Minolta tech support and repair report

1. 1 - "Japan says the algorythms required to accurately calibrate the distance ring are extremely complex and they simply haven't been able to do it yet. It is more noticeable at wide angles. This is a known issue." So... why didn't tech. support know it?

1. 2 - "The upgrade procedure is not well explained on our site. We're working toward fixing that." But, no answer as to why tech. support didn't recognize my problem.

Ed Juge said:

Interesting... I have now had occassion to contact Minolta twice
for tech support on my Dimage 7. As anyone who has tried to phone
them will know, their tech support number is not in the camera docs
nor is it anywhere I could find on their web site. I phoned
Minolta's headquarters to ask for it. "For what product," they
asked. "A Dimage 7 digital camera," I replied. The number they
gave me was for "Office Products."

Fortunately, the second time I contacted them, they emailed me a
non-800 number for camera support. After talking to those folks
twice, I can maybe understand why they don't publish the number.

Question 1: I find setting the distance (manual focus) on the
distance ring of the camera more often than not results in an
out-of-focus image. Auto focus is perfect. I asked if I was maybe
doing something wrong. The reply... "Attached is a return form for
camera repair." Not a word in answer to my question. I decided
NOT to return it at that time.

Question 2: I couldn't get the new firmware to upgrade. This time
I phoned them twice, since they sent the number. I told them when
I powered up with the shutter release down, the light came on for
3-5 seconds only. First response, "We'll send an instruction sheet
WITH PICTURES. Call back if that doesn't work." I called back.
Response... "Guess you'll have to send it in for repair." Since I
now had two unresolved issues, I figured this is a good time to
send it in.

Note: I didn't know about this discussionj group until about an
hour after handing my D7 to UPS. It took 15 minutes on this group
to discover I had saved the upgrade files in a folder rather than
in the root directory. Why didn't tech. support know that?

I sent my camera to them 3rd day UPS. It was back in my hands on
day #6!!! And they called to discuss their findings before
returning it. Outstanding!

It appears, once you get to the repair folks, they are considerably
more knowledgable. Here's what they said about the two
complaints...

1. 1 - "Japan says the algorythms required to accurately calibrate

the distance ring are extremely complex and they simply haven't
been able to do it yet. It is more noticeable at wide angles.
This is a known issue." So... why didn't tech. support know it?

1. 2 - "The upgrade procedure is not well explained on our site.

We're working toward fixing that." But, no answer as to why tech.
support didn't recognize my problem.

I also told them that a company who is willing to take $1,000 of my
money (yes, I was an early purchaser) yet purposely hide their
technical support telephone number from me probably won't get any
more of my money or my recommendation. "But, but... you wouldn't
believe the nonsense calls we get with a published number." My
response... tough, it's part of doing business.

I can't recall the last time I ran across a company in such
desperate need of re-honking their entire technical
support/customer service operation.

But they sure build a great camera!!

Happy New Year to all... Ed
--
--------------------------------
Ed Juge / Ruidoso, NM
================

Click to expand...

Jere Hock said:

Ed Juge said:

Interesting... I have now had occassion to contact Minolta twice
for tech support on my Dimage 7. As anyone who has tried to phone
them will know, their tech support number is not in the camera docs
nor is it anywhere I could find on their web site. I phoned
Minolta's headquarters to ask for it. "For what product," they
asked. "A Dimage 7 digital camera," I replied. The number they
gave me was for "Office Products."

Fortunately, the second time I contacted them, they emailed me a
non-800 number for camera support. After talking to those folks
twice, I can maybe understand why they don't publish the number.

Question 1: I find setting the distance (manual focus) on the
distance ring of the camera more often than not results in an
out-of-focus image. Auto focus is perfect. I asked if I was maybe
doing something wrong. The reply... "Attached is a return form for
camera repair." Not a word in answer to my question. I decided
NOT to return it at that time.

Question 2: I couldn't get the new firmware to upgrade. This time
I phoned them twice, since they sent the number. I told them when
I powered up with the shutter release down, the light came on for
3-5 seconds only. First response, "We'll send an instruction sheet
WITH PICTURES. Call back if that doesn't work." I called back.
Response... "Guess you'll have to send it in for repair." Since I
now had two unresolved issues, I figured this is a good time to
send it in.

Note: I didn't know about this discussionj group until about an
hour after handing my D7 to UPS. It took 15 minutes on this group
to discover I had saved the upgrade files in a folder rather than
in the root directory. Why didn't tech. support know that?

I sent my camera to them 3rd day UPS. It was back in my hands on
day #6!!! And they called to discuss their findings before
returning it. Outstanding!

It appears, once you get to the repair folks, they are considerably
more knowledgable. Here's what they said about the two
complaints...

1. 1 - "Japan says the algorythms required to accurately calibrate

the distance ring are extremely complex and they simply haven't
been able to do it yet. It is more noticeable at wide angles.
This is a known issue." So... why didn't tech. support know it?

1. 2 - "The upgrade procedure is not well explained on our site.

We're working toward fixing that." But, no answer as to why tech.
support didn't recognize my problem.

I also told them that a company who is willing to take $1,000 of my
money (yes, I was an early purchaser) yet purposely hide their
technical support telephone number from me probably won't get any
more of my money or my recommendation. "But, but... you wouldn't
believe the nonsense calls we get with a published number." My
response... tough, it's part of doing business.

I can't recall the last time I ran across a company in such
desperate need of re-honking their entire technical
support/customer service operation.

But they sure build a great camera!!

Happy New Year to all... Ed
--
--------------------------------
Ed Juge / Ruidoso, NM
================

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Ed Juge said:

Interesting... I have now had occassion to contact Minolta twice
for tech support on my Dimage 7. As anyone who has tried to phone
them will know, their tech support number is not in the camera docs
nor is it anywhere I could find on their web site. I phoned
Minolta's headquarters to ask for it. "For what product," they
asked. "A Dimage 7 digital camera," I replied. The number they
gave me was for "Office Products."

Fortunately, the second time I contacted them, they emailed me a
non-800 number for camera support. After talking to those folks
twice, I can maybe understand why they don't publish the number.

Question 1: I find setting the distance (manual focus) on the
distance ring of the camera more often than not results in an
out-of-focus image. Auto focus is perfect. I asked if I was maybe
doing something wrong. The reply... "Attached is a return form for
camera repair." Not a word in answer to my question. I decided
NOT to return it at that time.

Question 2: I couldn't get the new firmware to upgrade. This time
I phoned them twice, since they sent the number. I told them when
I powered up with the shutter release down, the light came on for
3-5 seconds only. First response, "We'll send an instruction sheet
WITH PICTURES. Call back if that doesn't work." I called back.
Response... "Guess you'll have to send it in for repair." Since I
now had two unresolved issues, I figured this is a good time to
send it in.

Note: I didn't know about this discussionj group until about an
hour after handing my D7 to UPS. It took 15 minutes on this group
to discover I had saved the upgrade files in a folder rather than
in the root directory. Why didn't tech. support know that?

I sent my camera to them 3rd day UPS. It was back in my hands on
day #6!!! And they called to discuss their findings before
returning it. Outstanding!

It appears, once you get to the repair folks, they are considerably
more knowledgable. Here's what they said about the two
complaints...

1. 1 - "Japan says the algorythms required to accurately calibrate

the distance ring are extremely complex and they simply haven't
been able to do it yet. It is more noticeable at wide angles.
This is a known issue." So... why didn't tech. support know it?

1. 2 - "The upgrade procedure is not well explained on our site.

We're working toward fixing that." But, no answer as to why tech.
support didn't recognize my problem.

I also told them that a company who is willing to take $1,000 of my
money (yes, I was an early purchaser) yet purposely hide their
technical support telephone number from me probably won't get any
more of my money or my recommendation. "But, but... you wouldn't
believe the nonsense calls we get with a published number." My
response... tough, it's part of doing business.

I can't recall the last time I ran across a company in such
desperate need of re-honking their entire technical
support/customer service operation.

But they sure build a great camera!!

Happy New Year to all... Ed
--
--------------------------------
Ed Juge / Ruidoso, NM
================

Click to expand...

Ed Juge said:

Interesting... I have now had occassion to contact Minolta twice
for tech support on my Dimage 7. As anyone who has tried to phone
them will know, their tech support number is not in the camera docs
nor is it anywhere I could find on their web site. I phoned
Minolta's headquarters to ask for it. "For what product," they
asked. "A Dimage 7 digital camera," I replied. The number they
gave me was for "Office Products."

Fortunately, the second time I contacted them, they emailed me a
non-800 number for camera support. After talking to those folks
twice, I can maybe understand why they don't publish the number.

Question 1: I find setting the distance (manual focus) on the
distance ring of the camera more often than not results in an
out-of-focus image. Auto focus is perfect. I asked if I was maybe
doing something wrong. The reply... "Attached is a return form for
camera repair." Not a word in answer to my question. I decided
NOT to return it at that time.

Question 2: I couldn't get the new firmware to upgrade. This time
I phoned them twice, since they sent the number. I told them when
I powered up with the shutter release down, the light came on for
3-5 seconds only. First response, "We'll send an instruction sheet
WITH PICTURES. Call back if that doesn't work." I called back.
Response... "Guess you'll have to send it in for repair." Since I
now had two unresolved issues, I figured this is a good time to
send it in.

Note: I didn't know about this discussionj group until about an
hour after handing my D7 to UPS. It took 15 minutes on this group
to discover I had saved the upgrade files in a folder rather than
in the root directory. Why didn't tech. support know that?

I sent my camera to them 3rd day UPS. It was back in my hands on
day #6!!! And they called to discuss their findings before
returning it. Outstanding!

It appears, once you get to the repair folks, they are considerably
more knowledgable. Here's what they said about the two
complaints...

1. 1 - "Japan says the algorythms required to accurately calibrate

the distance ring are extremely complex and they simply haven't
been able to do it yet. It is more noticeable at wide angles.
This is a known issue." So... why didn't tech. support know it?

1. 2 - "The upgrade procedure is not well explained on our site.

We're working toward fixing that." But, no answer as to why tech.
support didn't recognize my problem.

I also told them that a company who is willing to take $1,000 of my
money (yes, I was an early purchaser) yet purposely hide their
technical support telephone number from me probably won't get any
more of my money or my recommendation. "But, but... you wouldn't
believe the nonsense calls we get with a published number." My
response... tough, it's part of doing business.

I can't recall the last time I ran across a company in such
desperate need of re-honking their entire technical
support/customer service operation.

But they sure build a great camera!!

Happy New Year to all... Ed
--
--------------------------------
Ed Juge / Ruidoso, NM
================

Click to expand...

bnewman said:

Thanks for posting the information on repairs and replacement.
After my phone conversation with Minolta Digital support I was very
leery about keeping the camera I have (still within my 30 day
return period) and taking a chance sending it in for servicing for
a hot pixel problem. I was considering exchanging with the vendor
but concerned that I would get one back that had major problems. I
think you've put me more at ease about keeping the one I have and
trusting Minolta service department to resolve the problem as well
as take good care of my camera.

B

Click to expand...

Pabletto said:

It seems something does work fine here in the UK..... WOW!!!!!

Click to expand...

Bernard Carns said:

My Dimage 7 stopped focusing in September.

I found the local repair phone number on their webpage at that time.

I called and left a message and didn't receive a phone call back so
the next day I drove over since its only a 15 mile drive from work.

I learned that they had just laid off half their repair department
2 days before and were very understaffed.

It was nice to know they had never had a D7 in for repair.

I dropped the camera off and about an hour later they called and
said they were going to replace the camera.

I drove back after work and picked up a new camera. They didn't
give me a rebuilt one, they gave me a new one.

I'm not sure how others experiences have been, but I think a 1 hour
turn around and replacement with a new camera is pretty good.

On the other hand, I wasn't asking any questions on how to use the
camera, etc.

BC

Click to expand...

LSDavis said:

Pabletto said:

It seems something does work fine here in the UK..... WOW!!!!!

Click to expand...

It's a pity they don't know why I keep getting a flickering EVF,
nmor do they seem to know the difference in firmware write rates.

Maybe I'm just unlucky but I am on my 4th camera with still no
fix. I got fed up with going back to the shop (and they were fed
up with me) so am hanging on to it until they can supply me with an
answer - I want to use it afterall!

Sorry for the grumble!
Great camera. Love it so much I'll live with a flickering EVF
if I have to but it would be nice to get a resolution.
Lee

Click to expand...