Kudos Samsung but...

Bryan M wrote:

I just got off the phone with Samsung about my NX30 not powering on. It is not the first time I had this issue and luckily I started a support when the issue first happened. Oddly after a few days of not powering on it simply came back to life so I never sent it in. Fast forward to now and my camera has the same issue again and my warranty has expired.

I had exactly the same problem with my NX30. Samsung UK put me in touch with the centre that handles their repairs. This place is NOT a Samsung company, but one that is contracted to do their repairs. Told the Techy the problem, and that I thought it was the POWER switch that was causing the problems. They sent out a postal bag to send the camera to them, This I did, got the camera back a week later, stating that they had replaced the main PCB, cleaned the camera and it all tested out well within Sammy's spec. I was pleased, tested it and all was well. removed the battery as I wasn't sure when I would have the time to test it fully. Something cropped up and I wanted the camera the next day. Replaced the battery. Bummer, the camera would not power up. I thought the battery may have been flat, so I charged it. Fully charged, and the camera would still not fire up. This was a Saturday so I could not contact the repair centre. Left it for the day. Tried again on Sunday, and the camera powered up. Used it for the day with no further problems. Switched it on Monday to download the pics from Sunday. Camera would not power up. Tried a NEW, fully charged battery, still nothing. Contacted the repair centre the Techy said that there was something amiss as it tested out perfect when he tried it. Anyway, to he sent out another postal bag and the NX30 went off again. It came back one week later, complete with an extra, NEW, battery, and a NEW USB lead. But I had put a little mark on the power switch with a tiny indelible black marker. on the power switch, before sending it back the second time. The switch was new, all shiny with none of the scuff marks that come with repeated on/off operation, and crucially, the little black indelible DOT was not there. So I had a new power switch. The camera worked well after that. Until I donated it to my cousin who is in a camera club. It is still working well, and the repair was carried out 9 months ago. Sammy may have had some faulty power switches. But this is NOT a problem specific to Samsung. Nikon have had problems with sensors in the past, so have Fufi with the ORBS in the pics from their XS1 cameras. It is electronics, things do sometimes go wrong, but the quality of a system, IMO, is if the company is willing to stand by their cameras, and get the repairs done, which in your case, and mine they have clearly done so.

Samsung said they will honor the warranty even though it expired in February. I caught a break there but now I am re-evaluating my camera choices.

I have had many different systems over the years and I have had issues with my nx210, nx300 and nx30. Overall I am pleased with the image quality but the reliability issues I've encountered over the years make me long for a more stable camera system.

I was planning to go the nx1 route but now I am having second thoughts. Once I get the camera back from Samsung I am going to start selling off the Samsung gear I have. It has nothing to do with the rumors of Samsung's demise but the robustness of their system which in my experience has sometimes been very frustrating.

I was looking at my alternatives and think a FF Nikon is in my future.

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Bryan
www.bcmcue.com