Ricoh warranty and dust on sensor removal?

Tungsten Nordstein wrote:

Keep the lens barrel free of dust is another routine I try to follow.

Thanks,

The lens barrel of my GRIII is covered by the NISI adapter. Maybe I should occasionally remove the adapter and clean it.

I have read somewhere that certain orifices may be covered with tape to prevent dust from coming inside.

Tazu wrote:

Hello,

I received my brand new GRIII two weeks ago and am very happy with the results: fantastic quality of the images, great handling, sturdy feel in my hand despite the small size. Completely in love with it and maybe the best shooting experience I had in many years.

But this morning, after several shots, I discovered two dust spots on my images in replay mode. The two spots are always in the same place.
I then made several shots of a blue sky to test. These two spots appear when I shoot from f/3.5 to f/16 (the dust spots become smaller but also very much sharper at f/16). No visible dust spots with shots at f/2.8 and f/3.2. The spots also appear on the LCD when I press the shutter release halfway.

To minimize the chances of getting dust on the sensor, the day I received the GRIII, I immediately placed an NISI adapter and a UV filter before even taking the first shot. I place a lens cap when not shooting. When I don't shoot, the camera is in my hand or inside a clean bag. I never put it inside my pockets. During the 2 weeks I have my GRIII, I never shot in windy environments, never on a sandy beach or in the rain, but mostly indoors.
I guess I am one of the unlucky people that gets dust on the sensor so soon in a brand new camera.

Does the Ricoh warranty cover removing dust from the sensor? I will send it to be cleaned, but the truth is I do not know what to do when the camera will come back from dust removal. What can I do more than I did to not get dust on the sensor again?

Like I said at the beginning of my post, I love the camera, enjoy shooting with it, love the images it produces and I would like to keep it and continue to shoot with it, but I do not want to send it to dust removal now and then.

Thanks.

did you check your very first shots with the camera? it is not unheard of a ricoh camera leaving the factory with dust spots. i personally think that you are entitled to a new camera, not a repair. (although depending on country and seller, this may not always be a viable option)

good luck

rondom wrote:

did you check your very first shots with the camera? it is not unheard of a ricoh camera leaving the factory with dust spots.

No, I have deleted the first shots. I made them to get a feel of shooting with the GRIII, but I took your advice and I just checked all the shots that made during the last week ago and found that all the shots that I made with apertures from f/3.5 to f/16 also had these dust spots at the same place.

So, the problem is not from a new one from this morning, but from some time ago. Was it from the factory? I do not know.

Tomorrow morning I will bring back the camera to the shop where I purchased it. I know this shop to be highly professional and reliable. I hope I will get is back soon; I love this camera.

Thank you very much for your advice!

Tazu wrote:

rondom wrote:

did you check your very first shots with the camera? it is not unheard of a ricoh camera leaving the factory with dust spots.

No, I have deleted the first shots. I made them to get a feel of shooting with the GRIII, but I took your advice and I just checked all the shots that made during the last week ago and found that all the shots that I made with apertures from f/3.5 to f/16 also had these dust spots at the same place.

So, the problem is not from a new one from this morning, but from some time ago. Was it from the factory? I do not know.

Tomorrow morning I will bring back the camera to the shop where I purchased it. I know this shop to be highly professional and reliable. I hope I will get is back soon; I love this camera.

Thank you very much for your advice!

that sounds good.

also, most of the time you should be able to retrieve the deleted shots with a simple recovery software. actually they tend to work better with files on sd cards than hard disks.

rondom wrote:

also, most of the time you should be able to retrieve the deleted shots with a simple recovery software. actually they tend to work better with files on sd cards than hard disks.

Thank for the tip!

Tazu wrote:

rondom wrote:

also, most of the time you should be able to retrieve the deleted shots with a simple recovery software. actually they tend to work better with files on sd cards than hard disks.

Thank for the tip!

I had the same situation. I had to make a lot noise. They may say it isn't covered but it is. In my case, after I received it from Precision the dust was in the same places. Sent it in again..made them do next day am coming and going. They replaced the lens unit Make them shoot an image at f16. Now that I am thinking about I haven't checked my GR3,

Good luck!

Rick

Good news!

I went to the store where I purchased the GRIII. They looked at my shots and also made some of their own. They even found another spot that I did not see (something like a thin piece of hair), down on the right side the images.They did not argue at all and immediately said that the warranty covers the sensor's cleaning.

My GRIII is now on its way to a local lab specialized in repairing and maintaining, among others, Ricoh cameras. No post office, no package to deal with! My GR will be back in a week at most.

Tazu wrote:

Good news!

I went to the store where I purchased the GRIII. They looked at my shots and also made some of their own. They even found another spot that I did not see (something like a thin piece of hair), down on the right side the images.They did not argue at all and immediately said that the warranty covers the sensor's cleaning.

My GRIII is now on its way to a local lab specialized in repairing and maintaining, among others, Ricoh cameras. No post office, no package to deal with! My GR will be back in a week at most.

Great news!!!

Rick

Bejersey wrote:

Great news!!!

Rick

Thank you very much!

Apart from the GR III, I have already purchased three other cameras and several lenses in the past from this camera shop, so they gave me a real VIP service and in less than 24 hours, my GRIII is back in my hands with a clean free of dust sensor. Fastest service ever!

I still have several GR newbie questions. So, see you soon in a new thread.

Thank you all for your comments.

Thanks for sharing that good news.  I have a great half case, $10.00 usd leather that may help, besides the filter

Rick

Bejersey wrote:

Thanks for sharing that good news.

Someone suggested taping off the speaker and speaker holes if you don't need them because these are places that allow the entrance of dust. Do you think it is a good suggestion?

Or maybe I am overreacting after my sensor issue?

I have heard that.  I have not and don't intend to do that. Maybe google that question--

Rick

http://www.photographybyrichardmsmith.com/

Thank!