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Sunday, November 07, 2010

Scratched Sensors of Brand New K-5 Units

This user reports that both his K-5 and his friend's new K-5 have a visible scratch on the sensor:-

http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=949406&extra=page%3D1
(in Traditional Chinese, Google English Translation Here)

It is told that the scratches appear on different positions on the sensor of his unit against his friend's, though. But the worst thing is that the scratch is visible when pictures are taken at small apertures that are smaller than f/11, say, f/13. And he actually posts some of those sample photos in his opening post above and they just look so terrible! >:={

Btw, that user feels rather upset and frustrated after he consulted the local Pentax service centre and was informed that it would not be covered by the Warranty, as it is just a scratch after all. But the user does feel that it is totally not justified as the scratch is surely not caused by himself, as he knows well himself! He further told that his friend is luckier as the same problem was discovered since he asked for a check from his friend but whose unit was still under the first 10-day return period so that he could just arrange a replacement with his shop. (But then who will be the next unlucky guy? Just think about where that replaced unit would go!)

In fact, these two cases are not anything isolated regarding the Pentax QC. As although I did not tell that publicly before, my brand new Olive K-m Special Edition did suffer the same as it was found shortly that the sensor of mine did have a considerably small but obvious scratch on it either, just after about twenty day of use and I am almost sure that that scratch was from the factory but by no means was caused by my normal use. Look at the photos below:-





The second image above is the crop of the first picture to show more clearly for how the scratch is actually located on the sensor. Although it is quite visible, yet the "dust" effect is not much visible on the actual pictures and thus I just opted to ignore the issue after all, unlike the reported K-5 cases above. (Still lucky me!)

As for that new K-5 victim above, he actually also owned a K-x and K-7 before but did never see any similar problem, which was the same for me for not having seen anything similar with my previous units of Pentax DSLRs like the *ist Dx and the K100D.

Indeed, I believe the scratch is on the AA (Anti-Aliasing) filter of the sensor, which is very hard actually - which is harder than typical glass with refractive index of 1.5! (just believe it or not!) As such, I won't believe that any normal use (or just without the first touching on the sensor for my case) could cause a scratch, unless the scratch was just born from the factory! But then, whose factory did the Evil come from? The camera maker? The sensor maker? Who knows? But one thing is for sure, the end-users suffer and thing is not arguable and it must be classified as "user errors" after all ( as the users can by no means prove that it is just not their fault! >:-( ).

Update (11-8):-

1.
Yet another K-5 user has just reported the same issue with his K-5. The serial number of his unit is very close, both are with head #382731X. He also posted the image taken with his unit and the scratch appears to be very similar. As such, it has been verified to be a production problem now! So, for all potential K-5 buyers, just beware!

2. As in the latest Post #135 by the OP of the above thread, that poor K-5 owner is still fighting (to death, he said) for a brand new replacement of his body. I just wish all the best to him although I am really not optimistic after all, according to my various previous different experiences to deal with the HK local Pentax agent and their principal behind, i.e., Pentax HQs in Japan (Now Hoya). The contact points at Japan usually just opted to ignore my emails or even mails sent directly to them and they just never bothered to handle any direct complaints from foreign users! >:-\


Read Also:-

Ten Reasons for Thinking Twice before Decided on a K-5..

Some Reported K-5 Faults (Defects and/or Bugs)

My K-r First Hands-ons (Tested Twice)

K-r Defect Reports

K-x' Durability/Production Quality is Just a Joke!

The Quality and Warranty Crises (Re: K-x and Pentax)

Comments (25)

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Toomas Kadarpik's avatar

Toomas Kadarpik · 749 weeks ago

Market is nervous, lot of pressure in production lines or someone in the shop made it happen, dropped screwdriver into sensor. I am quite firm that all cameras are checked against this when they are coming out of the factory. Of course there are exceptions. Buyer must always try dust warning if buying whatever camera or brand. You are again interpreting it as Pentax problem but this is definitely wrong way to solve problems. World is full of accidents we can not avoid those.
wow.... you REALLY hate Pentax gazooma!
j viviano's avatar

j viviano · 749 weeks ago

Pentax QC is not 100%? There must be some mistake. No Leica, Nikon, Canon, Sony, or Olympus camera has ever been released with a manufacturing defect!

Rice, once again you present yourself as a fool :).
Never mind the service centre, why doesnt he take it back to the Retailer???
2 replies · active 749 weeks ago
Michael A.'s avatar

Michael A. · 749 weeks ago

It must be more fun to whine about it than to do the obvious... :o) K-5 is available just about 2 weeks now, so retail should exchange it with no problem. Maybe this normal process doesn't exist where the OP lives....
How about if the K-5 has already been marketed for two months or so later on then? :-o
Just out of curiosity, which post did he say 'the local Pentax service centre and was informed that it would not be covered by the Warranty, as it is just a scratch after all.'? But I believe at the post #116, he said that the local Pentax service center will replace it with a new unit as long as stock available...
5 replies · active 749 weeks ago
Rice - are you LYING?
Post #116?? He said he reverted to deal with the *retailer* and was *still* fighting for a replacement and nothing had been committed yet! This is what is told for the path of referral: Retailer -> Pentax CS department -> Pentax Sales Team -> and then WHO?? Pentax Japan? Hoya?? What a lengthy process, I have to say! Would Hoya need to refer it to Sony then? Indeed, I don't think it to be anything optimistic at all!

Do read near the beginning of the thread for the first few pages, the original poster shared that he had already phoned in, but was informed a scratch would not be warranted.

P.S. Match, please don't tell me days later that he was finally offered a replacement and then hint that I have reported something wrong! I do wholeheartedly hope the poor Pentaxian can have his problem satisfactorily resolved, ultimately.
This is again non-news. Somebody buys a camera and has a problem with it.

He tries Pentax service, which is the wrong thing, because this seems to be a manufacturing fault, and he should talk to his dealer first (normal procedure, since he closed the purchase contract with the dealer). Very likely, he will get a replacement.

SO WHAT????

Rice, the K-5 is the BEST APS-C camera there is on the market. It SURPASSES your Canon FF in low-light performance, it is compact, well built, compatible with millions of existing lenses and a nice range of newly available lenses. HALLELUJAH !

What on EARTH are you nagging about? Wouldn't this be the time when you discover you like Pentax at least a little bit?

C
#116 was talking he was promised by the CS for a replacement unit? It seems that until now he has not get the new unit yet but hopefully he can get a new one finally.

I do agree that the CS in Hong Kong is bad, but I know some of the CS in the other countries are good.
So he was offered a replacement after all, but you don't see any need to mention that in your blog entry? You prefer to spread FUD rather than provide information? RH, let me guess, you don't sleep well at night, do you?
mrgreycard's avatar

mrgreycard · 749 weeks ago

Camera shake makes it seem a lot bigger then it is.
also how do you know what element is scratched.. there are many of different materials http://www.sensorcleaning.com/lowpassfilter.php
1 reply · active 749 weeks ago
By looking at the reflection, it could be seen by my naked eyes that it was on the surface.
RiceHigh BACDAFUCUP's avatar

RiceHigh BACDAFUCUP · 749 weeks ago

Damn, Rice Dog, you are such a hater, man. Anytime when you are buying anything at any Chinese stores, there is a chance their service suck, just a reminder!!!

defect items are all over, you are happened to be picking on Pentax, why don't you just blog for something else, maybe you will love Olympus or Samsung for a few years and start bashing them??????????

dude, I think you are tripping on something.

Don't be pissed that if Pentax Japan would not give you any answers on your issues, and do realize that!

You do show your true color when comes to your judgement on certain camera brand and bitterness on them ignoring your letters to them.......

You are world Class
3 replies · active 748 weeks ago
You deserved for a ban for what you've written. Bye, boy!
He is not insulting. I've seen worse in this very same thread...
Just remind me who was complaining about censorship @PentaxForums?
The pig could find mud everywhere.
it's a K-m :(
Sorry! This CASE is REAL CASE!
Im that guy Form HongKong!
3 replies · active 748 weeks ago
That is unfortunate go to your retailer have it replace and enjoy.
justcurious's avatar

justcurious · 748 weeks ago

How long have you had the camera?.. and please give an english "summary" of your situation.
And RH what does refractive index have to do w / hardness?
quote "Hence, the refractive index of water is 1.33"..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index
justcurious's avatar

justcurious · 748 weeks ago

addendum...........
In general, the refractive index of a glass increases with its density. However, there does not exist an overall linear relation between the refractive index and the density for all silicate and borosilicate glasses. A relatively high refractive index and low density can be obtained with glasses containing light metal oxides such as Li2O and MgO, while the opposite trend is observed with glasses containing PbO and BaO as seen in the diagram at the right.
Rice, why don't you update the he has already get the replacement?

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