Pieter12 Posted December 26, 2021 Share #1 Posted December 26, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) This subject may have been discussed here before. I am sorry if it is a duplicate. I have a couple of questions about the older autofocus motor. 1. Are there symptoms of a failing motor? Like hesitation or slow movement? 2. Are all the older motors destined to fail at some point? Is there an average useable life for those motors? 3. I believe the Leica Store Miami automatically has the older motors replaced before offering a used lens for sale. Would it be wise to just upgrade the motor now, while service and parts are still available rather than waiting for an older motor to fail? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 26, 2021 Posted December 26, 2021 Hi Pieter12, Take a look here Autofocus motor replacement. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
helged Posted December 26, 2021 Share #2 Posted December 26, 2021 (edited) Hello! Lenses with old motors will likely fail at some point. For this reason I have got my lenses upgraded with new motors. New motors can be trusted. Often, manual focus can be done after a motor failure, but sometimes the focus mechanisn get stucked. In case you are uncertsin whether you have a new motor, send an email to customcustomer.care@leica-camera.com with the series number. They typically respond after a day or two. They should also be able to inform you about the (approx) cost. Others here may chime in on the 2021 cost; I got my S-lenses upgraded some years ago. Edited December 26, 2021 by helged 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted December 26, 2021 Author Share #3 Posted December 26, 2021 Thanks. I have just purchased (not received yet) a used 120mm and I have already corresponded with Leica service and they have confirmed it has never been in for service and has the old motor. They also informed me how much it would cost to replace it. Just wondering if replacement is inevitable and should I just got ahead and have the work done now, before I become dependent on the lens. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrayson3 Posted December 26, 2021 Share #4 Posted December 26, 2021 Get it fixed now. It is one of the finest lenses of all time. Use it without worry! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted December 27, 2021 Share #5 Posted December 27, 2021 When Leica changes the motor they will also service the lens. My 120 and 180 have never needed the new motor, admittedly I rarely use these lenses. When my lenses fail or when they need service of another type I’ll get the new motor. Oddly enough, I’ve had motors fail between uses. As an amateur waiting has no risk. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailronin Posted December 28, 2021 Share #6 Posted December 28, 2021 My 120 macro motor failed several years ago. As I was using it mostly for macro and used manual focus anyway I waited over a year before having it replaced. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted January 13, 2022 Share #7 Posted January 13, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi @Pieter12! Your question is common, and one I thought about as well. In terms of failure, my understanding is the the motor just quits, it’s not a slow deterioration. I have purchased all my lenses with updated motors (and most of them from the Leica Store Miami). I use mine out in the weather and sometimes rather harsh weather, including cold. So, for me it was worth the peace of mind. You said you purchased a 120 that never had service. If you rarely use the lens, I guess you could wait and see. You can also determine if you think the lens needs serviced any way. If the focus is spot on and focusing is smooth and not tight, it may not need service. It’s probably time now or time later… The 120 is a great lens, hope you enjoy it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
setuporg Posted February 1, 2022 Share #8 Posted February 1, 2022 Out of all the 9 different AF lenses in the lineup, I’ve found that 6 were back in Wetzlar for the motors replacement. So I’ve sent the remaining 3 and got them back. The plus was that my 100mm is now focusing better!:). If you ever decide to sell your S lenses, the question will come up. Better have them serviced early. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZHNL Posted February 1, 2022 Share #9 Posted February 1, 2022 1 hour ago, setuporg said: Out of all the 9 different AF lenses in the lineup, I’ve found that 6 were back in Wetzlar for the motors replacement. So I’ve sent the remaining 3 and got them back. The plus was that my 100mm is now focusing better!:). If you ever decide to sell your S lenses, the question will come up. Better have them serviced early. do you mind share your latest cost for doing replacement? Is there difference between lens? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksclix Posted February 2, 2022 Share #10 Posted February 2, 2022 FWIW, I’ve had the S35 (non-CS) for about a year.. I got it used and didn’t have the motor replaced.. it still works like a charm! I don’t use it everyday though.. 😌 my life doesn’t depend on this lens so I can get away with not replacing it until it fails.. 😀 I bought the 120 first.. for my SL2! It was SLOW! That didn’t have AF motor replaced either.. I sold that away.. just didn’t have use for it.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropo54 Posted February 2, 2022 Share #11 Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, ZHNL said: do you mind share your latest cost for doing replacement? Is there difference between lens? My AF replacements were done within the last year. Cost for the S70, S100, S180 was $285 per lens while the cost for the S24 was $325. I don't know why there were discrepant prices. They had to first go through NJ which shipped them to Germany for the work. There were no shipping charges added by Leica, though I did have to absorb the shipping cost to NJ. Rob Edited February 2, 2022 by ropo54 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
setuporg Posted February 2, 2022 Share #12 Posted February 2, 2022 1 hour ago, aksclix said: I bought the 120 first.. for my SL2! It was SLOW! That didn’t have AF motor replaced either.. I sold that away.. just didn’t have use for it.. So you also sold the 120, the most beautiful Leica portrait lens across all systems, ever... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksclix Posted February 2, 2022 Share #13 Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, setuporg said: So you also sold the 120, the most beautiful Leica portrait lens across all systems, ever... Lol!!! I know I know… it was too slow for me on the SL2 and it was too heavy on the S.. no regrets… will always have a chance to buy them back it’s not a question about the optics.. i didn’t like the AF noise it made either.. Edited February 2, 2022 by aksclix 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
setuporg Posted February 2, 2022 Share #14 Posted February 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, aksclix said: Lol!!! I know I know… it was too slow for me on the SL2 and it was too heavy on the S.. no regrets… will always have a chance to buy them back it’s not a question about the optics.. i didn’t like the AF noise it made either.. So you've dispensed with the two iconic lenses first!:). Just proves that S people are special and one size doesn't fit all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksclix Posted February 2, 2022 Share #15 Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, setuporg said: So you've dispensed with the two iconic lenses first!:). Just proves that S people are special and one size doesn't fit all. let me give you some background.. first, I bought a used S2 and didn’t like the outdated display on it. I absolutely loved the grip on the S2 though.. far better than what’s on S bodies after that.. then I got the S006, it died on me WHILE I was using it! I traded it in for an S007.. never planned to get an S.. one thing lead to another and this infectious forum made me buy the S that I didn’t need in the first place.. already had the gfx for 3+ years.. I bought the S120 for my SL2 in the first place.. didn’t even have an S body when I bought that.. then I used it with S2, S006 for a bit.. if Leica had a full frame macro for the SL2 I wouldn’t have bought the S120.. then I bought a 70 and a 35.. the 35 was almost never getting any use.. then I forced myself into using it by selling the 70.. I also sold the XCD 90 I had.. can’t have everything.. am happy with the 35 and 180.. don’t think anybody would have just this pair 😀 it’s very odd.. I agree.. it is just because I don’t want to end up with common focal lengths across the systems I use Edited February 2, 2022 by aksclix 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksclix Posted February 2, 2022 Share #16 Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) . Edited February 2, 2022 by aksclix Duplicate Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailronin Posted March 5, 2022 Share #17 Posted March 5, 2022 I have had my 70mm and 120mm focus motors replaced after failure. The 120 I used for several months after the failure in manual mode with no issues. The 70mm I sent in right away but it was working OK in manual for a day after the failure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted October 16, 2024 Share #18 Posted October 16, 2024 An update: the motor on my 120mm failed while sitting in a case....I can not figure how this happens that the motor fails in between uses but it does, if anyone knows.... The broken lens focused with limited range and I stopped using it fearing greater damage, two of my lenses behaved like that, two others focused manually without any issues. The repair time was quoted as nine months from the estimate date of Sept 17, 2024 @ $383.77. The lens was returned October, 14, 2024, originally sent through Leica Store LA on July 27, 2024. Two and a half months total time. In the estimate was a paragraph that read: Dear Leica Customer: "We are missing a conductor strip that could be damaged during repair/dismantling. If the ladder tape is damaged, the lens can only be focused manually. Therefore, the repair is carried out at the customer's own risk to the exclusion of any warranty." I asked Leica New Jersey when they called me for return shipping information about the conductor, they did not have the information whether damaged or not. Fortunately the lens does autofocus fine after repair. My remaining lens with an old motor is the 180mm, I am not sure Leica will continue to repair these lenses in the future, yet I don't want to send it in and have the conductor damaged. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted October 16, 2024 Share #19 Posted October 16, 2024 25 minutes ago, darylgo said: An update: the motor on my 120mm failed while sitting in a case....I can not figure how this happens that the motor fails in between uses but it does, if anyone knows.... My 120mm failed on an S2-P without being removed, it worked fine then an hour later it didn't... john Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted October 16, 2024 Share #20 Posted October 16, 2024 I can’t remember a camera or lens that behaves as the S lenses malfunction. I understand it’s a plastic gear that is the issue, surprising given the original price of the lens. I have Leica lenses going back to the 1930’s and Nikkors dating from the 1970’s that continue to be perfect. That Leica charges a minimal fee is a nice concession. If it was an M system product the outcry would be great and the PR would get a full warranty, M9 sensor. The S system forum doesn’t appear to carry the same clout, my S006 has a sensor with ongoing corrosion, it’s not economically feasible to spend the $6k estimate to salvage the camera. Nonetheless, to finish on a positive note, the S system continues to deliver beautiful images and Leica deserves credit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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