Score One For Sony
Last week, my recently purchased Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z5 started taking pictures like this:
That second one is a rather cool effect, but not the desired one. Resetting the camera and changing SD cards didn’t help matters. However, I purchased it in early December 2005 (via Amazon.com). I figured it should be eligible for warranty service … and it was.
Then I learned that Konica-Minolta exited the camera biz at the end of March 2006, and Sony was now handling support and repairs for the Z5!
I braced for the worst. I called Sony and explained the problem. The representative took time to clearly understand said problem and directed me on shipping the camera for repair. Everything was prepped online in a matter of minutes. I sent the camera to their repair center on Tuesday the 13th … and found it waiting for me upon arriving home from vacation (today, the 16th).
Upon seeing the box on my porch I was slightly alarmed. (Oh no, they never repaired it.) Well whaddaya know - all’s well!
Between the fast turnaround time and how neatly the camera was returned to me (with repair details), I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. It reminds me of how well Apple Computer took care of my PowerBook G4’s SuperDrive repair. From phone call to final outcome, it was the same quality of experience.
For the record, Sony used the services of Precision Camera Repair in Enfield CT. Kudos to both Sony and PCR!
Anyhoo, this unexpected surprise means I can now take digital pix of tomorrow’s all-afternoon/evening (and ninth annual) Summerjam in Englishtown, NJ. Atchally, I might as well plug it right now:
Summerjam is a cookout with potluck foodstuffs, homebrew bevs and live music. I’ll be on drums, including one set with the eponymously-titled Summerjam Prog Rock All-Stars. Contact me for info and directions, especially if you like the songs of ’70s era Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Kansas, Renaissance and other such fare.
UPDATE: Fourteen photos later, the DiMAGE Z5 started acting up again! Same issues as before. I called Sony back, and I’m happy to report the treatment and understanding was completely on par. Precision Camera Repair took comparatively longer this time (around 18 days door-to-door) but it was obviously needed - and worth the wait. Almost 30 pix in and counting, using all manner of camera settings, and there’s no sign of recurring trouble.
