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Re: Lectures and written communications



At 22:53 5/21/02 -0700, you wrote:
... I wrote a
short note to the Olympus Camera and the response that
I just received from one of their college graduate employees.

Any comments???

Herb Gottlieb from New York City

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wrote

In the rear cover of my Olympus Stylus camera, Serial #5291063
there is a red-glass covered opening through which it is possible to
see the type and speed of film that is inserted in the camera. The red
glass fell out of the camera and was lost.

1. Can camera be operated without the red glass cover?
2. Is a replacement red glass cover available?
3. If not, is it OK to operate the camera with black tape covering
the opening?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's see what a knowledgable consumer could deduce from this problem.

1) When orthochromatic roll film was in its heyday, and film speeds were slow,
it was possible to use a ruby safelight judiciously for film development
purposes.

Those days are long passed.
With 1000 ASA panchromatic film available off the shelf - a competent consumer
still camera must be able to stand exposure to bright sunlight without
adverse effect.

I conclude that the red color of the film counter window is traditional,
rather than optical
in effect. There is an evident purpose for such a window however.
A consumer camera should have modest protection against dust infiltration.

2) I know of no camera maker who supplies repair parts to consumers: it is
the invariable rule
that products of this kind are turned in for repair.

3) A film counter window should not be detachable. If it is lost, there is
suggestive
evidence of a manufacturing weakness.

In summary, returning the camera for service noting that it proved to be of
unmerchantable
quality due to the defect mentioned, might offer an avenue to minimize
cost.
A maker might well want to waive charges even without a reminder of this
kind - in the service
of customer satisfaction.