[Jasvox]

It is very easy to peruse the internet and find publicized issues with pretty much any product, across any industry. A perfectly working K-5ii is a good thing indeed, as long as it is indeed a perfectly working model. Probably 99% of them are, just like probably 99% of the D7100, D600, etc are too.

Jason

[beholder3]

To recap the D600 story, a specification was mistakenly changed, Nikon identified the problem and worked with the supplier on a solution, Nikon is standing behind its product by replacing the problem part in customers' cameras which have it.

Official Nikon sources for this speculation?

Any sources my Nikon using friends find state that there is some ordinary dust issue and only after the buyer has repeatedly tried to clean the sensor himself at own cost they may send it in and Nikon will then see what is required. Complete denial of the systematic Nikon quality issue.

Reports of users here also are proving that Nikon service centers show erratic behaviour on how to try to solve the issue. Sometimes the shutter is exchanged, mostly they do a cheap cleaning, which only helps for a few shutter actuations.

This appears with cameras sent to the service at buyers cost up until may 2013. No change in reality. Problem nowhere solved.

In cases even exchanging the shutter twice didn't solve it. It generates dust again.

And let's not forget: sometimes it is not even only dust but an oily substance. Thats why it sticks so badly to the sensor.

Not solved.

Even the often malfunctioning D800 autofocus system was handled in a less poor manner by Nikon.

[ElJamoquio]

Any sources my Nikon using friends find state that there is some ordinary dust issue and only after the buyer has repeatedly tried to clean the sensor himself at own cost they may send it in and Nikon will then see what is required. Complete denial of the systematic Nikon quality issue.

I think Nikon stated the user should try to clean it first, themselves.

I used an air rocket. It didn't work as you might expect. I wasn't going to go all out-of-my-way for a systemic problem.

[B Grace]

There are no official Nikon sources for any information on the D600 issue nor should anyone expect any. The same would be true of Pentax or any other manufacturer. My information consisted of:

- Found reports from D600 owners on several Nikon forums and the repair receipts they claimed to have in hand.
- D600 owners reporting problems vs. owners having zero problems and their purchase dates.
- My tests of a display D600 over the course of four weeks and about 6000 shots (verified same camera which hadn't been cleaned) at my local Costco, of all places, beginning in early March with the help of the employees there who without an explanation from me asked if I was checking on the dust problem.
- Discussions with my dealer's Nikon specialist, the shop owner, and a rep who happened to be in the shop in early December. I was advised to wait until spring or buy a D800.
- Discussions with that same dealer Nikon specialist in early April.

I have zero personal experience with the D600 dust problem because I don't own a D600 having the problem. I think anyone shopping any camera body should research the product and weigh all information with a grain of salt including the information in this discussion. I have no guarantee my D40x at 17k shots or my K1000 with maybe 30k shots won't fail tomorrow so I'm not sure any of us can really be assured of any camera gear product living up to our expectations. The best choice anyone who is convinced there are problems with any product is to just not buy the product and move on.

[rawr]

The same would be true of Pentax

Not always. Pentax Japan issued a public apology for the K-5 sensor stain issue quite quickly after the issue appeared, with details of the problem and sample images, for example. But alas not all reported Pentax issues - eg the SDM lens stuff - get the same treatment.

[Sankon]

<evidence for the prosecution snipped>
[D600 had] a stone like drop in price as market demand plummeted. No other recent models caved in like this.
The D600 lost like 30% / 700 EUR, the full price of a K-5, in 8 months alone.
Sometimes life as a Pentaxian is good
<snip>

Hmm, the yen has fallen by 30% against the dollar in the last 3 months alone. A US importer can take advantage of that for slow-selling models.

Speaking of which ...

Pentax K5ii, brand new, from a well known B&M dealer, is available at around US$650 in Tokyo. I've even seen it for US$600 on a weekend offer recently. That's 40% down...

There are lots of reports of problems with popular brand cameras, because there are lots of users. If you don't have a Nikon, why on earth do you care though ?

[bhairavp]

^Sankon, which one? Yodobashi? BIC?

[Sankon]

^Sankon, which one? Yodobashi? BIC?

Fujiya Camera, Nakano

Pentax is the only brand that is constantly featured in their "Outlet" section with the K30 and K5ii/K5iis/K01 always discounted. Additionally, Fujiya has regular sales, often just using the excuse "it's the weekend !" where Pentax are further discounted.

Right now, Fujiya has the K5ii body for US$680 and K30 body for US$417 equivalent. Last weekend, both were reduced further. Amazon Japan prices are often similar.

My point only being that the OP's comment that "no other camera" has fallen 30% since launch is debatable, first because the yen has fallen as much in 3 months, and second, well, the K5 / K30 / K01 / Q price histories say it all

[normhead]

I think the gist of the thread is that the guys who come one here and whine about how much better Nikon and canon are than Pentax, just haven't done their homework. The fact is, Pentax is slightly better than Canon and Nikon in frequency of repair. Some on the forum deliberately single Pentax out and try and make them a supreme villain, worse than the others and encourage folks to switch brands. So an article every now and then pointing out they are wrong, doesn't hurt. Nothing I read here would stop me from buying a D600 or D800, just as a few lemon reports on a few cars wouldn't stop me from buying hat brand of car.

The Consumer Reports frequency and cost of repair reports are what I use for cars, and I take them in consideration for cameras. Basically, if CR says they are better, they give you a better chance of getting a good one. Not a guarantee, just upping your odds. It's one consideration in making a purchase, but performance also counts. The more performance you get, the more likely you are to put up with higher frequency of repairs. To the point where a race car driving buddy rebuilds his engines after every 6 races. He doesn't complain about poor quality, he just knows what he has to do to maintain the performance standard he wants.

The fact is, you can get a terrible camera, no matter what brand you buy. And we experience a lot of complaints from those who do. You just need to keep it in perspective, especially with the Pentax bashers. They had bad experiences, and odds are when they switch systems, they won't. But odds are if htey invested in a new Pentax system they wouldn't either.Most of us don't have bad experiences.. It sucks, but it's life.

It's awful reading those posts where guys have all those issues. One because it could have happened to anyone, it's just odds, but 2 because you wonder, how could people have such bad luck? I've had no issues. Some people have had 6 or 7. And I'm sure they didn't deserve it. But as Clint Eastwood says in the Unforgiven, "Deserve's got nothing to do with it."

[K-9]

D5200 is their best bang for your buck right now. Best image quality for the price and no issues like their other models.

[Nesster]

D5200 is their best bang for your buck right now. Best image quality for the price and no issues like their other models.

Only for those of use who have interest in older manual focus Nikkors, the line forms at the D7000. Pentax, god bless, gives the compatibility with every camera.

[JinDesu]

It's a good fight between the D5200 and the k-30 for bang for buck. I'd edge it out for the k-30, at the prices currently. WR, twin dials, acceptable AF (better or equal to k-5), focus peaking, versus 24MP, almost equal noise performance, fantastic AF.

[K-9]

It's a good fight between the D5200 and the k-30 for bang for buck. I'd edge it out for the k-30, at the prices currently. WR, twin dials, acceptable AF (better or equal to k-5), focus peaking, versus 24MP, almost equal noise performance, fantastic AF.

I agree that the k30 is also a great buy for what you are getting. The one glaring issue for me is no HDMI video out when they even gave it to the K-01.

For what you can get used K-x and K-r bodies these days, those are also great cameras for the money.

[Sankon]

Only for those of use who have interest in older manual focus Nikkors, the line forms at the D7000. Pentax, god bless, gives the compatibility with every camera.

I used manual focus Nikkors with my old D40 and now with my new-old D50. They work just fine, but of course, you have manual metering. The D7000 ( or D200/D300 if you don't "need" todays current toy ) add full matrix metering with MF lenses too, as ( unlike a certain brand ) they all have an aperture-feeler... but there is no need to buy these bodies to use MF lenses.

[SkilakDeZoo]

Recently I bought D7100 only because of the flashing system (I used to shot with D70 before I switched for K-5) - as many said "in Pentax the flashing system does not exist". Perhaps beside the AF system and AE lock button (I like to hold it not push only) I still prefer my K-5. I do not know much abut Canon, Olympus, Fuji et al but the Pentax menu and driving wins in every aspect. I love in Pentax the way how you can adjust the WB, color etc. .. you just do it with the preview of the current picture. Nikon is simple a few light years behind BTW why Nikon is so HUGE!!! ?