Sea and Sea is bouncing back problems

I would like to let you know the kind of reply I am having from Sea and Sea concerning poor quality issues I have with their X.035 lens. It is now 5 months I am coping with this and after having shipped them sample images and later on the lens after their tests they say: there is nothing to do with that, you bought (for 2.500 Euro) an old VX 4:3 format lens bye bye.

Very different from what they say in their advertising that you can still read today on their web site under Hc1 accessories.

I still hope they will recover from this bad customer satisfaction situation but the hope is very thin.

Here is my letter to Sea and Sea:

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

I write to you to bring to your attention a problem I have concerning Sea and Sea O.35X Super Wide Conversion Lens Pro in combination with VX-HC1 PRO housing and Sony HVR-A1.

Here are the facts:

- In october 2006 I have provided Fraco with DVD and a HDV cassette showing the poor quality produced by the O.35X lens; the DVD has been delivered to Sea and Sea during the DEMA fair;

- After having seen and evaluated the DVD sample images Sea and Sea has asked to receive and test the lens;

- On 25th January the lens has been delivered to FRACO and then shipped to Japan for testing.

The results of the test (see Sea and Sea report in the attached PDF document) basically says that:

- the lens has been designed for the VX-2000 PRO for Sony VX2000-PD150 model which are standard resolution cams (not HDV) and 4:3 (not 16:9);

- the quality of the image of any conversion with magnification of less than 0.5x or 0.6x has some optical problems;

- the lens is not judged as faulty or defective.

But let me point out that:

- as a matter of fact the quality image is very poor also underwater as shown on the images provided by Sea and Sea quality assurance dept. on DVD; the image is unfocused and distorted also in underwater condition;

- as Sea and Sea admits the lens was not designed for 16:9 High Definition use; this was not said at all in any of your catalogue nor advertising nor FRACO mentioned to me.

Please also note that I bought the x.035 lens (Paid Price 2.500 Euro) having been persuaded by your advertising which says:

x0.35 Super Wide Conversion Lens PRO

(Product No. 52105)

Achieving a high-quality image with minimal distortion, this amphibious super wide conversion lens is the perfect solution for wide-angle videography It produces professional quality images allowing the videographer to get close and still capture the surrounding scene.

My real experience is:

- the lens is not amphibious: on land the lens is totally no-use;

- the lens it does not produce professional quality images at all.

For the above mentioned reasons I am totally dissatisfied with the product and unhappy with the reply from your quality assurance department.

I still believed that you have the willing of recovering the satisfaction of a customer that has trusted your brand and your advertising.

I therefore ask you to make any possible effort to find out a solution. On the solutions side I wonder if you can try to fit the 0.48X lens (the fx1 model) or a new (under design) lens.

Hoping to have a positive feedback I remain.

Kind regards

SEA_AND_SEA_REPORT.pdf

So that response is from S&S? That is just surprising how they replied. SD lenses have problems resolving HD That sudden jump in pixels just shows all the flaws almost imperceptible in SD.

I've notified S&S USA of your problem, but if S&S Japan is replying like this, your options seem pretty limited.

I have just received their reply by email:

Thank you for your e mail and comment on Sea & Sea service division’s evaluation.

I will immediately translate your e mail into Japanese and forward it to Sea & Sea service division and people concerned. I will revert to you after speaking to service division, please bear with me for a while. Unfortunately, I cannot offer you any solution today.

Your patience is highly appreciated

These are freezeframes from the DVD that Sea&Sea quality evaluation dept. has sent me as supporting evidence as mentioned in their report. Is this an acceptable quality ?

I think it isn't.

Still no further news from Sea and Sea.

These are freezeframes from the DVD that Sea&Sea quality evaluation dept. has sent me as supporting evidence as mentioned in their report. Is this an acceptable quality ?

I think it isn't.

 

Still no further news from Sea and Sea.

It would be acceptable for a very cheap consumer lense, not for an expensive pro lense. I had my share of problems with S&S on the VX1000 housing. NEVER AGAIN.