Nissin i40 Flash WARNING

[Photo Pete]

A warning for anyone who is considering buying the Nissin i40 flash unit. I suspect that this will be a generic defect with the unit rather than a issue with my particular sample, although it would be good for other users to contribute to help confirm this.

The text markings on the unit's dials and buttons are of poor quality and, with my sample, have rubbed off through contact with the inside of my camera bag (soft fabric lining) over a period of approximately 6-8 weeks. Once the text has started to rub off it is possible to rub it off completely by further (gentle) rubbing with your finger (finger, not finger nail!).

The flash unit has no LCD screen and so the markings on the buttons are the only way to tell what the flash settings are set to. This issue makes the operation of the flash a real problem.







--
Have Fun
Photo Pete

 

[MrFresno]

Did you contact Nissin and share this photo with them? I would like to hear how they respond to this as I was planning to buy this flash (when it is released for Fuji). If they don't take care of an issue like this, then I would quickly lose interest in their products.

 

[quezra]

Did you contact Nissin and share this photo with them? I would like to hear how they respond to this as I was planning to buy this flash (when it is released for Fuji). If they don't take care of an issue like this, then I would quickly lose interest in their products.

Same here. Is it a common problem with Nissin flashes though? It sure makes the flash look cheap (or maybe extremely overpriced).

 

[Photo Pete]

Did you contact Nissin and share this photo with them? I would like to hear how they respond to this as I was planning to buy this flash (when it is released for Fuji). If they don't take care of an issue like this, then I would quickly lose interest in their products.

I'm currently in the process of contacting Nissin via the supplier / camera store. I'll hopefully have a response sometime in the coming week.

I am still hopeful that this could be a problem with a particular batch (my unit was one of the very first batches released for micro 4/3). It is a very competent and simple to use flash unit and it would be a shame to have to go for something else because of an issue like this.

 

[HymanRoth]

Clear nail gloss applied sparingly. Problem solved.

 

[Photo Pete]

Clear nail gloss applied sparingly. Problem solved.

Should be simple for Nissin to correct then
--
Have Fun
Photo Pete

 

[Red Boar]

Clear nail gloss applied sparingly. Problem solved.

Rigging a new retail product shouldn't be necessary...hopefully Nissin will fix the problem before sending any more out.

 

[Julius]

Have you ever heard from Nissin about this problem and if you did what was their response?

--
Julius
http://www.pbase.com/jkovatch

 

[Photo Pete]

Have you ever heard from Nissin about this problem and if you did what was their response?

 

[absoluutbeginner]

Bugger ..ive just bought one !

Well..... lets by the nail polish then....

Any better suggestions then nail polish ?

Kind regards

 

[Photo Pete]

Bugger ..ive just bought one !

Well..... lets by the nail polish then....

Any better suggestions then nail polish ?

Kind regards

I'd just use it without modifying it at all... it could be that mine is a bad copy. Also, painting anything over the surface is likely to invalidate the warranty. If it fails then decide if you want another or want to return it and get something else. If it doesn't fail then just continue to enjoy it.

I'm not a big fan of buying things to modify. I think the product should be right in the first place and it's down to the manufacturer to sort out any faults.

I'll let you all know what response I get back from Nissin and the UK distributor.

 

[Rudolf]

Bugger ..ive just bought one !

Well..... lets by the nail polish then....

Any better suggestions then nail polish ?

Kind regards

I wouldn't apply nail polish as it could have an adverse chemical reaction with the ink, The reason for the failure in the first place could be that they used the wrong thinner with the ink for it to bond with the plastic. Placing an adhesive screen protector over the figuring may be a better solution

 

[Photo Pete]

I received the following response from Nissin today.

Thank you for your mail and using Nissin i40 for Four Thirds.

Our local distributor Kenro have contact to us about your case on yesterday. For sure that the printing quality is not perfect on your unit. This case is covered by warranty terms. Service engineer in Kenro will contact to you and assist for exchange. This defective unit will return to our factory for further analysis.

As we didn’t found the same issue in our inventory, and the same dial is shared with Canon and Nikon version. We trust that this case will be one of the particular case in early batch. To ensure that this problem is solved for you. Kenro will do exchange to you with the unit form later production.

Welcome to contact to us or Kenro for further assist.

Thank you again for your supporting.

Hopefully the issue is, as they say, due to the flash unit being from an early batch. I will be exchanging this with another version and let you all know how it goes... but I guess the proof will not be out until I've had it several weeks. In any event it is good that Nissin have provided such a prompt response and seem to be keen to address the issue (a lot of camera manufacturers could learn from that approach).

Anyone else with a Nissin i40 experienced the same issue?

 

[quezra]

I received the following response from Nissin today.

Thank you for your mail and using Nissin i40 for Four Thirds.

Our local distributor Kenro have contact to us about your case on yesterday. For sure that the printing quality is not perfect on your unit. This case is covered by warranty terms. Service engineer in Kenro will contact to you and assist for exchange. This defective unit will return to our factory for further analysis.

As we didn’t found the same issue in our inventory, and the same dial is shared with Canon and Nikon version. We trust that this case will be one of the particular case in early batch. To ensure that this problem is solved for you. Kenro will do exchange to you with the unit form later production.

Welcome to contact to us or Kenro for further assist.

Thank you again for your supporting.

Hopefully the issue is, as they say, due to the flash unit being from an early batch. I will be exchanging this with another version and let you all know how it goes... but I guess the proof will not be out until I've had it several weeks. In any event it is good that Nissin have provided such a prompt response and seem to be keen to address the issue (a lot of camera manufacturers could learn from that approach).

Anyone else with a Nissin i40 experienced the same issue?

 

[AV Janus]

Cool!

Detailed, personal and honest answer from them.

 

[JCB123]

A warning for anyone who is considering buying the Nissin i40 flash unit. I suspect that this will be a generic defect with the unit rather than a issue with my particular sample, although it would be good for other users to contribute to help confirm this.

The text markings on the unit's dials and buttons are of poor quality and, with my sample, have rubbed off through contact with the inside of my camera bag (soft fabric lining) over a period of approximately 6-8 weeks. Once the text has started to rub off it is possible to rub it off completely by further (gentle) rubbing with your finger (finger, not finger nail!).

The flash unit has no LCD screen and so the markings on the buttons are the only way to tell what the flash settings are set to. This issue makes the operation of the flash a real problem.



--
Have Fun
Photo Pete

Thanks for the warning. I bought one a couple of weeks ago. Its fine but I haven't used it all that extensively and have been hauling it inside my bag in its own case. I'll keep a close eye out for this issue. Its good to hear that Nissin responded well to your report. I've used a Di466 for a few years now plus a couple of Nikon compatible models and had no issues with any of them. I am very pleased with the operation of this little flash so far but longer term reliability is yet to be discovered.

Regards

John

 

[Photo Pete]

I now have a new i40 from Kenro, Nissin's UK importer. The lettering appears fine... but the last one took a few weeks to start to wear off, so only time will tell. As it stands at the moment though I would say the problem appears to have been a bad sample from an early batch rather than a generic problem.

Very impressed with the response from Nissin and Kenro and my local camera store (Harrison Cameras). No denial of the issue and an immediate replacement and commitment to assess the faulty unit, in order to rule out any risk of future failures. There are a lot of manufacturer's and dealers who should be paying attention and trying to emulate that approach.

 

[absoluutbeginner]

Oeps .........Warranty gone!

I took the "advice " to apply some nail polish (the cheapest to find). .

The sales lady looked at me like :" nail polish for letter protection on flash ? o.k. ?! poor bugger ..what a dumb excuse !"

Ive placed a few layers .

It looks o.k. bonding o.k. no problems at all .

Its a article to use and not to stay beautiful!

 

[Photo Pete]

Oeps .........Warranty gone!

I took the "advice " to apply some nail polish (the cheapest to find). .

The sales lady looked at me like :" nail polish for letter protection on flash ? o.k. ?! poor bugger ..what a dumb excuse !"

Ive placed a few layers .

It looks o.k. bonding o.k. no problems at all .

Its a article to use and not to stay beautiful!

I hope it wasn't coloured nail varnish.... although red dials could be quite funky even if you can't read them!
--
Have Fun
Photo Pete

 

[steve r29]

Any update on how the new unit is holding up?

Thanks