Leica APO 50 f/2 - fragile lens shade pin broke again

[eleven24]

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Has anyone else had issues with the built in lens shade on the APO 50.  Last January the lens rolled off my bed as I was packing to go somewhere, hit the carpet and when I picked it up I noticed the shade was kind of stuck open.  When I pushed it back down a piece of plastic fell out and the shade "wobbled" and extended unevenly.  I sent the lens to Leica NJ for repair and it cost $521.  For a lens shade.  Fine, I figured.  Paid and had it fixed.  3.5 hours labor is what I was charged.

Just yesterday almost same exact thing happened.  Lens shade again wobbling.  Pin broke off.  

So I look on YouTube to see if I can find something.  Found that it's two simple Phillips head screws to remove the shade and put the new one on.  10 minutes tops.  No impact on lens elements at all.

First question, does anyone know where I can purchase OEM parts?  Second, for a $9k lens this seems like an incredible design flaw.  Both incidents were hardly what I call serious. Any real fall or drop would most certainly do the same.

Has anyone else had an issue like this, or am I just twice unlucky?

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[egrossman]

The price you were charged for this repair is outrageous. If the lens pin design is similar to the 50mm Summilux that I have repaired myself for this very problem it takes literally 10 minutes. 

I own the 50mm APO and this problem has never happened to me. 

You can order parts directly from Leica yourself to do the repair.

Ralph Arias - Leica Part Coordinator

ralph.arias@leicacamerausa.com T +1 201 962 9940

Erik

 

 

[eleven24]

Thank you so much.  I sent an email to the contact I had for the repair, but I'll also reach out to Ralph as well.  Not sure of the design on the 50 Summilux, but it does not appear as if one can separate the shade from the mechanism it slides in.  It requires replacing the whole assembly.  Hindsight being 20/20 and, of course finding a video on YouTube, has me realizing just how outrageous the price they charged me was.

[pedaes]

24 minutes ago, eleven24 said:

sent the lens to Leica NJ for repair and it cost $521.

Can we have full details. I had similar experience with a 90mm APO at Wetzlar, but Leica will not just do a repair, and undertake a full CLA with the repair.

[Gobert]

I have 2 APO 50 lenses and they never broke.

It might however be the case that the pen is a breaking pen and that it breaks under circumstances as described to avoid further damage.

[gotium]

I have not broken that lens, but I did send one to Leica NJ for a CLA and got back a qoute for something in excess of $600 for repairs. I could not, however, get an explanation of what needed repairing and why, so I just had them send it back to me. 

[egrossman]

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I'm pretty sure the mechanism of both the Summilux and the APO are similar (they have similar hood mechanisms that rotate as they slide out).

I looked at the APO and there are 2 screws that secure the hood to the lens body. This is similar to the method the Summilux hood is attached with single screw.

If the 2 screws are removed, the whole hood assembly should slide off giving you access to the plastic hood pins.

Again, the price you were charged for this repair is OUTRAGEOUS. I say this in the context that I sent in my 50mm APO for repair to replace a scratched front element and the total cost for that with CLA was $429.25 (see here).

I would call Leica NJ and speak to a manager about this.

Erik

[Huss]

So to sum up, to replace one pin that takes maybe 10 minutes costs the same as buying a CV 50 1.5 lens?

 

Sounds about right.  I mean how else can Leica afford to have those shiny Leica Gallery Stores across the world?

[egrossman]

1 minute ago, Huss said:

So to sum up, to replace one pin that takes maybe 10 minutes costs the same as buying a CV 50 1.5 lens?

 

Sounds about right.  I mean how else can Leica afford to have those shiny Leica Gallery Stores across the world?

I don't really agree with this statement. Do you think the $429.25 I was charged to replace the front element of a 50mm APO lens (including CLA) is unreasonable? I don't. I do agree that the price eleven24 was charged to fix a broken pin was highway robbery.

Erik

[lct]

1 hour ago, eleven24 said:

Last January the lens rolled off my bed as I was packing to go somewhere, hit the carpet and when I picked it up I noticed the shade was kind of stuck open.  When I pushed it back down a piece of plastic fell out and the shade "wobbled" and extended unevenly.  [...] Just yesterday almost same exact thing happened.  Lens shade again wobbling.  Pin broke off.

Do you mean that you dropped the lens twice? Just curious. 

[eleven24]

2 hours ago, pedaes said:

Can we have full details. I had similar experience with a 90mm APO at Wetzlar, but Leica will not just do a repair, and undertake a full CLA with the repair.

Work description on invoice:

• replace damaged hood/accessory carrier 
• test with digital M
• fix aperture ring
• inspect/repair focusing mount
• inspect/repair impact damage 
• inspect/repair focusing
• repair all function
• replace the mentioned parts

Cost breakdown:

• Lens hood/accessory carrier $148.50
• Misc $20.00
• Adjusting washer $20.00
• Necessary labor $312.50
• Shipping & tax $20
• Total $521

 

Keep in mind that the lens rolled off of a bed that was 4' high at most and landed on a carpeted floor.  It was just the lens with no body attached.  

[lct]

Was a Leica warranty granted for this repair? Just curious again.

[Huss]

2 hours ago, egrossman said:

I don't really agree with this statement. Do you think the $429.25 I was charged to replace the front element of a 50mm APO lens (including CLA) is unreasonable? I don't. I do agree that the price eleven24 was charged to fix a broken pin was highway robbery.

Erik

Not for your repair.

But to replace the pin.

[eleven24]

UPDATE: Was able to order lens hood at a cost of $86 + shipping.  Will DIY repair.

[egrossman]

That’s great. Now go speak with a manager about getting a refund for the outrageous bill they charged you. 

[lct]

3 hours ago, egrossman said:

That’s great. Now go speak with a manager about getting a refund for the outrageous bill they charged you. 

Not sure why outrageous. Leica is not supposed to make DIY works on bodies and lenses. I've been dealing with them for 30+ years and whatever repair i may need my gear has always been returned to me in perfect condition after a complete check-up. It is Leica responsability to do that and each time i got an extension of warranty if memory serves me well. Better use independant workshops for DIY repairs although i would not do that for an high end lens like the 50/2 apo personally but it's just me .

[egrossman]

@lctI spent just under $500 to repair a damaged front element. I thought this was more than reasonable. To charge more than that to repair damaged hood grommets for (a much less significant repair) is outrageous.

Erik

[lct]

17 minutes ago, egrossman said:

@lctI spent just under $500 to repair a damaged front element. I thought this was more than reasonable. To charge more than that to repair damaged hood grommets for (a much less significant repair) is outrageous.

Erik

I can only confirm what i said above sorry. If you send in anything to Leica they won't do any DIY work only and it will never been cheap, except that sometimes you'll get something for free. Happened to me a couple times in almost half a century. Was a good surprise but this is Leica and there are very good repair shops elsewhere fortunately.

Edited June 7, 2022 by lct

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[gotium]

Leica NJ recently quoted me in excess of $1200 for work I instead had done elsewhere for $280. That was still professional, not DIY.

Additionally, the last repair I DID have from Leica NJ came back broken in a different way.  After seven months. 

[egrossman]

@lct Nobody expects Leica to work for free, only the fee to be commensurate with the difficulty of the repair. As I said earlier in the thread, I replaced a broken hood grommet on the Summilux in about 10 minutes. The design of the hoot on the 50mm APO appears to be similar (2 screws vs 1). Ording the part directly from Leica was $86 according to @eleven24. Charging more than $500 for the repair (even if it includes CLA) was more than I paid for a front element replacement (including CLA) for the same lens. 

 

Erik