On 8/19/2013 11:12 AM, Ken Hauck wrote:
A few months ago I was in Yosemite Park and managed to knock over a tripod,
sending my K20D body and DA 12-24 AL lens crashing onto a rock surface. The
rig landed on the back of the body but the impact tore the lens from the
camera, ripping the lens mount ring out of the body.
After returning from the trip I tried the DA 12-24 AL on my backup K-01 body.
The lens seems to be working OK as it operates correctly and photos look OK but
I'm not 100% sure.
I called CRIS about the K20D and they said they could probably replace the
front molding of the body and it would be working again, at a cost of about
$300.
I have a few questions I'm hoping PDML can help with:
1. Would you spend $300 to repair a K20D or upgrade to a newer camera, either a
K5 or the rumored full frame Pentax? As I don't want to do movies, I hadn't
felt a strong need to upgrade but I do realize the newer bodies have some nice
features.
$300.00 is about what KEH has the K20D going for in EX condition, though
none are available right now. They have a K-7 available for about
$350. So the repair cost is right at the edge of break even. You could
pick up a good used k-5 for about $200 more.
Worry about the FF Pentax when it happens, given the track record of the
645D, I expect to see it sometime in the next decade.
2. What are the chances that the camera internals are OK after this level of
impact - would the body ever be the same? I realize that CRIS will evaluate
the camera and check the internals but I'm still concerned about the potential
for damage.
There's no way of knowing if there's other significant damage but CRIS
being Ricoh's official repair depot means that they'll try to get the
camera as close to original specification as possible, and will give a 6
month guarantee on the repairs.
3. How can I tell if the lens is really OK short of sending it in to CRIS for
evaluation?
You can't really. The only way you'll know is if it fails or the images
captured with it show significant abnormalities. So if it still
produces good images, use it until something breaks and then think about
repair.
4. Any stories of experiences with getting this kind of damage repaired,
especially by CRIS?
No but I've got a similar issue. The card door on my K20D is broken and
the viewfinder glass is cracked, I figure repair would be about what the
camera is worth. It's still usable by holding the door closed with
tape, but changing cards is a PITA. I keep debating weather to send it
in for repair, or simply put that money towards a new K-5.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer and happy shooting!
Regards,
Ken Hauck
--
A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant, and the crazy,
crazier.
- H.L.Mencken
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