RD-1 Dead Shutter, USA Warranty Service?

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saxshooter

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Hi, finally happened to me, my Epson RD-1, serial # 45xx, bought May 26, 2005 under USA warranty, has stopped working. Shutter seems to have jammed.

Sometimes I can advance and pressing the shutter button I hear/feel a small click but the shutter does not trip. It is not a battery issue or a card issue.

Already sent Epson a msg through their website. The camera is registered (but 6 days left on the warranty).

Anyone have recent experience at how they are handling warranty repair/replacement?

Anyone have a direct number to someone who would handle this? I'll ring them Monday.

Thanks. Charlie
 
Consider yourself lucky it died before the expiry of the warranty!
I has happened to me, after 5 months, so I got my camera repaired in warranty, 5 days turnaround in the UK, dunno in the US.

BTW have you ever used third party batteries on yours?
 
Saxshooter
Please keep us posted as to your experience in with Epson. I wonder what while happen to warranty claims once Epson uses up their supply of stock replacements or reserves them to be converted to R-D1s's
I have never got a clear answer as to if they are actually capable of repairing a camera or they simply replace them with a new/old stock camera. Their has been some talk of moving the hot shoe, which has the serial #, from one camera to another to give the appearance of repair, not replacement. But I don't know myself.
It would be interesting to put an identifing mark somewhere on the camera to see if you get YOUR camera back. I know I would want MY camera back as I went to a considerable amount of effort to get a good sample

Good luck in Epsonland
Rex
 
Saxshooter
BTW, you dont have to send in the warranty card for a warranty to be valid. The original sales receipt is the defining document or "proof of purchase". The warranty card is really a marketing gimmack to collect customer data.

Rex
 
Yeah they sure did get my data, as I posted a few months ago, I now am on Epson's spam list but haven't received any of the promised items upon registration (not that I need it). Re batteries, I have a freshly charged Epson battery in the camera.

I will keep you all posted. I also wondered if it will be replaced with a RD-1s but my guess is no. Anyhow, after June 15 they will all be the same camera anyway with the firmware upgrade?

If anyone has a number or contact, I will try to fasttrack this warranty service.

Thanks, Charlie
 
And folks here jumped all over me when I pointed out that they themselves have created the negative QC record for this piece of gear! :bang:
 
copake_ham said:
And folks here jumped all over me when I pointed out that they themselves have created the negative QC record for this piece of gear! :bang:
Click to expand...
I've got to finally break my silence regarding George's comments.
Everyone here knows that the R-D1 is a GREAT camera. The QC is no better or worse than any other camera out there. Is that clear? The QC is no better or worse than any other camera out there!!! The ONLY REAL problem is with Epson the COMPANY, not with R-D1 the CAMERA. If Epson the company had a service program similar to Leica or Canon or Nikon or whoever, there would be NO problem and folks could buy R-D1's without trepidation, just like people buy Bessas from Cameraquest without QC concerns because Stephen Gandy will support what he sells.
Since Epson's policies regarding the R-D1 are so poor, folks are looking for "near-perfect" R-D1's in order to make the best of a bad support situation. This does not reflect at all on the camera itself, but on the company that is doing such a poor job of supporting their product. BTW their track record with their main product line (printers) isn't that great either.
So to be absolutely clear, regardless of one's ability to interpret any of the commentary on this forum, it is Epson itself that has made purchasing an R-D1 such a difficult proposition.
George if you'd like to make some informed comments on the R-D1 from now on, then come by my place in Claverack and try mine. IT ROCKS!
Charlie good luck with Epson USA. They're nice enough but unfortunately they must comply with their crappy corporate culture. Let us know how it goes, and if you find out anything new about post-warranty service please share here.
-Carlos
 
Carlos: Thanks. I've already logged the issue on their website, so hopefully they won't drag their feet and send me a return authorization number before the 26th (when the one year mark arrives). I am guessing I will be without camera for at least 1-2 weeks.

brucek: yes, there is that number on the back of the manual. But I assume it is a general number and they are closed until Monday. I was inquiring if anyone had a better number/contact person for those who have gone through the process.

Will keep you all posted.

And yes, it is a GREAT camera. Awful support. This is the tragedy about the whole thing.

Charlie
 
Carlos: I am an enthusastic owner and user of the RD-1, but I'm not sure I would go as far as you do in your assessment of the camera's QC off the line. Given that there were only 10,000 units produced (and those sold was a subset of that), it seems to me that there were quite a lot of complaints about the camera. Sean Reid has an interesting hypothesis, that final rangefinder adjustment was done before mechanical units went to Epson/Seiko for installation of firmware/other. Whatever the case, and as accurate as your comments about Epson's puzzling customer service decisions are, I think it is fair to say that the production/marketing/support process at a company that does nothing but sell cameras (Nikon, or Canon, although they do many other things) has set customer expectations, and Epson's initial forray into this market has not been without its hiccups. I would lay at least part of the blame on the manufacturing piece of the puzzle. Now, having said this, I love mine and enjoy it in many ways.

Charlie: good luck with the repair/warranty process. As the owner of a camera with an s/n very close to yours, I would be interested in more data about your use of the camera (estimated number of pictures, quixotic physical abuse, shooting habits etc.)
 
Benjamin: The camera has been in a Luigi half case since the beginning so it has been well protected but I have used it a lot, although never abused it. The shutter probably has around 16,000 actuations. I am guessing the weak link in all of this is the Cosina made mechanism. But I regard my use as normal use (I only use it on the weekends to take pictures of my young son) and have not used it professionally at all.

Regards, Charlie
 
Benjamin Marks said:
Carlos: I am an enthusastic owner and user of the RD-1, but I'm not sure I would go as far as you do in your assessment of the camera's QC off the line. Given that there were only 10,000 units produced (and those sold was a subset of that), it seems to me that there were quite a lot of complaints about the camera. Sean Reid has an interesting hypothesis, that final rangefinder adjustment was done before mechanical units went to Epson/Seiko for installation of firmware/other. Whatever the case, and as accurate as your comments about Epson's puzzling customer service decisions are, I think it is fair to say that the production/marketing/support process at a company that does nothing but sell cameras (Nikon, or Canon, although they do many other things) has set customer expectations, and Epson's initial forray into this market has not been without its hiccups. I would lay at least part of the blame on the manufacturing piece of the puzzle. Now, having said this, I love mine and enjoy it in many ways.
Click to expand...
Benjamin,
Even the major camera makers have brought to market problematic gear, including Leica (for example their "downgraded" M6 viewfinder/rangefinder that was prone to blacked-out rf patches and dust/dirt entering the mechanism). Whenever oversights or mistakes like these occur, they ought to be rectified by the maker in a manner that is fair to the consumer. "Perfect" products are not often introduced. That is why there are warranties and service programs, by law. This is true in any industry.
If you really consider this fairly, the Epson R-D1 is a very fine and well made instrument that the vast majority of users are quite content with. The problems that some of us have experienced are nothing that a decent service program couldn't handle.
The fact is that if Epson would adequately support the R-D1 there would be absolutely no reservations in purchasing this camera even at $3000 each.
So even though the R-D1 is obviously not perfectly adjusted or checked when assembled, this is clearly an Epson problem and not anything inherent to the R-D1. Any decent company could do whatever is needed to rectify this situation. Are you aware that Epson absolutely refuses to cooperate with anyone who has expressed a desire to professionally service the R-D1?
George has made a point that it is we here on RFF that have given the R-D1 a bad rep for less-than-stellar QC. Your comments prove his point. My point is stop blaming this very well thought out and engineered camera and keep the pressure on Epson. The upcoming firmware upgrade is proof that at least someone there is listening and cares a bit. If we can help convince them to cooperate with independent professional repair services by providing parts, manuals and support logistics, then this has all been worth it.
Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.
-Carlos

BTW, I honestly believe that if they can get their act together, they will sell MORE R-D1's AFTER the digital M is released. Everybody is going to want the digital M, even those Canon fools I mean users, because it will allow them to do things in a way they can only dream of with their EOS dslr's. Leica digital R competes too directly with other dslr's. Digital M will be in a category of its own. And the R-D1 will benefit as a half-priced alternative that complements the digital M nicely. But only if they stop treating the R-D1 as a bastard child.
 
OK, just got off the phone with Epson repair (562-276-4303) and spoke with a very nice representative. I was e-mailed instructions of how to return it to them via FedEx. They were not able to tell me how long would it take, although the rep told me that these are handled "high priority".

Will keep you all posted.

Regards, Charlie
 
Charlie
If you get the opportunity see if you can find out what their post-warranty policy is. It may be just the word of one service rep but it may at least be a clue.
-Carlos
 
Spoke to a representative at Epson Warranty Service (562-276-1350) and they said they received my camera on Tuesday (I knew this from the FedEx tracking). She could not give me any other information as to the status of service/repair, only to say that they usually turn them around in 7-10 days.

When asked if I would be notified when the work was done and the camera was on the way back, she said "no" and that it would just show up on my doorstep (those were my words). She told me to ring them next Friday to check.

As to Carlos' question about out of warranty service, she suggested phoning Epson Tech Support and they would recommend what to do/how much it would cost to fix (but I assume this is a stock answer to such a question, since they probably do service their printers, scanners in house and not this camera).

Will keep you all posted.

Charlie
 
loretdem said:
Benjamin,
[snip]
BTW, I honestly believe that if they can get their act together, they will sell MORE R-D1's AFTER the digital M is released. Everybody is going to want the digital M, even those Canon fools I mean users, because it will allow them to do things in a way they can only dream of with their EOS dslr's. Leica digital R competes too directly with other dslr's. Digital M will be in a category of its own. And the R-D1 will benefit as a half-priced alternative that complements the digital M nicely. But only if they stop treating the R-D1 as a bastard child.
Click to expand...

Canon fool here. :D

I'm really enjoying using the R-D1 which I bought as a backup for the hoped for digital M. I feel sure many MD users will follow the same path. Opportunities available to a discrete rangefinder (where an SLR would be innapropriate) are too good to be missed. If only Epson would get their act together in time for the MD release.

Bob.
 
Last edited:
Bob Parsons said:
Canon fool here. :D

I'm really enjoying using the R-D1 which I bought as a backup for the hoped for digital M. I feel sure many MD users will follow the same path. Opportunities available to a discrete rangefinder (where an SLR would be innapropriate) are too good to be missed. If only Epson would get their act together in time for the MD release.

Bob.
Click to expand...
...another CF :D

I doubt we'll hear much more from Epson. Look at the medium format market; Hasselblad is virtually the only game in town now with Mamiya and Contax gone. It's serious shakedown time in the pro photography market, and to me it looks like Epson have got cold feet about it.
 
I'm new around here so be gentle and don't take offense.

I currently own cameras with a combined age of 295 years, give or take a couple weeks. All of the shutters are working. All of the shutters have worked since new. None of the shutters have ever required any work whatsoever outside of a normal CLA, and only two of my cameras have been treated to a CLA. The two oldest are a Konica RF from 1950 (+ or -) and a Brownie Hawkeye from 1954 or 1955. Both are in working order.

Cameras that quit working in less than a year have very serious problems way down deep in the R&D, pre-production testing and manufacture.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :D
 
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