Home Forums Gear Photography Sony A7iii update - hoping Sony comes through!

Based on several recommendations and a lot of positive reviews, I decided to make the jump from Canon to the Sony mirrorless platform this year which was a MAJOR investment. After receiving the new A7iii I picked out two of their top lenses (24-70 & 100-400) and added a grip so I'd be all set to see what this Sony could do. Unfortunately, I started having issues right off the bat and initially chocked it up to me being a new user on a totally different platform but, as it turns out, it wasn't user error - I ended up with a defective body! I've had non-stop issues with the camera and ended up having the auto-focus totally quit working last week so I missed taking pics of my son's out of town baseball tournament (were they went undefeated on Father's Day weekend!). I visited a local camera shop that Saturday in hopes of renting a camera and lens with no luck but the owner did confirm the auto-focus was out so at least I know it wasn't user error. I sent Joel a PM and got a call from Jeff. He said he thought I've had the camera too long for Sony to take back but would see what he could do. Considering that I've been addressing these issues since week one, I'd be surprised if they didn't take care of it (with over $6k invested) but we'll just have to wait and see. As a high-volume dealer I'm sure Cameraland NY has quite a bit of pull with Sony so wish them and me good luck!!

Jeff,
If Sony stays firm, we will replace it at our expense and deal with your camera on our own. Service is what it's all about.
Our Jeff is on it

Thanks for your support

Joel

Thanks Joel.....Nobody comes through like Cameraland NY!!! 👍

I hope things can be resolved satisfactorily

If you decide to abandon the Sony platform, I’ve been shooting a Fuji XT2 mirrorless for about 6 months and it’s been stellar. It also came from Joel at CLNY.

What lenses does the Fuji use?

Fuji has a large selection of lenses for their X series. You can see them on our site, www.cameralandny.com

Still trying to get this Sony A7iii handled.....Joel, have you touched base with Sony since we PM'd on the 8/20?

Just buy from B&H and be done with it in the future, they don't play around.

You’ve been w/o a camera this whole time? I assumed this was resolved months ago. This is a bummer and reflects poorly on Sony.

We and Sony are on top of this. Just need the camera and my rep will check it and get it taken care of.

2 Months later? This should have been taken care of ASAP

B&H is the answer to the question.

How is B&H going to help the OP get his camera fixed/replaced?

B&H is not the answer for me. They have dropped to my third/fourth choice now because I've gotten tired of being nickled and dimed by B&H with the "free" shipping.

I had issues with this camera from the get-go but at first we thought it might have been just a matter of getting used to a new platform so it got drug out awhile but Joel/Cameraland have always done great by me and are stepping up again to take care of this issue. I didn't want to drop all this money on a new camera platform and end up with a refurb and many other companies would've just told me it was my problem and had me send it in for repair but Joel/Cameraland stepped up and made sure to let me know they were going to take care of the camera regardless of what they had to do, even if it meant turning mine into a demo. The recent PMs were to inquire about purchasing a replacement battery hatch because I was using a grip and can't find the original. Joel gave me a call and told me "not to worry about it, just send it in"......now THAT is GREAT service!! I seriously doubt any other company would go to that length to take care of their customer.....

Wonder how many camera sales Sony has lost so far due to this threads "recommendations"?

Thanks for the kind words.
Sony is still a great option. Just because someone has an issue with a product does not mean everything they make is no good. This is why every company has a service department. Things do happen. Thankfully, Sony has very few issues. For the entire 2018 they are the #1 selling full frame camera in the USA combining DSLR and Mirror Less.
Sony stands behind their products quite well. Sony still has the most Full Frame mirror less camera options and by far the most dedicated lens without having to use adapters.

I am always available if you have any questions.

Thanks
Joel

Any update on this Sony A7iii?

Jeff

Hi Jeff. After spending that kind of $$ and having the issues I did, a refurb wasn't in the cards but Joel at CameralandNY really stepped up to take care of me on this one. He just let me know that Sony confirmed that they would replace the camera which is excellent news!! I've been a loyal customer to CameralandNY for many years and they've always given me excellent prices on my optics, cameras and lenses and this is just another great example of their customer commitment! I don't doubt for a second that if I'd purchased this anywhere else, the best I would've done is end up with a hi-dollar refurb so make sure to keep that in mind with the holidays coming up!

Good to hear! I've had nothing but great service from Cameraland as well. Hopefully, the original Sony was just a fluke, and your replacement gives you great service. I have yet to make the jump to mirrorless, but I'm looking at it.

Jeff

Do you have the new Sony? Any update on field experiences?

Should be seeing a new unit soon....

So are you ready to make the jump to Sony from your Canon?

Nebraska:

This is getting close to a 4-month interval based on the original post. Is one still in waiting?

Doug said Sony agreed to replace the camera but haven't seen it yet. Missed Halloween....hopefully won't miss deer seaon but that starts next week! I think I may try to get my hands on a Canon 100-400 lens and just use that with my 7D MkII

That is a bummer.

What are your thoughts on the 7D Mk II vs your old 7D? Worthwhile upgrade?

Spoke to Sony, They tell us your NEW camera will be shipped to us next week and we will over nite to you when it gets here. Sony broke every one of their rules on this and did a solid after we told them how important and loyal a customer you are. No refurb, brand new. We put on the full court press and they did the right thing

Sounds like Sony SHOULD have broken their rules as the original camera DIDN'T WORK?

Thanks for the update Joel. I'd like to make sure I'm here for the delivery so with them shipping to you and you having to turn around and ship it Next Day Air, what day should I expect it to be delivered to me?

I like the higher fps on the 7D Mk II and also like it better for indoor sports like swimming, basketball and volleyball but it looks like that 7D has been doing a good job for what you've been putting up on here. Do you feel like you're missing something with your 7D? FWIW, I think my 70-200 IS II was the best photography purchase I ever made!

Still trying to decide on whether to trust Sony one more time or sell it when it gets here and keep my Canon 7D Mk II. The Sony has lots of great features that would be a great fit for what I'll most likely be shooting going forward but I don't like it nearly as much ergonomically (even with the grip) and the reliability has me worried. The canon lenses also feel like they're higher quality build-wise than the Sony lenses. That being said, 90% of the guys at my local camera shop switched over to Sony years ago and they all seem very happy with that platform so who knows!

I was thinking that the Mk II would certainly have better AF but I have gotten decent numbers of keepers with the 7D, especially in cross country, as they don't move quite as fast as during spring track & field. I think the Mk II will handle higher ISO levels better, at least from reading/watching the reviews. Have you found it to be true in regards to indoor sports and higher ISOs? I already have the 70-300 USM but I know the 70-200L is a better lens. Tough choice on where to spend approx. $1500

In June you said YOU would replace it and deal with Sony. Four and a half months later and the man still doesn't have his camera,

Crappy service, you should be embarrassed.

How is the replacement camera working?

Have you received the replacement yet?

Maybe Cameraland and Nebraska don't check this thread anymore

Thanks for getting me the camera back. Understood you were working off site and you were away for so many months so yiu were just now able to return it. Happy to help after all this time, work and family come first. Got Sony to replace it as a 1 time favor despite the time period, but happy to make you happy. I am overnighting at my expense and put in a new receipt so the warranty starts today, not from when you first purchased it
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I will e-mail you the tracking #

One would have thought you would have replaced the camera ASAP and dealt with Sony later.

Good things to remember when buying gear.

We were happy to replace it ASAP once we got the camera back to us. However since the owner was on a work assignment he could not get it to us for about 5 months. Once it came back we were able to send it to Sony and they sent us a new camera. This is NOT their normal policy. Like most camera companies initial defective cameras are fixed or replaced with refurbished cameras. We explained how important a customer this was and how he supported the Sony brand and they said fine, they would replace it, even 5 months later. This was a huge favor they did. Not a new policy as this is a case by case basis.
We understood our customers work situation, as did Sony and we made it work.
Very few retailers would replace this type of product after this time period. That's what a warranty is for. Not only was it replaced but the warranty is starting fresh from now as we don't feel he should be penalized for the time he could not use the camera.
We will always have your back and do everything within our power to make you happy

Thanks
Joel

ISRO I see you've been a member for a couple of years with limited posts. Not sure if you're not active here or just do not post often. As a long standing supporting vendor here we make it a point to assist the members here 100%.

This situation started approx 5 months ago at which time Joel said he would get a replacement camera for the OP. Due to whatever reasons, unimportant, the OP did not send the camera back until a couple of weeks ago and at that time Sony was sold out. As soon as they had inventory again they sent a new camera to us to replace to the OP and we sent it overnight shipping at our expense. Not it's been months, not it will be repaired under warranty, not here's a refurb. A new camera. So, to quote you "Good things to remember when buying gear"

Joel sent me the tracking info and my new Sony A7III will be here on Monday. I purchased this camera in May and had intermittent "quirks" that I originally chocked up to user error but had the auto-focus crap out in mid-June (Father's Day) and let Jeff/Joel know I was done with the camera. Joel said he'd take care of me and I've dealt with Camera Land long enough (multiple cameras, lenses, range-finders, scopes and spotting scopes) that I knew if Sony didn't do the right thing, Joel/Doug would. Joel PM'd me on 07/09 that Sony would most likely be replacing the camera and told me to send the camera back. As it turned out, I started a new job that day and was working 60-70+ hours/week and didn't respond to that PM until August. I also had to track down the battery hatch which I didn't realize was actually attached to the inside of my grip so that also caused a delay on my end. When I talked to Joel, he let me know about the hatch and didn't give me any crap about not getting back to him. I sent the camera back around Labor Day and he sent it in to Sony. They didn't have any Sony A7III cameras in stock and when they got a shipment last Friday, he shipped mine next day air (even though I told him ground would be fine). I feel Camera Land has stood behind me from the start.

Bottom line is that I have a new camera showing up on Monday, not a refurb, so I'm good to go. I've been a Camera Land customer for ~15 years and they've always taken the time to answer my questions, give me good advice and MANY, MANY GREAT deals. When I or any member of 24HCF calls them up, they're going to get good service at prices that can't be beat. I really appreciate everyone's support, and to Camera Land's credit, they said they'd be make sure I received a brand new camera whether Sony sent one or they took mine back as a demo and sent me a new one themselves and they delivered (Monday ) All that said, Camera Land is still my dealer and I'll be buying more from them yet this season and will continue to recommend them to anyone looking for cameras, lenses, or sports optics.

Looking forward to seeing some shots with the new gear!

Here is a link I saw with some setting suggestions for the A7III

https://kenrockwell.com/sony/a7-iii.htm#usage