Leicalifer Posted April 13, 2018 Share #1 Posted April 13, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello I’ve noticed an occasional S lense both CS and FP being sold by a variety of vendors with “new motors.” Many appear to be in excellent condition and appear to represent an outstanding value. Do any of you have any experience with these? Assuming the work was done by Leica, Would you purchase one? If not why ? Inquiring minds need to know. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 13, 2018 Posted April 13, 2018 Hi Leicalifer, Take a look here Leica S lenses with new motor. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
djmay Posted April 13, 2018 Share #2 Posted April 13, 2018 Hello I’ve noticed an occasional S lense both CS and FP being sold by a variety of vendors with “new motors.” Many appear to be in excellent condition and appear to represent an outstanding value. Do any of you have any experience with these? Assuming the work was done by Leica, Would you purchase one? If not why ? Inquiring minds need to know. Thank you in advance. Definitely yes. All of my lenses have new motors. I just do not need any additional lenses at the moment.Jesse Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erlingmm Posted April 14, 2018 Share #3 Posted April 14, 2018 I have 6 lenses with new motors since the update came over a year ago. No problems after upgrade. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicalifer Posted April 14, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted April 14, 2018 Are the new motors faster, quieter or just more reliable? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erlingmm Posted April 14, 2018 Share #5 Posted April 14, 2018 Reliability most important, I have not noticed other differences. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photon42 Posted April 18, 2018 Share #6 Posted April 18, 2018 Assuming the work was done by Leica, Would you purchase one? Of course - only buy a lens with a new motor, if you care about reliability (or buy a Contax or Hasselblad lens with adapter). And read the thread about it in this forum. My second lens is now on the way back from Wetzlar. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaubauu2009 Posted April 19, 2018 Share #7 Posted April 19, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica should really clarify what is actually wrong with the spur gear, and if the new upgrade has any changes in specs/material made to it so that in the future, the same problem would not happen again and give the users who hurried to have their pre-emptive fix on all of their lens a peace of mind that it will not fail again due to the more aggressive AF motion in the new or not that new firmware of the S. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicalifer Posted April 19, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted April 19, 2018 The advice I gathered so far is; if it works keep shooting it, if it breaks send it back and if you qre buying pre owned try to obtain one with the new fix. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erlingmm Posted April 19, 2018 Share #9 Posted April 19, 2018 (edited) Leica should really clarify what is actually wrong with the spur gear, and if the new upgrade has any changes in specs/material made to it so that in the future, the same problem would not happen again and give the users who hurried to have their pre-emptive fix on all of their lens a peace of mind that it will not fail again due to the more aggressive AF motion in the new or not that new firmware of the S. My impression is that the old motor is replaced wit a new with different design/construction, thoroughly tested. As far as I know, no failures reported on new motors. Edited April 19, 2018 by erlingmm 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaubauu2009 Posted April 19, 2018 Share #10 Posted April 19, 2018 My impression is that the old motor is replaced wit a new with different design/construction, thoroughly tested. As far as I know, no failures reported on new motors. That's what I heard, but would be nicer to be clear about that from Leica. Put everyone's doubt at ease, cause they could look at their stockpile of gear/motor, and make a decision that it will be cheaper just to keep on changing customer occasionally failed motor than sourcing a different parts for it which mean adding more cost. But that's just a speculation. Like I said, better for them to come clean since the problem is already there and won't hurt them anymore than it already has. As a matter of fact, by clarifying, it will be a confident booster... or not, if they haven't change anything... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted April 20, 2018 Share #11 Posted April 20, 2018 Leica replaced the original motors that had a plastic part that would break. The new ones are 100% (!!!) reliable. I had all my lenses refitted and NO further issues... So, YES, get the lens! Albert 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaubauu2009 Posted April 20, 2018 Share #12 Posted April 20, 2018 Leica replaced the original motors that had a plastic part that would break. The new ones are 100% (!!!) reliable. I had all my lenses refitted and NO further issues... So, YES, get the lens! Albert Do they still have that plastic spur gear wheel on the motor? or they use a more robust material? It is actually that spur wheel that cracked which cause the AF to just spin freely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted April 23, 2018 Share #13 Posted April 23, 2018 If I am correct, the fix comes with a 1 year warranty on the lens from Leica. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted April 23, 2018 Share #14 Posted April 23, 2018 Do they still have that plastic spur gear wheel on the motor? or they use a more robust material? It is actually that spur wheel that cracked which cause the AF to just spin freely. My understanding is that it is a different design and is in metal.. No issues as of now have been reported to my knowledge. This issue is resolved... Albert Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted June 4, 2018 Share #15 Posted June 4, 2018 This issue is resolved... Albert I hope so. My 30-90 and 70mm motors have both failed in the last 10 days. Good timing as the S isn't getting a huge amount of use right now. Hope they don't take the usual 5 months like most things from Oz. Gordon Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted June 4, 2018 Share #16 Posted June 4, 2018 (edited) If I am correct, the fix comes with a 1 year warranty on the lens from Leica.I am afraid not. The AF motor repair is guaranteed. The rest of the lens is not. The Central Shutter in my 70 failed a couple of months after I got it back from the AF fail (fixed free). My questioning that warranty got as far as the head of Custmer Service via this countries Leica company..I had to pay as it was unrelated to the AF It may be too that I shoot more frames than average with the system. My 70 is my most used lens and would be maybe 40 000 clicks Edited June 4, 2018 by hoppyman Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted June 4, 2018 Share #17 Posted June 4, 2018 I hope so. My 30-90 and 70mm motors have both failed in the last 10 days. Good timing as the S isn't getting a huge amount of use right now. Hope they don't take the usual 5 months like most things from Oz. Gordon About 6-8 weeks door to door is what I have had with S lenses and bodies Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted June 4, 2018 Share #18 Posted June 4, 2018 I am afraid not. The AF motor repair is guaranteed. The rest of the lens is not. The Central Shutter in my 70 failed a couple of months after I got it back from the AF fail (fixed free). My questioning that warranty got as far as the head of Custmer Service via this countries Leica company.. I had to pay as it was unrelated to the AF Sorry to hear that Geoff. In my case, I am paying to have the motors replaced before failure. I decided to get out of the S system and in order to sell them or rather trade them in, I needed to do this and they are supposed to get a 1 year warranty on the lens. I have not received them back yet so we will see. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted June 5, 2018 Share #19 Posted June 5, 2018 (edited) Bill in my case this policy came from Leica Camera's Head of Customer Service in Wetzlar, so its not a decision by the national branch of Leica Camera here (Australia).I was debating having the preemptive fix on my second S lens (used less often) before the five year period from my initial purchase. However I am very disappointed to now know the whole lens would not be then covered by a new warranty period.I just checked and I have about 46 000 exposures with the 70 vs 7 000 with the 120. They are both of similar age. Maybe 5 000 of those would have been with loaners.My S body when 12 months old cost quite a bit for servicing too, although it was never abused. So I am concerned with how robust this system actually is, although to be fair I have used it much more than previous M cameras and now the SL too Edited June 5, 2018 by hoppyman 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted June 5, 2018 Share #20 Posted June 5, 2018 I would NOT buy a lens second hand if it DOES NOT have the new motor Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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