po-stit
Member
Hi guys, i have a question and i hope someone can help me. I bought a GRD II from ebay not long ago (less then 3months) and the lens already broken on me =s I mean, i turned the camera on, and the camera did not focus, turn it off and the lens jammed. Now the camera makes an horrible noise from the lens.
Is there a easy solution to the problem? Where can i service it? I'm in europe, more precisely in Portugal. Anyone has any idea of the costs connected to the repair?
Thank you
Is there a easy solution to the problem? Where can i service it? I'm in europe, more precisely in Portugal. Anyone has any idea of the costs connected to the repair?
Thank you
schaki
Established
This might be covered by warranty as to me it sounds like the camera not have been dropped. A copy of the original receipt is enough, at least for me when i sent in a GRDI for dust issues not very long ago. If you don't have the receipt you can always try and explain the situation for the person on Ebay which you bought the GRDII from and tell him that you need the receipt, if there still are warranty. If you like me was lucky to have bought one of the first two GRDs which have been sold enough late to still have warranty.
Even if the camera is out of warranty, there might be a solution which can be worth to try before sending it in to service. I've read about very a similar problem with a GRDIII which have a newer, faster 28mm lens and a also a Ricoh Caplio GX100.
In the following thread, rondom shared a solution which worked not only for his GRDIII but also Paul Midland's GX100.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1013&message=40076559&q=graveyard&qf=m
Replace the lens with a new all new lens assembly which also includes the sensor (Still the same old specification Sony 10mp sensor) would probably cost 119 euro if it is in Germany and there is unfortunately no good warranty that the new lens assembly are a good 'copy', free from bad sample variation and I can only say from my two experiences that the Convar repair-service have very wide-stretched tolerance (way wider than it would be allowed to be imo) when them make the final tests to check that everything is alright before them call it a good and complete repair.
With one of my other Ricohs, The Caplio 400G wide, I sent it in yet another time to get a faulty Sony sensor replaced with a good one, which I finally got. But I also demanded to get the zoom replaced which them replaced earlier and the whole lens assembly when I paid 119 euro.
The reason I asked to get it replaced again, within warranty from the repair I paid for, was because the new zoom suffered from some quite terrible softness towards the utter edges and in the corners as well - Definitely not what a good copy of that zoom is up to. Even though the 400G wide was based on a inexpensive model, the Ricoh Caplio G4 wide, it still have the very same zoom which performs nicely, except from chromatic aberrations, also called CA which sometimes can be problematic in high contrast breakings.
Anyway, even after inspection, Convar service refused to replace that lens assembly, claimed that it was within their tolerance of sample variation, leaving my very frustrated after having paid to have my lovely silent 'tool' repaired.
Luckily it is not very hard to replace the lens assembly and sensor on a 400G wide or G4 wide and I didn't have to wait too long until an inexpensive G4 wide showed up on Ebay which I could buy. It had a good copy of that zoom so now I finally have a well working silent tool again.
Only small problem is that the green AF confirmation light keep twinkle even when the focus is spot on right object. At least I can live with that
The two thread regarding my so far two, soon to be three repairs.
First is about about 'out of warranty repairs regarding my 400G wide an now also the GX100 which hopefully arrives from the service during this week.
In that thread there are a link to a previous thread which was removed, probably on a request from either Ricoh or the Convar service in Germany to try and cover some not very good repairs which some users shared after that the threadstarter wrote about his experience which actually turned out well in the end.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1013&message=40258631
The other is about 'within warranty repairs'
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1013&message=40501974
While I and some others have had quite bad luck, tried to get repairs well done by the Convar service, there are many which have had very good experiences also. Only you can decide however it is worth 119 euro to get it repaired or not. I don't know what used GRDIIs or GRDIII, if you want the faster lens, in OK condition go for on Ebay.
Actually I have not kept very good track of it or any of the other in the GRD-series except for GRDI. I'm not tempted by the increased NR in the newer ones which can't be completely turned off and neither overly interested in raw. So I chose to stay with GRDI.
po-stit
Member
Sorry for the late response.
S
oo, do you think if i send my camera for repair it would cost me 119euro even if the lens needs to be substituted?
I really love the GRD but as a student can't afford a new one neither a used camera from ebay. GRD II are still a little bit expensive.
Anyway, just one more thing. After the repair do i get any kind of warranty over the repair?
Anyone sent his/her Ricoh to service to Germany? Any more thought's ?
S
oo, do you think if i send my camera for repair it would cost me 119euro even if the lens needs to be substituted?
I really love the GRD but as a student can't afford a new one neither a used camera from ebay. GRD II are still a little bit expensive.
Anyway, just one more thing. After the repair do i get any kind of warranty over the repair?
Anyone sent his/her Ricoh to service to Germany? Any more thought's ?
schaki
Established
Yes. At least it cost me 119 euro to get the zoom replaced on my Ricoh 400G wide.
I assume that dust problem should be covered by warranty on the new zoom. But that warranty is only for the lens assembly and the sensor. Not for the rest of the camera.
po-stit
Member
Oh, I see. Do you know how long the warranty lasts?
I guess I'm going to send the camera to Germany. I love my GRD.
I guess I'm going to send the camera to Germany. I love my GRD.