Talked with Epson's Advanced Product Support - APS

[driggett]

I talked with someone at Epson's Advanced Product Support - APS yesterday. It was an interesting and informative conversation. He was located in Long Beach, CA. He requested of me to send an email to him listing my problems and the links to threads of this forum so that he could discuss the problems with the techs in Indiana and upper management. He suggested that I might be able to go to Calumet in SF and try out a new camera. If it was to my liking buy it and Epson would reimburse me. He needs to get the okay for this and I would want written proof that they would reimburse me. The other suggestion was to send it off to DAG and have him fix it but he was concerned that if something went wrong with the repair then what would happen and who would be responsible? I hope to hear back from him in the next couple of days on a course of action.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[chametzoo]

Good work Chris

Good work Chris

Chris....I've been reading this forum the last week or so and have found it a gold mine of information on the R-D1 and it's problems. This is my first post. I think what you are doing will be a big help in understanding these problems. I went through two R-D1's and had close range focus problems with both. Since hearing about DAG doing what appear to be succesful adjustments to RD's, I am thinking about maybe giving a third one a crack. The second one I returned to Epson for a cash refund. I may be a glutton for punishment but the news that DAG is successfully straightening some of these problem cameras out is encouraging....and...I really want a digital rangefinder. My lenses are: Leica Elmarit 28mm[3rd v.], Rokkor 40mm CLE, Leica Elmar 90mm collapsible. All had significant front or back focus (an inch at least) at wide apertures. I'm an experienced photographer with good eyesight, so focusing a rangefinder is not a problem for me. If you are interested, you can get more history of my plight at this Photo.net link:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00AsvB

Keep us up to date as to what you find out. You can also submit my link as fodder. It's not easy to get through to them, but when you do, Epson has been quite accommodating and friendly...but what they need to do is hurry up and figure out what's up with these cameras! Perhaps they should start by creating a contract with DAG and giving new R-D1 owners 30 days to test the camera and send it to DAG for adjustment, free of charge. Probably better for them than dealing with all these exchanges and refunds.

Michael

 

[driggett]

Talked to my rep at Epson's APS today and here is what he had to say. This forum has been of great help about raising the issues and moving them from the back burner to the front burner. He seems to think changes will be made in terms of customer support. They will monitor this group now.

He was particularly interested in Sean's meeting and has been trying to get a hold of Amato to see what had happened. He read pfogle's report on changing the RF and they will be passing this on to Indiana to see what can be done to service camera's in the USA.

In my case they are willing for me to go to Calumet and try out a new R-D1 and if it is good buy it then they will cut me a check for my current R-D1 after I have sent it back. If I can not find a good R-D1 at Calumet then we will have to see what will happen maybe a trip to DAG.

I plan on going Friday morning with my laptop, carpenters level and try out the camera. It will be quite a sight in there come Friday morning.
I will post my results Friday afternoon.


Cheers,
Chris

 

[chametzoo]

Nice going, Chris. I wish I could test one out before buying, but the closest dealer is 200 miles away in New York. I suppose that a retailer with a 7 or 14 day grace period can accomplish the same thing....but the shipping charges add up!..Michael

 

[driggett]

Michael,
Two words, Road Trip! Grab some buddies and a keg and have fun.
Seriously how about a nice weekend in NYC?
Cheers,
Chris

 

[driggett]

Well I bit the bullet and ordered one from B&H yesterday. It arrived today and as I unwrapped the package and gazed upon the serial number my heart sank. The serial number was in between my 2nd and 3rd cameras (193x and 192x). I think it is funny that my last three camera's serial numbers only had a difference of 9 between them. I opened it anyway and proceeded to test it out. Yes it had drunken frame-lines. I guess the assembly worker had one too many the night before. I tried the 90mm f/2 lens on it and my heart leaped. The focusing was dead on with it. My 3rd one had a problem of close focusing with only the 90mm. I checked out the test shots on the computer and yes they were in focus. So now what to do? I have decided to keep the new camera and send back the old one for a refund. I guess I can live with drunken frame-lines and maybe in the near future DAG or Epson will come out with a fix or a recall. I do not have the shutter problems with the camera as reported by Sean in another thread.
Cheers,
Chris