AF Drive Problems Leica S Lenses: Official Statement by Leica

[LUF Admin]

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Leica has just released an official statement about the AF drive problems of some Leica S lenses

 

Leica offers free replacement of the autofocus drive unit …

- up to 5 years after purchase of the lens

- if the lens is affected by this issue

 

Here is the official statement:

 

Latest information about the goodwill arrangement for Leica S-Lenses

In some cases, a defect may appear in the autofocus drive unit of Leica S-Lenses. Under certain unfavourable conditions, this may lead to a complete loss of the autofocus function.

We are pleased to inform you that we have successfully completed the development and stringent quality assurance testing of a new generation of autofocus drive units under practical conditions.
 
Leica Camera AG is prepared to offer a free replacement of the autofocus drive unit of S-Lenses affected by this problem within the terms of a goodwill arrangement.

In light of this, we would like to remind our customers that we can offer free replacement of the autofocus drive unit only for S-Lenses affected by this concrete defect. The goodwill arrangement will remain valid for a period of five years from the date of purchase of the respective S-Lens.

Preventive replacement of the autofocus drive unit (including a warranty extension of 12 months) may be requested at your own expense.

Should the defect described above occur in one of your S-Lenses, we recommend that you to send it directly to Leica Customer Care or the authorised Customer Care department of your country’s Leica subsidiary.

Contact:
http://de.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Reparatur-Wartung.
s-system-repair@leica-camera.com. Telephone: +49 (0)6441 2080 555.

We consider it our obligation to provide only technically faultless products. We therefore particularly regret that the functions of one of your S-Lenses could have been be impaired by this defect. We hope that the goodwill arrangement we are offering will allow us to resolve this issue as soon as possible and rebuild and maintain the trust you have always placed in the Leica brand and its products.

 

 

[YellowBelly]

There trying to dodge a bullet on a problem 5 years what a scam for people who have systems and have older affected lenses. I'm personally not using my S system much but holding it waiting for a better body. I think they are a shameless company who should honour the trust we have long given to the brand. If the fault occurs they should fixit. #bringonthefaultlessX2D !

 

 

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[YellowBelly]

Also no doubt devaluing every Leica S/CS lens Leica has made if you don't pay for the privilege of having the lens fix so it will not break when you really need the thing to work .

 

With no information about costs of the fix or time commitment needed to do the repairs.

 

 

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Edited April 3, 2017 by YellowBelly

[YellowBelly]

Shame on your arrogance!!!

 

 

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[Jeff S]

Other than confirming that they finally have a fix, this policy is actually more restrictive than the previously announced plan, which had no time limit and no provision for repairs at owner expense.

 

Are you sure this isn't a belated April Fools post? Otherwise, astounding, and not in a good way.

 

Jeff

Edited April 3, 2017 by Jeff S

[ynp]

I hope somebody will call Leica to find out what is the price of the preventative replacement and share the information on the forum.

[erlingmm]

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I m a bit puzzled by the negative reactions to this.

 

1) A permanent solution is now in place - great, this has ridden the S system like a nightmare !

 

2) Lenses affected will be repaired free up to 5 years from purchase - great ! If it isn't broken after 5 years it is probably good. If it does, you can send it in for repair. No product of this kind can have eternal warranty

 

3) There is an option to send in lenses fro preventive maintenance. Great ! I will need to know the price, but I will definitely consider this, at least for the lenses I travel with. 

 

I think this is good news for all S owners, frankly I am afraid the system would not have survived without. The lenses (and bodies) are already devalued because of this, now there is a chance to repair that damage, albeit with a (hopefully decent) cost.

Edited April 3, 2017 by erlingmm

[Jeff S]

The policy was better before this announcement.... if it fails, send it in, in or out of warranty, without charge.

 

We still don't know anything more about the cause(es) or nature of the solution. And still no commitment on turnaround. Some hoped for preventative measures to avoid failure at an inopportune time....and we got it.... congrats, you pay. And no mention of cost. Perfect.

 

I at least hope that 5 year clock starts ticking from time of any purchase, even if bought used from any party.

 

Jeff

[R3D-D0T]

Too little, too late...

[erlingmm]

The policy was better before this announcement.... if it fails, send it in, in or out of warranty, without charge.

 

We still don't know anything more about the cause(es) or nature of the solution. And still no commitment on turnaround. Some hoped for preventative measures to avoid failure at an inopportune time....and we got it.... congrats, you pay. And no mention of cost. Perfect.

 

I at least hope that 5 year clock starts ticking from time of any purchase, even if bought used from any party.

 

Jeff

 

 

The damage was done, probably due to a faulty part that has now been replaced. Even if many have been affected, you cannot expect a full recall of all lenses. I don't know what you would have expected of preventive measures? The preventive measure is that you can have the part changed, probably at a fraction of the cost of the lens, and far less than it has lost in value due to this issue.

 

Policy better before? Not for me when I am going to China and Karakoram Highway the coming summer: I want to make sure the the 2 or 3 lenses that I bring will be working. Not for the pro on the set or in studio with a hired model, who cannot afford a breakdown during the shoot.

 

Get over it, there is a solution, finally. If you can live on the edge, feel free, if you want to be sure, pay what it costs, that's life. And in the end it will benefit all owners who have not given up on the system.

 

[Jeff S]

Oh, I'm definitely over it, now that I understand the approach.  On to other possibilities....including the SL, which I hope never has similar issues.

 

Jeff

[R3D-D0T]

 

Get over it, there is a solution, finally. If you can live on the edge, feel free, if you want to be sure, pay what it costs, that's life. And in the end it will benefit all owners who have not given up on the system.

 

 

That solution doesn't involve using the Leica S, I'm afraid. Even with the AF fix, I'm not confident that it won't happen again. Like Samsung's "fix" to the Galaxy phone.

 

The SL seems to be far more reliable, but it's no medium format.

[Guest VVJ]

First of all, I find it hard to judge this statement without knowing the cost of the preventive replacement...

Secondly, if Leica has a fix, they know what was wrong, and they should be able to tell us the serial numbers of the lenses that have the (batches of) defective AF motors. 

Not an entirely satisfying statement IMO.  

[hoppyman]

Think that it is reasonable to assume that, if the fault does not arise in five years it's very unlikely to do so. We don't know what percentage of production before the redesign was actually affected of course. I don't think that a complete recall is warranted nor realistic personally. At least I am not aware of any lens manufacturers doing that on the basis of an unlimited warranty for a design weakness that may just possibly cause a problem.

I am not just blindly supporting Leica in saying that. My lenses haven't failed in about 35000 exposures so far and I wouldn't send them for a preventative service even if offered free on the basis of that five year warranty for that possible defect. In fact my S is in Wetzlar for an expensive repair right now that gives me concern about its robustness.

No one has yet commented on the additional 12 months warranty that results from that preemptive fix if you choose to send a lens now that does not exhibit the fault. I think that is a value consideration perhaps for anyone considering doing that. That extra warranty (on the whole lens or body) of course is their normal policy for repairs. Actually in my view the original (only) 12 months is just adequate for a premium product range. I don't know what other comparable manufacturers offer in comparison.

Edited April 3, 2017 by hoppyman

[Jeff S]

Well, if failure after 5 years is expected to be so rare, then why bother with such a silly limit for a known issue.  The previous plan had no such limit.  

 

I wonder how owners of M's with sensor corrosion would have felt with a 5 year limit, given that there are still reports.

 

It's not just the policy, it's the lack of full and timely communication....cause, fix, frequency, cost, etc.

 

Jeff

[Guest VVJ]

I am not an engineer, but in this particular case I would like to know what the exact cause is and under which circumstances the problem manifests itself.  Anything less is a lack of transparency IMHO.

[helged]

Being a potential S-user, I would say that Leica's statement is acceptable given (i) decent cost for repair, (ii) decent repair turnover and, importantly, (iii) real specs-upgrade and launch of the rumoured S3/S008 not too far into the furure.

 

Given the relatively small S-sensor, it's modest pixel density and it's high cost (new) - compared to X1D, GFX, and possibly other comparable, rumoured systems - it seems vital that Leica presents a substantial S-upgrade.

 

An upgrade in 2017 will, for many critical parts of the system, be based on decisions made 1-2 years ago. Though game, but still time to show and convince new and existing users that the S-line has it's place in a steadily demanding market.

Edited April 4, 2017 by helged

[hoppyman]

Well, if failure after 5 years is expected to be so rare, then why bother with such a silly limit for a known issue.  The previous plan had no such limit.  

 

I wonder how owners of M's with sensor corrosion would have felt with a 5 year limit, given that there are still reports.

 

It's not just the policy, it's the lack of full and timely communication....cause, fix, frequency, cost, etc.

 

Jeff

Sensor corrosion was a fault that did occur and there was no program to send every M camera back to have every sensor assembly replaced in case there was a future fault though. That's what some people are saying should happen with S lenses.

I guess if faults are reported in the future outside that five years it will become an actual issue, but no-one is affected at all currently are they? It's just opinions on the policy now?

In the case of the sensor replacements I can comment from personal knowledge (not my cameras) that some replacements were actually at least partly good will when there was other damage present.

 

I don't think that you can ever get a fixed price quoted for any camera or lens servicing though because what is inside may not be what you think. That is to say, the whole item is assessed and serviced as needed and then the whole item is guaranteed.

I just experienced exactly that with my S body in fact. A subject for a different thread on my personal experiences with S bodies and lenses.

 

Jeff have you left the system then?

 

 

[erlingmm]

Well, if failure after 5 years is expected to be so rare, then why bother with such a silly limit for a known issue.  The previous plan had no such limit.  

 

I wonder how owners of M's with sensor corrosion would have felt with a 5 year limit, given that there are still reports.

 

It's not just the policy, it's the lack of full and timely communication....cause, fix, frequency, cost, etc.

 

Jeff

 

 

Legally guaranteeing it to be fixed for free after more than 5 years is a big decision with impacts for production, OEMs etc., I assume they will be helpful even after 5 years as long as parts are available.

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[albertknappmd]

Glad that the policy is set. I can easily live with this set of promises.

 

Leica would help itself by publishing the ACTUAL AF breakdown incidence: if it is really small, then expectant repair makes eminent sense, on the other hand if it is say greater than 15-20%, then prophylactic repair should be mandated.

 

Just a thought...

 

Albert