM

I do similar to Ahab - I've got a optio w60, a kodak playsport, and a optio wg-1 that I've been using in the water for years without problems. (the w60 I got new when they first came out...)

You have to understand that any bit of sand that gets in there will break the contact... so keep the door free of sand. I use vacuum seal grease to form another layer of protection.

01-17-2012, 06:35 PM	#1
schmik Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Aus Photos: Gallery Posts: 527	Starting to HATE waterproof compacts. I used to own a pentax w30. It was great. It lasted 1.5 years and then died due to water ingress. I replaced it with a pentax w90. It was purchased from adorama. I purchased it on 7 Jan 2011. It was delivered on 13 Jan 2011. It died on 12th Jan 2012. 5 days out of warranty. I had the camera in my possession for LESS than 1 year. I had it in my hands for 364 days and it died... I did contact adorama about it and they said "too bad, so sad!" Do i bother replacing it with another pentax? mike

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01-17-2012, 07:07 PM	#2
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	I think Panasonic and Sony make pretty good "rugged cams" (with better video and image quality - that's always bothered me about the Pentax W-series). Of course, it depends on what you use the camera for. Is it the water seals giving out each time or impact or what? The reason I still like the W90 (aside from not dying after 2 years) is that I can hold onto it when it's wet. Look at the rest of these slippery little buggers! (Link has reviews and images - enjoy!)

01-17-2012, 07:09 PM	#3
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	Try taking it up with Pentax directly. I wouldn't bother contacting a retailer about a manufacturer warranty. They'd likely just try to sell you another camera.

01-17-2012, 07:29 PM	#4
schmik Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Aus Photos: Gallery Posts: 527 Original Poster	Yeah... both died of water ingress. I just like to keep the camera in my pocket when swimming with the kids. Never been deeper than 5 foot. I'll try pentax USA as that is where it came from. mike

01-17-2012, 08:37 PM	#5
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Big thumbs down for the panasonic. (talking latest models) I know 3 people had theirs destroyed diving. Mine and others are Ok for snorkeling when the water is tropical. However when I hit colder water the glass fogs up. The GPS is nasty. The menu system is poor. The claim it is measured in metric, but it is in feet. The only good thing is its small. Pentax couldn't be any worse.

01-17-2012, 10:08 PM	#6
hcarvalhoalves Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,019	They claim it is waterproof, so even if it's just over warranty, I would contact the manufacturer. Their company image hopefully costs more than a replaced/repaired unit.

01-17-2012, 11:21 PM	#7
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	I agree, if it's a manufacturing defect, they will definitely replace it. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-17-2012, 11:37 PM	#8
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	panasonic don't replace cameras that get fizzled underwater even in the warranty period. the three mentioned cameras were all under a year old.

01-17-2012, 11:38 PM	#9
Chuckie Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Douglas Photos: Albums Posts: 168	I bought a WG-1 last year and I'm loving it.

01-18-2012, 12:08 AM	#10
Zav Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,371	Olympus made no problem to replace my sunken TG camera and even replaced it with a newer generation one.

01-18-2012, 07:08 AM	#11
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by schmik Yeah... both died of water ingress. I just like to keep the camera in my pocket when swimming with the kids. Never been deeper than 5 foot. I'll try pentax USA as that is where it came from. Good luck! Not sure how well Pentax USA handles any type of warranty or just out of warranty service from 'grey-market' goods (which is what we get when we shop from the US and ship out). I've always assumed that I wasn't covered, being just north of them and all.

01-18-2012, 01:37 PM	#12
schmik Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Aus Photos: Gallery Posts: 527 Original Poster	Well... i did not get a response to my email. If they do not reply tomorrow I'll give them a ring. mike

01-19-2012, 05:01 AM	#13
Helen Oster Adorama Camera Representative Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 550	Originally posted by schmik I used to own a pentax w30. It was great. It lasted 1.5 years and then died due to water ingress. I replaced it with a pentax w90. It was purchased from adorama. I purchased it on 7 Jan 2011. It was delivered on 13 Jan 2011. It died on 12th Jan 2012. 5 days out of warranty. I had the camera in my possession for LESS than 1 year. I had it in my hands for 364 days and it died... I did contact adorama about it and they said "too bad, so sad!" Do i bother replacing it with another pentax? mike Did you contact Pentax directly? Your warranty would have been with Pentax rather with Adorama. Try here: Product Repair & Service - PENTAX Imaging USA

01-19-2012, 12:51 PM	#14
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	Wow, I have a W20 and a W90. Both work like new. I always clean the seals and smear a light coat of Silicone O-ring grease available in any dive shop on them. Yes, I know Pentax recommends having the seals replaced every so often but this has worked for me.

02-05-2012, 11:10 PM	#15
Immunogirl Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 313	I do similar to Ahab - I've got a optio w60, a kodak playsport, and a optio wg-1 that I've been using in the water for years without problems. (the w60 I got new when they first came out...) You have to understand that any bit of sand that gets in there will break the contact... so keep the door free of sand. I use vacuum seal grease to form another layer of protection.