After years of waiting i finally bought my first DSLR three weeks ago, a Canon 30D - after spending three months from researching the several world wide websites. The following is my nightmare.
Week 0-1.5:
Getting myself to familiarize with the camera by shooting. I then realized that there were some 'dust spots' on my images - just viewing from the 2.5" LCD. Did the necessary blow-cleaning in as dust-free an environment i can get to. To no avail.
Week 1.5-2: Brought camera to Canon Singapore for checking and cleaning services. Technician did the 'job' and assured all was fine as he did some 'tests' after cleaning.
Good job, i thought, as i was leaving for a volcano shoot, or so i thought.
Week 2-3: Volcano shooting trip - after several frames i noticed that the same 'dust spots' were still evident especially at f/8 and above. Upon returning home i viewed my pictures and was VERY disturbed as many pictures turned out with the 'dust spots'. (Yes, i tried cleaning during my trip.) And all this while i only used one lens, Canon EF 17-40mm F4L.
Week 3 to Tues 24 April: Brought camera to Canon Singapore (again). Technician (Ms Sharon Tan) cleaned it, 'tested' it and said all was fine. I did an on-the-spot testing on a white paper and viewed at 50% blow-up, 'dust still evident'. She then said "it's only a bit..., even with all new cameras... ." Next came their Service Exec, Mr Nicholas Tan. After a lenghthy discussion he agreed to do a thorough clean-up and if the problem is still visible he will have it changed. Good, or so i thought.
Thurs 26 April: Was with Mr Nicholas Tan again. He gave me a 'NEW' set and told me that after "testing three NEW sets, this was the best" - there is still a clear mark on the image.
I have no choice BUT to accept this 'new' set as i leave for Vietnam today. I even asked Mr Tan to look for another set and upon my return from Vietnam i can do an exchange but he was VERY reluctant - kept insisting that there's no such unit out there.
A dark spot is very, very evident at f/11 at 50% blow-up. At f/22 it is even clearer. Mr Tan assured me that, "It is very rare that a camera's CMOS sensor is spotless. Even with the CCD on other makes."
This spot upon closer viewing seems to bear the signature of a burnt - at least that is what it appears to me. Nevertheless it is a permanent one.
Dear reader, is this acceptable to you? Am i been to demanding for a perfect CMOS sensor with no permanent spots from a brand new 30D? Did you ever had such a problem encountered - whether it's CMOS or CCD? Canon Singapore seem rather reluctant to change my camera to a better one and it seems that their technician and Service Executive is adamant about their claim that there's virtually no Canon camera with a CMOS sensor that doesn't bear a permanent mark.
So where do i go from here? No point in dealing with the folks here. Is there a feedback address to Canon Japan?
My frank opinion - Canon Singapore's integrity leaves much to be desired.
Any assistance and feedback will be appreciated.
Regards,
moses
Week 0-1.5:
Getting myself to familiarize with the camera by shooting. I then realized that there were some 'dust spots' on my images - just viewing from the 2.5" LCD. Did the necessary blow-cleaning in as dust-free an environment i can get to. To no avail.
Week 1.5-2: Brought camera to Canon Singapore for checking and cleaning services. Technician did the 'job' and assured all was fine as he did some 'tests' after cleaning.
Good job, i thought, as i was leaving for a volcano shoot, or so i thought.
Week 2-3: Volcano shooting trip - after several frames i noticed that the same 'dust spots' were still evident especially at f/8 and above. Upon returning home i viewed my pictures and was VERY disturbed as many pictures turned out with the 'dust spots'. (Yes, i tried cleaning during my trip.) And all this while i only used one lens, Canon EF 17-40mm F4L.
Week 3 to Tues 24 April: Brought camera to Canon Singapore (again). Technician (Ms Sharon Tan) cleaned it, 'tested' it and said all was fine. I did an on-the-spot testing on a white paper and viewed at 50% blow-up, 'dust still evident'. She then said "it's only a bit..., even with all new cameras... ." Next came their Service Exec, Mr Nicholas Tan. After a lenghthy discussion he agreed to do a thorough clean-up and if the problem is still visible he will have it changed. Good, or so i thought.
Thurs 26 April: Was with Mr Nicholas Tan again. He gave me a 'NEW' set and told me that after "testing three NEW sets, this was the best" - there is still a clear mark on the image.
I have no choice BUT to accept this 'new' set as i leave for Vietnam today. I even asked Mr Tan to look for another set and upon my return from Vietnam i can do an exchange but he was VERY reluctant - kept insisting that there's no such unit out there.
A dark spot is very, very evident at f/11 at 50% blow-up. At f/22 it is even clearer. Mr Tan assured me that, "It is very rare that a camera's CMOS sensor is spotless. Even with the CCD on other makes."
This spot upon closer viewing seems to bear the signature of a burnt - at least that is what it appears to me. Nevertheless it is a permanent one.
Dear reader, is this acceptable to you? Am i been to demanding for a perfect CMOS sensor with no permanent spots from a brand new 30D? Did you ever had such a problem encountered - whether it's CMOS or CCD? Canon Singapore seem rather reluctant to change my camera to a better one and it seems that their technician and Service Executive is adamant about their claim that there's virtually no Canon camera with a CMOS sensor that doesn't bear a permanent mark.
So where do i go from here? No point in dealing with the folks here. Is there a feedback address to Canon Japan?
My frank opinion - Canon Singapore's integrity leaves much to be desired.
Any assistance and feedback will be appreciated.
Regards,
moses
