Review 4 of 7
Price Paid:
$299.00
from B&H Summary: The Pentax camera and lense (zx-30 body; 50mm, 2.8 macro)I had purchased months ago came with the promise of two rebates: a $10 rebate for the lense, and $20 for the camera body. I mailed the required materials (proof of purchases from box, my address, retail receipts)in two seperate envelopes and waited for what seemed like forever. Nearly a year later, I've yet to receive a check from either Pentax USA or http://www.wheresmyrebate.com (Pentax uses this website to allow rebate status to be "checked".) For the first few months, my account on wmr.com indicated that my rebate had been "approved". Weeks later, the status changed to "mailed" - in essence, this change in so - called status was nothing less than a blatant lie. As mentioned, I never received a check in the mail or otherwise. Numerous Emails to both Pentax and wmr.com were all ignored, except one. The latter email contained a phone number (Pentax). I called and was told that I wasn't in the system and there was nothing they could do.
It seems that any company that handles customer service issues with the willful neglect outlined above would likely abuse customers regardless of the problem: who's to say that your warrantee repair request won't be laughed at as my rebate? I wouldn't trust Pentax, though the zx30 was a decent camera. It certainly wasn't spectacular. The macro lense worked as advertised; most photos were clean within the published minimum focus range (around 7") and mechanically, the glass was sound. Resolution was a notch or two above mediocre throughout the possible range of aperatures, with some general fuzziness evident at and around f2.8 .
Those of you looking for an affordable piece (and I'm sure you are) may want to look into the new Zeiss lenses, some of which are incredibly affordable - especially given the stainless pedigree. Nice, used Contax bodies (which all Zeiss glass was designed to mesh with, or vice versa) can be found for less than two hundred dollars. 50mm, 28mm, and 35mm lenses can be had for about $200-300.
There are too many other products on the market for me recommend Pentax- and their tendency towards downright fraud- a solid nod. Strengths: Decent gear. Nothing more. Weaknesses: Overpriced; rebate fraud. Similar Products Used: Zeiss lenses, Contax bodies. Customer Service: Downright negligent. Worse than negligent.
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