SSM lenses...what's a Maxxum 9 user to do?

Eclipse wrote: It's just another shining example of lack of customer care.

Well, this post isn't going to make me a lot of friends, but it is just as much, if not more, a shining example of lack of foresight on the part of Maxxum/Dynax 9 owners. The first rule of a supplier announcing that they are getting out of the business is to plan ahead for every optional part and service that you might ever need and get it from them while you can, whether you need it right away or not, and not expect to get it two years after they have moved on.

I realize that this does not apply to people who have since purchased a 9 on the used market and the people who managed to miss hearing about it until after it was much too late, but it is a general fact of life when dealing with businesses and I am surprised at the number of people who did not give any thought to their future needs when they heard that KM was getting out of the photography business.

True what you say, Rob. Very true. We are half to blame as well for not doing it when KM was still in business. Sony probably never thought for a minute we'd still be shooting film. They bought in for the digital revolution, and are doing well at it. I just flat out didn't have the money at the time, just being out of college. Also, at that time there wasn't really any SSM lens I would use every day. The CZ 24-70, now I believe that will be a different story. And I don't even really want it for the SSM - if it's as sharp as I think it will be, I just want it to replace the 24-105.
As for KM not manufacturing very many of the boards - perhaps that tells the bigger story: they didn't sell many SSM lenses. Could be that simple, with no ulterior motives on either side at all. Not much demand = not much supply.
Oh well, that's life. Here we are in 2008 with Maxxum 9s that are built like tanks and may last our life time. We'll eventually get over it and just shoot old glass if we have to. Or as Vitor said, just MF. Used to do that every day with an XD-11.
But if there's a few more of those circuit boards lying around, we may as well scour around and find them! Better put to use in our cameras than sitting on a warehouse shelf.

Jed

RobArtLyn wrote: Eclipse wrote: It's just another shining example of lack of customer care. Well, this post isn't going to make me a lot of friends, but it is just as much, if not more, a shining example of lack of foresight on the part of Maxxum/Dynax 9 owners. The first rule of a supplier announcing that they are getting out of the business is to plan ahead for every optional part and service that you might ever need and get it from them while you can, whether you need it right away or not, and not expect to get it two years after they have moved on. I realize that this does not apply to people who have since purchased a 9 on the used market and the people who managed to miss hearing about it until after it was much too late, but it is a general fact of life when dealing with businesses and I am surprised at the number of people who did not give any thought to their future needs when they heard that KM was getting out of the photography business.

Rob,

This discussion in not about what we coulduv/shoulduv done before! It's about would we can do now! And you are right, many of us have purchased or 9s long after Minolta left us. If you have any doubts about Sony care not being up to par with Canon/Nikon etc. (or even Minolta's) please refer to the thread elsewhere in the forum about how Sony treated Gary Freidman That's how a pro is being treated! And as this upgrade may have been readily available in the US, it was not necessarily so in other countries -- refer to Eclipse's post. So, let's please keep this thread constructive!

Kelly



Edited by AudioDoc - 03 February 2008 at 17:39

XAN,

It's not just a printed circuit board. It's a complex flexible cable, with surface mounted components including, I believe the lens contacts. Alex has one, so I'm sure he can give you more info.

Alex, this discussion is going on (OT, my fault over here)
PLR may have the name of a Minolta Tech. Mark thinks that some of the Techs may have moved to Connecticut or Texas. If he did, you may have some hope of getting your update kit installed.

Kelly

AudioDoc wrote: So, let's please keep this thread constructive!

I have always thought that life lessons for the future were extremely constructive, even if they were sometimes uncomfortable. Anyone who blames Minolta and/or Sony about this problem has missed an opportunity to learn.

Having said that, I will leave you all to your hopefully fruitful search.

Thanks for checking brettania!

Thanks Rob.

Just got a response from former Portuguese Minolta repair center and the update is still available, the camera will be sent to Germany.

Price is 225€ + 21% VAT = Total 272,25€

Anyone with different estimate ?

Edited by vitor - 04 February 2008 at 15:27