Reading mode: Light Dark

Oh My God! I Scored A New UZI!!!

Go to last post
S

streetshot

Leading Member
Messages
803
Reaction score
0
Location
US
Remember when you were a kid and your mom or dad admonished you for pulling out an electrical cord from the wall by tugging on the cord and not the plug? Well, I guess I'm a slow learner 'cause I did just that a few days ago and broke off one of the prongs on my vacuum cleaner. So, off I go to Walmart tonight to look for a new vacuum. While I was there I just happened to be going by the cameras and decided to stop to see if there were any good deals on flash cards. As I was looking over the cards my eyes scanned down to the cabinet that houses all the boxed up cameras and guess what I spotted? A lovely red uzi box! My heart skipped a beat or two as I kneeled down to get a closer look. It was marked $389. I asked to see it and upon inspection it looked pristine; everything was sealed up. I asked the sales person if this was the only one they had and she responded "yep, no one even wants this one. it's been sitting here forever".

O.k, so I bought it and it works great. No burnt/bright pixels on the LCD screen; no grinding noise from the gyro's, and it passed the hot pixel test. The only caveat is that the firmware is 73 (which seems to be associated with sds). I wonder if OLY might update the fw if I made a big deal about the sds?

At any rate, sorry mom for never learning about the electrical plug thing.....on the other hand.....I firmly believe that there is a reason for everything and finding a back up uzi was my destiny at the expense of my vacuum cleaner (oops............forgot all about buying the new vacuum....lOL).

So, next time you're in a Walmart check out every nook and cranny of their camera section. There may just be an uzi gathering dust somewhere.
 
you would buy a whole new vacuum cleaner because of a broken prong ?
streetshot said:
Remember when you were a kid and your mom or dad admonished you for
pulling out an electrical cord from the wall by tugging on the cord
and not the plug? Well, I guess I'm a slow learner 'cause I did
just that a few days ago and broke off one of the prongs on my
vacuum cleaner. So, off I go to Walmart tonight to look for a new
vacuum. While I was there I just happened to be going by the
cameras and decided to stop to see if there were any good deals on
flash cards. As I was looking over the cards my eyes scanned down
to the cabinet that houses all the boxed up cameras and guess what
I spotted? A lovely red uzi box! My heart skipped a beat or two as
I kneeled down to get a closer look. It was marked $389. I asked to
see it and upon inspection it looked pristine; everything was
sealed up. I asked the sales person if this was the only one they
had and she responded "yep, no one even wants this one. it's been
sitting here forever".

O.k, so I bought it and it works great. No burnt/bright pixels on
the LCD screen; no grinding noise from the gyro's, and it passed
the hot pixel test. The only caveat is that the firmware is 73
(which seems to be associated with sds). I wonder if OLY might
update the fw if I made a big deal about the sds?

At any rate, sorry mom for never learning about the electrical plug
thing.....on the other hand.....I firmly believe that there is a
reason for everything and finding a back up uzi was my destiny at
the expense of my vacuum cleaner (oops............forgot all about
buying the new vacuum....lOL).

So, next time you're in a Walmart check out every nook and cranny
of their camera section. There may just be an uzi gathering dust
somewhere.
Click to expand...
--
Bill C
Photosig Portfolio: http://www2.photosig.com/userphotos.php?portfolioId=18534
E-10,Sony DSC-F717,c-2100
 
wow, that's a great deal. I would suggest that you buy a 5 years Mack warranty for it at compuplus.com. In case there would be a SDS with it, they would take care of it. In any case, you still have the one year warranty from Olympus..so don't worry too much about this and enjoy your camera. the Mack warranty is quite cheap.

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?sid=5p3a9wsbxf2tzj0&id=830&track=searchViewed

Just remember that you have 30 days to buy the Mack warranty and it's transferable if you ever sell it for 10$.

You can also buy an Olympus 2 years extended warranty before your one year warranty expires..you have one year to decide on that one, but it's not transferable if you decide to resell the camera:

49$ from this site:

http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/searchresults.asp?BasicSrchText=olympus+warranty&SR=1&ER=10&TR=0&ST=BS&PP=0&sortval=Price&plattype=P
 
Daniella said:
Just remember that you have 30 days to buy the Mack warranty and
it's transferable if you ever sell it for 10$.
Click to expand...
Hi Daniella...........re; the Mack warranty. I bought a used G2 a few weeks ago and just discovered that there is a 3 year Mack warranty card (still sealed) inside the box. Do you think it's still good? I'll contact the seller, but you seem to know a lot about extended and 3rd party warranties.
 
streetshot said:
Daniella said:
Just remember that you have 30 days to buy the Mack warranty and
it's transferable if you ever sell it for 10$.
Click to expand...
Hi Daniella...........re; the Mack warranty. I bought a used G2 a
few weeks ago and just discovered that there is a 3 year Mack
warranty card (still sealed) inside the box. Do you think it's
still good? I'll contact the seller, but you seem to know a lot
about extended and 3rd party warranties.
Click to expand...
Hi, streetshot,

The Mack warranties are transferrable. You will need to contact Mack (mackcam.com) for how to proceed. I think it costs $15, but the warranty should be valid.
 
So, did you pay $389? None of the Walmarts in my area have any in their camera cabinets.

Also, get the Oly extended warranty, that way, when it does die of SDS in a year or two, they'll fix it.
--
 
Eric Carlson said:
So, did you pay $389? None of the Walmarts in my area have any in
their camera cabinets.

Also, get the Oly extended warranty, that way, when it does die of
SDS in a year or two, they'll fix it.
--
Click to expand...
Actually, I arranged to spreak to the manager this coming Sunday to ask for a lower price since the camera looked like it had been taken out of it's protective wrapping (always trying to get the best deal I can). I was more than happy to pay the $389 though.

I agree with you Eric re: the warranty........ the fw 73 bothers me. So, should I shoot with this one with the hopes that it succumbs to sds within the warranty period and set aside my other one (fw 77)? Or, rant and rave to Olympus first about their dirty little sds secret in the hopes that they agree to do something about it (good luck, eh?).
 
More than likely, some hot pixels will develop in the first 6 months or so, then you have a reason to send it in to get it fixed, and the west coast facility will usually upgrade the firmware and everything, including replacing the power board if it is one of the defective ones.

Good luck getting a lower price, and let us know how it works out.
--
 
The problem is that you needed to register your warranty. I wonder if the original user registered it? Do you have the full package or was the registration card sent? if it was sent in time then the warranty is valid but you do need to transfer it and that cost 10$ I think.

When I received my Mack warranty, I had to fill up a card and send it with my camera serial. More than likely your warranty is registered and the first owner did send the registration card.
streetshot said:
Daniella said:
Just remember that you have 30 days to buy the Mack warranty and
it's transferable if you ever sell it for 10$.
Click to expand...
Hi Daniella...........re; the Mack warranty. I bought a used G2 a
few weeks ago and just discovered that there is a 3 year Mack
warranty card (still sealed) inside the box. Do you think it's
still good? I'll contact the seller, but you seem to know a lot
about extended and 3rd party warranties.
Click to expand...
--
Daniella
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=26918
http://www.pbase.com/zylen
C7OO FORUM: http://www.c700uz.com

c7OOuz, Dimage-7, Tcon14tele, C210tele, Cokin-173, Grad-ND, Hoya-red-Intensifier, Hoya R72.
 
sudden death syndrome. The camera just suddendly die and there is no way to revive it. It happened often in the past with the c2100, so it's a risk and especially with the older c2100 with firmware 73. With a good warranty I would not worry though.
digi-dork said:
What is SDS?
Click to expand...
--
Daniella
http://www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=26918
http://www.pbase.com/zylen
C7OO FORUM: http://www.c700uz.com

c7OOuz, Dimage-7, Tcon14tele, C210tele, Cokin-173, Grad-ND, Hoya-red-Intensifier, Hoya R72.
 
Daniella said:
The problem is that you needed to register your warranty. I wonder
if the original user registered it? Do you have the full package
or was the registration card sent? if it was sent in time then the
warranty is valid but you do need to transfer it and that cost 10$
I think.

When I received my Mack warranty, I had to fill up a card and send
it with my camera serial. More than likely your warranty is
registered and the first owner did send the registration card.
Click to expand...
I just e-mailed the seller :)
 
Wasn't there a torture test discussed for SDS? I thought it involved turning off the sleep mode and leave the camera turned on until the batteries die. Another option I thought I read about was to connect the camera to youm computer with low batteries and the sleep mode off. Transfer photos until the batteries shut down.

Any more?

Personally I'd use the new Firmware 73 camera instead of the Firmware 77 through the one year warranty period and I'd get the Olympus 2 year warranty from PC Connection. The 2 year Olympus warranty includes a free cleaning as well.
 
' Take the advice. Talking to Olympus about FW or any other solution for sds will get you nothing. Hundreds of Uzi owners have gone through it and found that out the hard way. There is a built in defect and the manufacturer does not care.....they will however repair it after the fact for about $398 + shipping.

Mine was about 2 yrs old and I thought I had escaoed it.....then the batteries were low, the top window came on for about 20 seconds but the LCD just would not light up, ....then nothing......dead camera. I have not sent it in yet.....much disgusted. Several months ago some said, in forums. that sds repair was $249 + shipping. Latest I have read here was the $398 + figure.
Good Luck, ...lectraglide.
 
lectraglide said:
' Take the advice. Talking to Olympus about FW or any other
solution for sds will get you nothing. Hundreds of Uzi owners
have gone through it and found that out the hard way. There is a
built in defect and the manufacturer does not care.....they will
however repair it after the fact for about $398 + shipping.
Mine was about 2 yrs old and I thought I had escaoed it.....then
the batteries were low, the top window came on for about 20
seconds but the LCD just would not light up, ....then
nothing......dead camera. I have not sent it in yet.....much
disgusted. Several months ago some said, in forums. that sds
repair was $249 + shipping. Latest I have read here was the $398
+ figure.
Good Luck, ...lectraglide.
Click to expand...
I recall last year someone did try to force their new uzi into sds and couldn't do it. I assume even in these early models that the "defective" circuit board could take quite a pounding before it become weakened enough to go belly up (as most users seem to report sds occuring after 1-2 years of use).

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=1190069

Obviously, the only peace of mind against sds is to buy an extended warranty. I've NEVER purchased such a warranty on anything I've ever owned....except on my first uzi last year.
 
streetshot said:
A lovely red uzi box! My heart skipped a beat or two as
I kneeled down to get a closer look. It was marked $389.
Click to expand...
After annoying numerous clerks by making them open the case at several area Wal-Mart's recently, I finally gave up.

Yesterday, I was right in front of a small-town Wal-Mart about 150 miles from my home. My son wanted me to stop there for something, but I refused. "We need to hurry back home", I said. "I'll take you to Wal-Mart tomorrow".

So I didn't stop. Hit the highway and put the pedal down instead.

Now, I see your post and there's this horrible felling gnawing away at me that if I had only taken 10 minutes to stop and look, I would probably be unpacking my own red box right now!

(sigh)
 
I torture tested both my UZIs soon after I got them 2 years ago or so, and will do my brother's when he gets it ( a refurb from olympus america on ebay). Much better to have the camera die during warranty than after. SDS is caused by a weak component in some UZI power boards that fails when the batteries are low (the power board must draw more milliamps from the batteries at low voltage, causing weak components to fail, especially when warm).

The torture test involves: Turning off sleep, turning on camera w lcd showing, wrapping camera in a blanket, letting the batteries run down until the camera turns itself off, immediately putting in a new set of batteries and repeating. The camera will get very warm during this test (as expected). If it passes you know you won't get sds. If it dies you send the camera to Oly who will put in a new power board, and most likely upgrade the firmware.

Holland
streetshot said:
lectraglide said:
' Take the advice. Talking to Olympus about FW or any other
solution for sds will get you nothing. Hundreds of Uzi owners
have gone through it and found that out the hard way. There is a
built in defect and the manufacturer does not care.....they will
however repair it after the fact for about $398 + shipping.
Mine was about 2 yrs old and I thought I had escaoed it.....then
the batteries were low, the top window came on for about 20
seconds but the LCD just would not light up, ....then
nothing......dead camera. I have not sent it in yet.....much
disgusted. Several months ago some said, in forums. that sds
repair was $249 + shipping. Latest I have read here was the $398
+ figure.
Good Luck, ...lectraglide.
Click to expand...
I recall last year someone did try to force their new uzi into sds
and couldn't do it. I assume even in these early models that the
"defective" circuit board could take quite a pounding before it
become weakened enough to go belly up (as most users seem to report
sds occuring after 1-2 years of use).

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=1190069

Obviously, the only peace of mind against sds is to buy an extended
warranty. I've NEVER purchased such a warranty on anything I've
ever owned....except on my first uzi last year.
Click to expand...
--
C21oo, B3oo, E1ooRS
 
Beacon said:
streetshot said:
A lovely red uzi box! My heart skipped a beat or two as
I kneeled down to get a closer look. It was marked $389.
Click to expand...
After annoying numerous clerks by making them open the case at
several area Wal-Mart's recently, I finally gave up.

Yesterday, I was right in front of a small-town Wal-Mart about 150
miles from my home. My son wanted me to stop there for something,
but I refused. "We need to hurry back home", I said. "I'll take you
to Wal-Mart tomorrow".

So I didn't stop. Hit the highway and put the pedal down instead.

Now, I see your post and there's this horrible felling gnawing away
at me that if I had only taken 10 minutes to stop and look, I would
probably be unpacking my own red box right now!

(sigh)
Click to expand...
Whassa matter... you want a box, too?
 
Breezy asked;
Holland ; After you tortured you poor Uzis' did they live or die.??
Holland StJohn said:
The torture test involves: Turning off sleep, turning on camera w
lcd showing, wrapping camera in a blanket, letting the batteries
run down until the camera turns itself off, immediately putting in
a new set of batteries and repeating. The camera will get very warm
during this test (as expected). If it passes you know you won't get
sds. If it dies you send the camera to Oly who will put in a new
power board, and most likely upgrade the firmware.

Holland
streetshot said:
lectraglide said:
' Take the advice. Talking to Olympus about FW or any other
solution for sds will get you nothing. Hundreds of Uzi owners
have gone through it and found that out the hard way. There is a
built in defect and the manufacturer does not care.....they will
however repair it after the fact for about $398 + shipping.
Mine was about 2 yrs old and I thought I had escaoed it.....then
the batteries were low, the top window came on for about 20
seconds but the LCD just would not light up, ....then
nothing......dead camera. I have not sent it in yet.....much
disgusted. Several months ago some said, in forums. that sds
repair was $249 + shipping. Latest I have read here was the $398
+ figure.
Good Luck, ...lectraglide.
Click to expand...
I recall last year someone did try to force their new uzi into sds
and couldn't do it. I assume even in these early models that the
"defective" circuit board could take quite a pounding before it
become weakened enough to go belly up (as most users seem to report
sds occuring after 1-2 years of use).

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=1190069

Obviously, the only peace of mind against sds is to buy an extended
warranty. I've NEVER purchased such a warranty on anything I've
ever owned....except on my first uzi last year.
Click to expand...
--
C21oo, B3oo, E1ooRS
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top