Is Quality Control going out the window?

Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Are manufacturers cutting QC corners just to have the latest thing out
first? This is not just limited to Canon, but I have also heard of
problems with the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 EDIF VR not working.
Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my lens, but with the amount
of electronics involved, I don't expect it to work forever without some
kind of trouble.

Similarly, I wonder if Konica Minolta will have a bug free anti-shake
system in their new DSLR?

What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

--
DD™
"And that's all I got to say about that" ~ FG

Dallas wrote:
Not wanting to start anything up, ......

But that's a flat out lie..... unless your previous posting history over
the last couple of months is wholly irrelevant.

john mcwilliams

Dallas wrote:
Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Are manufacturers cutting QC corners just to have the latest thing out
first? This is not just limited to Canon, but I have also heard of
problems with the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 EDIF VR not working.
Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my lens, but with the amount
of electronics involved, I don't expect it to work forever without some
kind of trouble.

Similarly, I wonder if Konica Minolta will have a bug free anti-shake
system in their new DSLR?

What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

I have been involved in cameras for over 40 years. Cameras digital and
film are just like any other manufactured product. The first few are much
more likely to have problems.

The few reports I have seen have related to software issues and should
be resolved easily, if there really is a problem. It appears that many of
the problems have been more in the line of operator error than camera
problems.

Frankly it looks like a solid product to me. I am happy to say I am on
a list for one as soon as the ship enough to get down to me. So I guess
that shows I am willing to put my money were my mouth is.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Dallas wrote:
Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Are manufacturers cutting QC corners just to have the latest thing out
first? This is not just limited to Canon, but I have also heard of
problems with the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 EDIF VR not working.
Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my lens, but with the amount
of electronics involved, I don't expect it to work forever without some
kind of trouble.

Similarly, I wonder if Konica Minolta will have a bug free anti-shake
system in their new DSLR?

What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

I have been involved in cameras for over 40 years. Cameras digital and
film are just like any other manufactured product. The first few are much
more likely to have problems.

The few reports I have seen have related to software issues and should
be resolved easily, if there really is a problem. It appears that many of
the problems have been more in the line of operator error than camera
problems.

Frankly it looks like a solid product to me. I am happy to say I am on
a list for one as soon as the ship enough to get down to me. So I guess
that shows I am willing to put my money were my mouth is.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Dallas wrote:

. . . . . . .
What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

I think ideally for the manufacturers, they would make products that expire
just past the warranty period. With the ever changing pace of direct digital
cameras, they should want people to get the next thing often, and continue
the "upgrade" path . . . much like marketing of computers a few years ago.

I have heard a great deal about Sony P&S digital cameras expiring very close
to the warranty period, so perhaps they are doing this correctly to prod a
forced upgrade path. Phone makers already do this.

Basically, many cameras are just becoming another consumer electronic
product. The prices are higher on some devices, but not out of line if you
consider them as imaging computers. Compare that to the top level cameras,
which rarely have problems, or have really good service agreements.

If manufacturers made the products too well, then some competition develops.
One competition level is that the used market impacts new product sales
(Leica is one extreme example of this, though Nikon manual focus gear is
another). The other competition arises from there being less incentive to
"upgrade" to the latest products. Manufacturers should strive for some level
of limited quality

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio
http://www.allgstudio.com

Dallas wrote:

. . . . . . .
What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

I think ideally for the manufacturers, they would make products that expire
just past the warranty period. With the ever changing pace of direct digital
cameras, they should want people to get the next thing often, and continue
the "upgrade" path . . . much like marketing of computers a few years ago.

I have heard a great deal about Sony P&S digital cameras expiring very close
to the warranty period, so perhaps they are doing this correctly to prod a
forced upgrade path. Phone makers already do this.

Basically, many cameras are just becoming another consumer electronic
product. The prices are higher on some devices, but not out of line if you
consider them as imaging computers. Compare that to the top level cameras,
which rarely have problems, or have really good service agreements.

If manufacturers made the products too well, then some competition develops.
One competition level is that the used market impacts new product sales
(Leica is one extreme example of this, though Nikon manual focus gear is
another). The other competition arises from there being less incentive to
"upgrade" to the latest products. Manufacturers should strive for some level
of limited quality

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio
http://www.allgstudio.com

Gordon Moat wrote:

I think ideally for the manufacturers, they would make products that expire
just past the warranty period. With the ever changing pace of direct digital
cameras, they should want people to get the next thing often, and continue
the "upgrade" path . . . much like marketing of computers a few years ago.

I don't think they need to fail for people to upgrade. People seek the best
(apparent) performance and upggrae on their own. Never changes, change.


I have heard a great deal about Sony P&S digital cameras expiring very close
to the warranty period, so perhaps they are doing this correctly to prod a
forced upgrade path. Phone makers already do this.

You only hear about the ones that fail. You don't hear about the ones that keep
on ticking and ticking and... I've had my current Nokia cell phone for 3 years,
it has fallen off of my car (in motion) and scattered its parts all over the
road ... still works after reassembly. My prior Nokia went to my ex-wife (got
to love the PIN card) and she is still using it.

Cheers,
Alan

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

In article pan.2004.09.30.16.00.28.282000@realphoto, dallas2
@pingmefirst.co.za says...
Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Same thing happened with the 10D, the DRebel and the D70. Those cameras
sold huge numbers very quickly and so the few defectives present
manifested almost immediately.

Problem is, people seem to equate the internet reality with actual
reality. If 20 people are talking about a camera, and 2 people report
problems... "Oh my gosh! A 10% failure rate!" This tends to snowball
into hysteria.

Obvious flaws of internet digital camera mentality:
#1: Sample size is far too small
#2: Unhappy people bitch too much
#3: Happy people praise too little - I.e. you don't hear from them.

My take on the 20D is that is does have a minor lockup issue, but no one
seems to have pinned it down exactly. In any case, it doesn't seem to
occur often enough to impact functionality and will most likely be fixed
with a simple firmware update once Canon isolates the problem and a few
others - might as well get a few birds with one stone.
--
http://www.pbase.com/bcbaird/

Dallas wrote in message news:pan.2004.09.30.16.00.28.282000@realphoto...
Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Dallas, I haven't heard much about the 20D because I haven't been
following the news lately, but my general (personal) impression over
time is that "quality" is an issue with canon digital cameras.


Are manufacturers cutting QC corners just to have the latest thing out
first? This is not just limited to Canon, but I have also heard of
problems with the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 EDIF VR not working.
Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my lens, but with the amount
of electronics involved, I don't expect it to work forever without some
kind of trouble.

Similarly, I wonder if Konica Minolta will have a bug free anti-shake
system in their new DSLR?

What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?

Dallas wrote in message news:pan.2004.09.30.16.00.28.282000@realphoto...
Not wanting to start anything up, but I am hearing more than just a few
reports of discontent from early 20D owners. Are there QC issues with the
camera?

Dallas, I haven't heard much about the 20D because I haven't been
following the news lately, but my general (personal) impression over
time is that "quality" is an issue with canon digital cameras.


Are manufacturers cutting QC corners just to have the latest thing out
first? This is not just limited to Canon, but I have also heard of
problems with the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 EDIF VR not working.
Fortunately I haven't had any problems with my lens, but with the amount
of electronics involved, I don't expect it to work forever without some
kind of trouble.

Similarly, I wonder if Konica Minolta will have a bug free anti-shake
system in their new DSLR?

What's your opinion on the rate at which new technology is being foisted
on the imaging sector in relation to the QC of the products we buy?