I've dropped my lens

[agiknee]

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😩

and it appears to be absolutely destroyed. Since it has happened I've managed to yell, cry, and laugh and I'm not sure what to feel. I bought it 2nd hand and have only had it a month. I'm too afraid to send it to Leica, as they probably won't be able to fix it and will probably charge me to look at it; then i'll be absolutely crushed. Rear element is smashed, barrels is dented. The focusing tab doesn't even turn anymore. 

After years of hearing horror stories of dropping cameras and lenses, I finally feel your pain. It's hard to pick up any other camera now. 

/vent. 

[lykaman]

My absolute deepest feelings/sorryness. A heart-stopping moment.. First thoughts, House or Renters Insurance? Depending on the Lens and what you paid for it probably dictates how you go forward..  (1)Contact a Lens repair specialist, they may have other damaged lenses that they can use to make One good lens.. (2)Box it up, and move forward, who knows what the future holds..(3)Have a talk with Jack Daniels.. (4)Get out there on the photographic trail..  L

 

[TomB_tx]

After 50 years using Leica I finally fumbled a lens this year, but it only dropped about 3 feet to a hardwood floor and appeared undamaged. But I sent it to a Leica tech for checkout and CLA, and he noted some separation starting between cemented elements - no doubt due to the impact. This was a lens I’ve had since 1971, and I should have treated the old friend better.

I have better performing lenses now, but still a soft spot for this one.

[derleicaman]

I once dropped my 50/1.0 Noctilux at a local Oktoberfest! Everyone had been drinking and one of my uncles had just taken a picture with it on my M6. I went to take a picture and instead of turning the focusing ring, the lens just turned and fell off! Not sure how the lens release button had been pushed, but needless to say I about had heart failure. The only damage was to the mount. I called Leica and had a new one sent. Easy five minute repair. Dodged a bullet on that one 🙂

[Archiver]

That's really awful, man. When you've calmed down some more, think about sending it to Leica, or even take it to a reputable repair centre near you, if you have one. Leica Wetzlar have been known to be very good with repairs to damaged equipment, so give it a go.

[jaeger]

It's absolutely heart breaking, I feel sorry for you... it's not a bad idea just get a quotation from Wetzlar.  BTW, what lens was it?

[agiknee]

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1 hour ago, jaeger said:

It's absolutely heart breaking, I feel sorry for you... it's not a bad idea just get a quotation from Wetzlar.  BTW, what lens was it?

It was a 35cron asph. 

[agiknee]

Thanks to everyone for the for the nice words. I think I’ll bite the bullet and send it to wetzlar 

[NigelG]

I have just sent in a 35 cron v4 for reassembly/repair. The quotation details a charge of €40 Euro + tax if the quotation is declined and the lens returned to me (I assume via Leica Mayfair where I consigned it) so that’s the cost of finding out if they can sort it....

Fingers crossed for you - I’ve broken 2 lenses so far....

[LocalHero1953]

I threw my apo-Summicron-M 75 onto the cobbles outside Parma Cathedral some years ago. Although no glass was damaged, the focus ring was jammed and there were the obvious impact  abrasions. I sent it to Leica for repair and it came back as new - at a cost. 

Sh1t happens! 

Edited August 15, 2019 by LocalHero1953

[spydrxx]

I share your pain. A couple of years ago, I set my M4+50 Cron down on the hood of my car in winter for some reason I can't remember, and suddenly realized it was sliding off and dropping onto the asphalt road. When I picked it up I couldn't move the focus ring and the RF was also off. With heavy heart I sent the lens to DAG and the body to Sherry Krauter. Needed new RF mechanism, and DAG got everything concentric and smoothly working again, but it was an expensive lesson. I hope Wetzlar can get yours working again.

[agiknee]

9 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I threw my apo-Summicron-M 75 onto the cobbles outside Parma Cathedral some years ago. Although no glass was damaged, the focus ring was jammed and there were the obvious impact  abrasions. I sent it to Leica for repair and it came back as new - at a cost. 

Sh1t happens! 

Did you send it to Leica in wetzlar ? 

[Boojay]

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch! Oh dear, I am so sorry for your nasty accident.  

I didn't feel very lucky at the time but nearest thing for me was dropping my M 90 Apo during a clumsily executed lens change on holiday in Venice last year, only just managing to stop it rolling into the canal.  The stupid hood ended up with a dent and the filter was finished, also has left a dent in the filter ring of the lens which bugs me every time I look at it, and no longer takes filters without a struggle.  I need to send it off I know - but it seems to have not affected calibration - again - lucky.

Hopefully you have some insurance that will cover it for you.  I decided against claiming for my damage and sometimes think it might have been better had it rolled in the canal😉!

 

 

[Hello]

Last year, I had a beautiful IIIf serviced and cleaned up by Alan Starkie. A week after getting it, I dropped it on concrete and it was damaged exte3rnally and the winding was broken. I was gutted. Sorry to hear about your accident OP.

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, agiknee said:

Did you send it to Leica in wetzlar ? 

Yes, but via the Leica shop in London

[agiknee]

On 8/15/2019 at 10:35 AM, LocalHero1953 said:

Yes, but via the Leica shop in London

Awesome and thank you. I’ll be in London next month. I’ll drop it off with them and hope they take it 

[Herr Barnack]

@agiknee,

Very sorry to hear of your mishap - I would urge you to get your lens evaluated by the repair department in Wetzlar; in spite of how bad the damage looks, the lens may very well be repairable.  Even if the repair cost is £/$/€1000, it will be returned to new lens specs and will be significantly less costly than buying a replacement 35 Summicron.

[albertknappmd]

Sorry for your mishap!

I had a potentially dreadful incident while in Japan a few years ago. I had my S (006) and 30-90 mm zoom lens atop my Gitzo tripod and ball head. I thought that the rapid release clamp was on tight but it wasn't. The camera and lens fell five feet onto a stone floor. The lens being heavier obeyed Newton's law and dutifully lead the way to what I thought would be an early photographic grave.

Then a miracle...

The lens shade SHATTERED COMPLETELY but the lens and camera themselves escaped destruction without a scratch!  The lens and camera body remained in the vertical positon on top of the debris caused by the lens shade... A baleful site indeed!

It also helped that I had a Luigi Crescenzi leather half case around the S body...

The camera and lens worked flawlessly for the next three weeks in Japan. I did send both back to Wetzlar along with a note and the engineers examined both the lens and the camera. I obviously told them the story but they and nothing amiss...

I credit it to the design of the the lens shade!! Similar to the design of a car bumper....

Albert

[lexontario]

A year ago my Lieca camera strap managed to slip off the body and the camera fell to the cobblestone walk.

On inspection my uv filter took most of the impact, but above the viewfinder window at the front the camera top plate was indented at the front corner 

and my lens had a small mark  at the end of the lens,  the lens is brass , plastic lens body may not have had the same outcome .

I should send them in to be checked to make sure the are not internally damaged and within spec .

My lens is still within warranty , any idea if any damage to the lens would be  covered under warranty?

Myself I would think it would not be a warranty item.

Edited August 23, 2019 by lexontario

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaeger]

human error is not covered afaik.  Can't you check minimal, 1m, 2m, 5m & infinity to see if it focuses accurately?