Pieter12 Posted May 29 Share #1 Posted May 29 Advertisement (gone after registration) I apologize if this has been covered before. Does anyone know if the AF motor replacements are liable to become unavailable any time soon? I ask this because I have a lens with an older motor that will eventually need replacement (currently it works), but I hesitate to send it in with the current trade ridiculousness (I'm in the U.S.). From what I have read, a repair or upgrade would be subject to tariffs. I would rather hold off on the service until things seem more rational, on the other hand I don't want to find out the service is no longer available. I also don't know if the AF motors vary by lens, so the stock avaliablilty may be dependent on the lens. I guess I should contact Leica, but hoping someone here might have any insight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 29 Posted May 29 Hi Pieter12, Take a look here AF motor availability. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Stef63 Posted May 29 Share #2 Posted May 29 (edited) For most lenses replacement AF motors still seem to be available. However not for the 180 mm. I arranged a replacement for a recent acquired 24 and 45, and the lenses are now in Germany for service. But Leica told me they are out of stock of a necessary circuit board for the 180 (also with the old motor) and that won’t become available again. Please check with Leica, they are very responsive. Just mail them the serial numbers. Edited May 29 by Stef63 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tirpitz666 Posted May 30 Share #3 Posted May 30 Well, that's worrisome, so if my dear 180 fails, that's basically it for the AF.. 🙃 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted May 30 Share #4 Posted May 30 6 hours ago, Tirpitz666 said: Well, that's worrisome, so if my dear 180 fails, that's basically it for the AF.. 🙃 If you’re lucky; some here have reported total lockup with AF motor failure in various S lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef63 Posted May 30 Share #5 Posted May 30 6 hours ago, Tirpitz666 said: Well, that's worrisome, so if my dear 180 fails, that's basically it for the AF.. 🙃 They are dirt cheap on the used market right now. If it is a lens you use frequently you might consider a second copy. It’s a gamble, but if the S4 is released- and I say IF in capital letters - prices of used S lenses might go up again. That has happened with R lenses in the past when the M240 and SL were released. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanD Posted May 30 Share #6 Posted May 30 That's good to know about the 180 APO. The S lenses are truly from a different era. If the AF motor fails, I assume a company that normally does cine-housing retrofits can "fix' the S lenses, relying on the exiting electronic aperture control. As for the S4, there is a high likelihood that a mirrorless S4 will be released and a S lens adapter will be available. I'm also curious if the S to SL adapter works better with the latest SL3 as compared to the original SL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc_P Posted May 30 Share #7 Posted May 30 Advertisement (gone after registration) vor 1 Stunde schrieb AlanD: That's good to know about the 180 APO. The S lenses are truly from a different era. If the AF motor fails, I assume a company that normally does cine-housing retrofits can "fix' the S lenses, relying on the exiting electronic aperture control. As for the S4, there is a high likelihood that a mirrorless S4 will be released and a S lens adapter will be available. I'm also curious if the S to SL adapter works better with the latest SL3 as compared to the original SL. I used the S to L adapter on the SL2, the SL2-S and now the SL3: same behavior imho… Nonetheless the S 180 rocks, whereas the AF doesn‘t work with my copy of the S 120 Macro… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slender Posted June 1 Share #8 Posted June 1 120macro Af also not replaceable anymore according to Leica…. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted June 1 Share #9 Posted June 1 Isn't it just the tiny little plastic gear that tends to fail? Can't they just order more? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
da_eltsch Posted June 1 Share #10 Posted June 1 (edited) vor 2 Stunden schrieb Stuart Richardson: Isn't it just the tiny little plastic gear that tends to fail? Can't they just order more? Would love to understand that as well 😉 Somewhere I have read, that the problem with 120mm is that during the repair another "electronic" part might be in danger of being destroyed, which makes the trouble. For sure your question stays: how much would an order of a small series of whichever parts (e.g. 200) mean in € investment? Edited June 1 by da_eltsch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted June 1 Author Share #11 Posted June 1 8 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said: Isn't it just the tiny little plastic gear that tends to fail? Can't they just order more? 6 hours ago, da_eltsch said: Would love to understand that as well 😉 Somewhere I have read, that the problem with 120mm is that during the repair another "electronic" part might be in danger of being destroyed, which makes the trouble. For sure your question stays: how much would an order of a small series of whichever parts (e.g. 200) mean in € investment? When my 120 AF failed, it sounded like the motor was still turning but not engaging the mechanism. Leica replaced the entire AF motor and complete drive as well as an "AF modification." As far as just ordering more parts, the source or tooling may no longer be available or the cost to start production might be prohibitive. The lens I am considering sending in (although the AF works fine right now) is a 100mm f2. My understanding is few were made, so the supply of parts might be limited. Leica has responded that they are still repairing those lenses and the turnaround is 12-14 weeks. I might just go ahead and have it upgraded. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted June 1 Share #12 Posted June 1 Yeah, I guess that when this originally occurred, there were photos of the part and it was just a little plastic gear. Given the size of Leica and the ease of 3d printing and CNC tooling these days, if that is indeed the only part that fails, I think they should just keep making them. But if that part failing means they need to replace the entire motor assembly, that is pretty frustrating and certainly representative of the culture of planned obsolescence that currently pervades our culture. I know that is an issue for many industries. For example, in my printer you cannot easily replace individual components of the cleaning unit subject to wear and tear, you just have to replace the entire cleaning unit. Not all the parts in the printer are like that, but many are. It creates a frustration for consumers and repairers alike. Having to throw out a part assembly that is 90% in perfect working order, but just needs a small component fixed. If that is the case here, that is pretty frustrating, particularly for a lens that was pushing 8000 dollars retail 15 years ago. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted June 1 Author Share #13 Posted June 1 1 hour ago, Stuart Richardson said: Yeah, I guess that when this originally occurred, there were photos of the part and it was just a little plastic gear. Given the size of Leica and the ease of 3d printing and CNC tooling these days, if that is indeed the only part that fails, I think they should just keep making them. But if that part failing means they need to replace the entire motor assembly, that is pretty frustrating and certainly representative of the culture of planned obsolescence that currently pervades our culture. I know that is an issue for many industries. For example, in my printer you cannot easily replace individual components of the cleaning unit subject to wear and tear, you just have to replace the entire cleaning unit. Not all the parts in the printer are like that, but many are. It creates a frustration for consumers and repairers alike. Having to throw out a part assembly that is 90% in perfect working order, but just needs a small component fixed. If that is the case here, that is pretty frustrating, particularly for a lens that was pushing 8000 dollars retail 15 years ago. I doubt in Leica's case it was or is planned obsolescence, rather poor design or engineering. However, many manufacturers are now producing components that cannot be disassembled or repaired because it is cheaper to make them that way. The most unfortunate side effect of that is when such a component or sub-assembly fails, the replacement is often no longer available. You could call it planned or maybe just marketing constantly pushing for new and "improved" products to sell. Detroit in its heyday brought out new car models every 3 years or so, but most of the changes were purely cosmetic and the underpinnings were interchangeable. It does not seem so anymore. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef63 Posted June 1 Share #14 Posted June 1 (edited) I quote the response I got from Leica recently for a replacement of the AF motor of a 24, 45 and a 180 : The cost per lens is 261€ + VAT, please note that the 180mm cannot be equipped with the new motor, a needed circuit is out of stock and is no longer being produced. Edited June 1 by Stef63 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynp Posted June 1 Share #15 Posted June 1 (edited) Below is the warning from Leica related to the repair of my S120. Please note, a printed circuit is no longer available. In case it gets damaged we could not longer repair the lens. So the AF will no longer work. Due to the fact we will not take over any warranty. The risk is on customers side. ****************************************** We are missing a flexible board that could be damaged during repair/dismantling. If the flexible board is damaged, the lens can only be focused manually. Therefore, the repair is carried out at the customer's own risk, excluding any warranty. ***************************************** Edited June 1 by ynp 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted June 2 Share #16 Posted June 2 12 hours ago, ynp said: Below is the warning from Leica related to the repair of my S120. Please note, a printed circuit is no longer available. In case it gets damaged we could not longer repair the lens. So the AF will no longer work. Due to the fact we will not take over any warranty. The risk is on customers side. ****************************************** We are missing a flexible board that could be damaged during repair/dismantling. If the flexible board is damaged, the lens can only be focused manually. Therefore, the repair is carried out at the customer's own risk, excluding any warranty. ***************************************** Was your lens still working, or did the gear already break? If it was already broken, there is really nothing to lose... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynp Posted June 2 Share #17 Posted June 2 2 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said: Was your lens still working, or did the gear already break? If it was already broken, there is really nothing to lose... My S120 stopped working at a shoot while on my S3. I sent it to Leica through Singapore and it was repaired in three months and now the AF works great. Now I have all my S lenses treated. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tirpitz666 Posted June 3 Share #18 Posted June 3 I also have the 120, but should be at least one with the newer motors fitted, according to the serial number. As far as the 180 is concerned, at 1000-1300 euros a pop used, at least for me I wouldn't classify them as "dirt cheap" to replace if it fails and cannot be focused even manually, the only real mitigation would be that for the time being it only gets mounted on my S-E so the AF should not be driven too hard (and at this point I guess I wouldn't even try my luck with the Kipon AF adapter). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted June 4 Share #19 Posted June 4 I had motors fail on my S2-P..... john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted June 5 Author Share #20 Posted June 5 On 6/3/2025 at 5:14 AM, Tirpitz666 said: I also have the 120, but should be at least one with the newer motors fitted, according to the serial number. As far as the 180 is concerned, at 1000-1300 euros a pop used, at least for me I wouldn't classify them as "dirt cheap" to replace if it fails and cannot be focused even manually, the only real mitigation would be that for the time being it only gets mounted on my S-E so the AF should not be driven too hard (and at this point I guess I wouldn't even try my luck with the Kipon AF adapter). How do you know at what serial number the new AF motors were introduced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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