How many times did you use your USA warranty with all your cameras and lenses?
Oct 8, 2015 16:49:15 #
MMC wrote:
When people are discussing buying grey market cameras they every time talking about warranty. I would like to know how often do you need your USA warranty.
Per photo equipment, as far as I can remember NEVER. The couple times I had something crap out it was out of warranty or if it had an issue I did not learn of it until again it was too late. But on the other hand I don't think I've ever bought any new Gray Market photo equipment either. I don't know about any of the used items. I've bought a lot of photo stuff new over the decades.
Asahi Pentax KM (film) Camera (later stolen)+
Asahi smc-Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 Lens (later stolen)+
Asahi smc-Pentax-K 30mm f/2 Lens (rare, later stolen)+ :-(
Asahi smc-Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 Lens
Asahi smc-Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 Lens
Asahi smc-Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4 Lens
Asahi Pentax K2 DMD (film) Camera ($$$)
Asahi Pentax K1000 SE (film) Camera (later stolen)+
Asahi smc-Pentax-M 100mm f/4 Macro Lens
Velbon VE-3 Tripod
Asahi Pentax Bellows II
Asahi Pentax Extension Tubes
Gitzo Tripod (Legs & 2 Heads)
Gossen Luna Pro Light Meter (later stolen)+
SunPac 6xx yada yada Flash (later stolen)+
Metz 60CT-1 510v Electronic Flash System
Minolta Spot Meter F
Omega View 45F Camera
Nikkor-W 150mm f/5.6 view camera lens
Beseler 45MXII 4x5 something Enlarger
EL-Nikkor 50mm f/4 Enlarging Lens
a couple Kodak digital cameras
Schneider Componon-S 100mm f/5.6 Enlarging Lens
Speedotron Studio Strobe System
(Hoya/Ricoh) Pentax K-20D (digital) Camera ($$)
(Hoya/Ricoh) smc-Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM Zoom Lens ($$$)
(Hoya/Ricoh) smc-Pentax-DA Limited 35mm f/2.8 Macro Lens ($$$)
Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod and two Heads
+ As you can see my apartment at the time was burglarized once in 1987.
I also own or have owned nearly three times this above stuff all purchased used. Mainly many more cameras and lenses.
I did have an issue with my smc-Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM Zoom Lens. The earlier ones like mine had a known issue with the silent SDM focus motor (one of the few Pentax Lenses with in-lens AF). By the time I learned of the problem the damn thing was out of warranty and Hoya or Ricoh never copped to it being a known design and manufacturing problem, so they never issued a recall order to fix or replace the motors. By hacking the lens' firm ware I fixed it myself. This lens can AF by two methods. I just forced it to focus by using the traditional Pentax worm gear and that by-passed the "defective" feature of the lens. It works fine now but with a sound. Pentax cameras now since around the K-10D have an extra set of contacts for the lenses that have in-lens silent AF.
Oct 8, 2015 16:59:16 #
I've sent cameras and lenses back on many occasions for cleaning/updating, etc.. I've also broken a couple of items through my own fault as well as needing some warranty work, minor repair, etc.. For me, this is an urgent issue and a good enough reason not to consider grey market. May, or may not, work for you. You're choice.
Oct 8, 2015 17:32:53 #
MMC wrote:
When people are discussing buying grey market cameras they every time talking about warranty. I would like to know how often do you need your USA warranty.
Never in all my photography experience. Over fifty years, dark room, film, non digital and digital. Just call me lucky!
Oct 8, 2015 17:36:36 #
Never have had to, up to now. Hope I didn't jinx myself...
Oct 8, 2015 17:44:29 #
MMC wrote:
When people are discussing buying grey market cameras they every time talking about warranty. I would like to know how often do you need your USA warranty.
I have been a Canon customer for over 35 years now .... bought dozens of pieces of their equipment over this time .... number of warranty claims or repairs .... zip, nada, nil .... actually only piece needed repair and wouldn't you know ... just a few months after the warranty expired.
Oct 8, 2015 17:55:54 #
Yes, You are lucky.
TomballLegend wrote:
Never in all my photography experience. Over fifty years, dark room, film, non digital and digital. Just call me lucky!
Oct 8, 2015 18:05:41 #
You colonials - why not just take faulty things back to the store ? You are a silly bunch of folk. you buy warrenties that are crap think everything so called 'gray' is rubbish and you love to pay the highest price !!! you don't even realise what the highest prices is - bet you would baulk at the uk prices ! THEN THEN you would think the gray market - which incidentally is not the black market but just a way of avoiding rip offs .
Oct 8, 2015 18:20:45 #
Oct 8, 2015 18:53:02 #
jrh1354
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
My Nikon D5300 just returned from Nikon Service when shutter and/or sensor failed. It was repaired under warranty. Took about 3 weeks total days away from home.
Oct 8, 2015 19:40:53 #
I paid $650 for the camera and $69.98 for the three-year warranty. Definitely a good choice to buy the Square Trade policy.
Oct 8, 2015 20:10:33 #
Oct 8, 2015 20:27:24 #
MMC wrote:
When people are discussing buying grey market cameras they every time talking about warranty. I would like to know how often do you need your USA warranty.
3 times. I've used USA warranty
Oct 8, 2015 20:31:24 #
Out of all my cameras that I have had, I only had to send one back for service in the warranty period.
That was an Olympus E-PL1, the 1st Olympus M4/3 camera.
Went out one day to shoot some flowers early in the morning and none of the buttons would respond to input, could not get the camera to do anything. Took out the battery, put back it in, still no response.
Sent it in to Olympus and they fixed whatever the problem was, and never had any other problems with it.
will
That was an Olympus E-PL1, the 1st Olympus M4/3 camera.
Went out one day to shoot some flowers early in the morning and none of the buttons would respond to input, could not get the camera to do anything. Took out the battery, put back it in, still no response.
Sent it in to Olympus and they fixed whatever the problem was, and never had any other problems with it.
will
Oct 8, 2015 20:36:30 #
mikeysaling wrote:
You colonials - why not just take faulty things back to the store ? You are a silly bunch of folk. you buy warrenties that are crap think everything so called 'gray' is rubbish and you love to pay the highest price !!! you don't even realise what the highest prices is - bet you would baulk at the uk prices ! THEN THEN you would think the gray market - which incidentally is not the black market but just a way of avoiding rip offs .
Our laws are a little different here, after a certain amount of time we can not return a product to the retailer. It HAS to go back to the Manufacturer for repair under warranty.
And not all 3rd party warranties are crap either. Square Trade has very good extended warranties at reasonable prices.
will
Oct 8, 2015 22:32:42 #
Tamron 18-270 lens, Sony A-mount. Returned three times before a new lens was sent to me. This one is doing exactly the same thing. Really shy about buying any more Tamron products.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.