A happy accident, this image was supposed to show a meatloafing Tiny in the foreground framing a napping Baby behind. Because of the extended shutter delay for flash recharging of our fallback camera -- the workmanlike Hewlett-Packard Photosmart 735 -- Tiny had nearly left the scene by the time the shutter opened, allowing us to get this dynamic action shot instead.
"It's a good thing it came today," said Our Hero -- Mr. Tuck, worker of miracles -- referring to the return by UPS this morning of our ailing Pentax Optio 450, the one that Operations Supervisor Greg Wooton had informed us last week "was recently added to the list of cameras no longer servicable by the Pentax service center."
We'd researched likely replacements online at Steve's DigiCams [Thanks, Teresa!] and had a list of four possibilities in the $225 to $600 range, including the Canon PowerShot SD870 IS recommended by commenter Jordi Waggoner.
This image of Optio 450, taken by workhorse H-P this afternoon, highlights the "keyhole" -- a tiny slot along the seam between lens-cover frame and lens casing -- that allowed Tuck to unlock the door of the assembly and access the dislodged cover element within.
Hoping to at least salvage the Optio 450 as a better backup than the H-P, we'd called Sanford Camera Repair down the pike in Arlington, told the proprietor our tale of woe and asked whether his people could perhaps cannibalize an old camera for parts. Sadly, no, he said, but they could perhaps remove the lens cover pieces altogether, leaving the lens available for shooting, but physically unprotected. Cost: $30-70.
Say cheese. Once he'd located the slot along the seam between lens cover frame and lens casing, Tuck took an X-acto knife and pressed it gently into the hole "to see what it felt like." Suddenly the frame popped open, allowing him to lift it off, turn it over and manually restore one of the cover elements that had slipped off its track.
As we were preparing to head out, list in hand, to Hunt's Photo in Melrose for a couple of "test drives," the UPS man came knocking. We sighed and brought the package inside, unpacked the beloved camera and noticed Tuck hovering. What? He wanted to give home repair one last try. We got busy with other things and forgot all about it, but moments later, Mr. Fix-it returned from his shop, flush with victory.
The first picture taken with Optio 450 since Dr. Tuck's Miracle Cure this afternoon, a cluster of crocuses (x 1.6) in the early spring garden.
"You can see how that would happen," said Tuck:
If there's any pressure on the lens cover mechanism, it would push one of those little pieces off its track.
The Pentax people in Colorado should know that because I think it's a peculiarity of that particular design, and it doesn't require any parts. It took me five minutes to figure out how to open it up and two minutes to fix it.
It may not be good for the economy. We ended up not spending between $255 and $670 that we MIGHT have spent for a new camera and local partial repair of the Optio 450 as backup had the professionals been on their toes. But if you can get something as good for less, you go for it. Market forces rule!
Update: For next time we're in the market, camera afficionado and old friend Mark recommends Digital Photography Review.
Update II: If you're in the market for cute animal pictures and posts, paddle on over to Friday Ark #185 at Modulator.
Excellent! I hope every potential customer of any Pentax product reads your post.
Posted by: goomp | April 03, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Meanwhile, hopelessly out-of-date me is still fretting about her FIRST digital camera purchase and still buying nothing!
The picture of Tiny and Baby is wonderful! Thanks for sharing that.
Sam had a moment yesterday evening - he was asleep on my lap (this is a new favorite pasttime of his) and apparently was having a bad dream because he suddenly awakened and hissed at me! And insofar as a cat CAN look guilty, he did! Removed himself from my lap and went off for a nice drink of water and a few crunchy morsels. Thus refreshed, he returned to my lap, flipped onto his back (it's amazing to watch 28 pounds of cat actually perform that maneuver) and proceeded to present fluffy white tummy and gleefully waving front paws for my attention-which was dutifully given in lavish amounts.
He has me so well trained!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | April 04, 2008 at 10:36 AM
How wonderful. Having to replace a camera is an economic transaction, but having to replace a cherished and much used gift adds a different dimension. From the original post I was slightly saddened by the disposability or (Pentax's) built in obsolescence of it all.
But then again, maybe I am sentimental, and that explains why I have a box of never used clay garden cherubs (think garden gnomes, but terracotta) in the attic that I can't quite throw away....
Cheers. Looking forward to more great pictures.
Posted by: Carol Ward | April 04, 2008 at 05:00 PM