IT IS A SHAME OF PENTAX EUROPE

[teogin]

Dear friends,
I am an owner of a Pentax K10D with the usual back focus problem of this body and the unbelievable stiffness of Pentax to keep the firmware locked.
Although I 've heard of cracked firmware in order to adjust the focus problem, I preferred to send my camera at the official Pentax Service of Greece where I live, on 28th of February, 2010.
Greek Pentax Service is not capable of adjusting this problem (sth which is easy for an amateur hacker), so they sent my camera in Europe.  I do not know where.  Maybe France, or Belgium or wherever....

Today, on 19th of May, after 3 months, I 'm waiting for my camera and they do not know here in Greece to answer me what happened with it.
After 3 months I addressed to buy another second hand Pentax K20D camera (because I didn't have any other digital body), which has the capability to adjust the focus level.  It is a software case very easy for Pentax to change it.

I wonder if they ask me money for repairing, at the same time they will give me my camera back for a problem that the camera had from the beginning, with a horrible service that cannot repair a software focus problem, with incredible Pentax Europe, as they are moving (I don't know if it is true) and without any information service.

As you understand I 'm still waiting for my camera, hoping to take it back at least at the same situation I gave it to them.
I hope that Pentax Administration will stop to consider us as money bringers to them and give us a product with its real options, as e.g. sharper jpg images, unlocked focus adjuster, 50-3200 ISO etc. that Pentax K10D could make for its owners.
They did produce a nice Body and they forgot it in the name of Money! All we are suckers and they are the clever people.
Bill Gaytes tricks of windows also in Digital Camera world.  They give us just little, and then a little more and a little more like cheese to the mouse.

Where is the past that Pentax Producers made wonderful cameras without any secrets for their customers, with honest and full specs?
As you understand, politicians are not the only liers and thieves...

I wish your Pentax bodies to be good, and if you have focus problems try and get the cracked firmware and don't even think of sending your K10D at Pentax Service. Don't even think about it!!!

[rei_vilo]

Bonjour teogin,

I'm sorry for your camera. I experienced something similar with a DA* 50-135 SDM lens I sent to repair: the AF motor was no longer running.

It went back from repair and I proceeded to a test on a sunny Sunday. Something strange  : the SDM powered auto-focus is faster than before.

The SDM motor failure is mentioned in various forums, with some pentaxians being very vocal. Compiling the feed-back, SDM lenses seem to be very sensitive to 'impact damage'. Since I take great care of my gear, I'm surprised (understatement) .

I purchased one of the first lens available in France. Maybe quality wasn't on top.

So I asked Pentax France for more information about the failure and the repair, but the answer I received included no specific data about my lens.

Just as you, I rather disappointed by the after-sales service Pentax provides

[teogin]

Dear friend,
I have been trying to persuade people of Pentax to get full frame lenses. Only full frame in order to be ready for the future.  I cannot admit that a small lens would be good as it will not be for ever.
And you can understand what I mean if you have both Pentax lenses FA 28-70/2.8 and DA 17-50/2.8 and see the construction quality.
Past, unfortunately, looks better then the present and do you know why?  Because People were better and more honest than today.
And the pity is that they do not communicate with their customers. This is ridiculous.  The customer is the control and the future for your plans, not the money.  Happy customers = happy company!

[fotaki]

Yasou teogin!

After sales service for Pentax or Samsung can be very difficult in Europe - more so in a country like Greece. As you probably already know Pentax do not have an official presence in Greece but rely on an Importer/Distributor for all after sales support and backup. (most likely Salcofot SA) It means that there are unlikely to be any Pentax technically qualified or trained people able to handle your problem at a local level. It's my guess your camera was sent to Pentax France or Germany for attention. Remember that in today's world, Pentax is a relatively small player and Greece only a minor market. It's therefore no surprise for the poor service.

You are in Saloniki with Pentax, I am near Athina with Samsung  but we both have the same problems with support. My GX10 and GX20 were purchased in the UK luckily but if I had serious problems with either camera, I would have to return them to the UK to get decent servicing carried out.   

Regarding the Focus debug s/w, I've got this working on my GX10 without any probs. I suggest you try it as it isn't very difficult to install and works well.

http://photographyrulez.b...cus-error-adjustment.html

http://www.pentaxforums.c...debug-mode-unleashed.html

http://ricehigh.blogspot....ccess-debug-modes-of.html

Kali tixhi!

[teogin]

Yasou patrida!
I believe in Pentax or Samsung and I think that if you believe you can make miracles.  If Pentax has the role of David in front of Goliath (Nikon or Canon) I believe that it can beat them (it did it with Pentax K10D and Pentax K20D).
They could send 2-3 people to be qualified or Pentax Japan could send technicians to Europe Pentax points. 
But it could be easier to unlock the configuration menu. So easy...
But I 'm still waiting for my Pentax K10D and then I will see what happens.  If they managed to repair it then no problem except for the delay of course.

I wonder if they ask me money for a genuine problem they ought to have it adjusted before send the models to the market, for an unbelievable delay, as well.

PENTAX UNLOCK THE MENU or just GIVE US THE RIGHT TO ADJUST THE FRONT/BACK FOCUS, as well GIVE US A BETTER JPG ALGORITHM.

And of course we will still wait for a Full Frame body!!!

Kisses from Greece.