could someone explain what is "optic cell" of a lens?

[wizard]

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vor 21 Stunden schrieb maxinmanhattan:

most likely you are right, just replaced the rings.  "replaced" here means, took off and then re-placed it.

Just out of curiosity, the invoice indicates the item "Customs tariff" and associated cost of USD 393. Did you really have to pay USD 393 in customs charges? If so, that's about half of the invoiced amount! And why did you have to pay custom duties in the first place if your lens was serviced within the US?

Your pics look perfect though, so it was likely worth it.

Edited August 7 by wizard

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[pedaes]

6 minutes ago, wizard said:

Just out of curiosity, the invoice indicates the item "Customs tariff" and associated cost of USD 393. Did you really have to pay USD 393 in customs charges? If so, that's about half of the invoiced amount! And why did you have to pay custom duties in the first place if your lens was serviced within the US?

Your pics look perfect though, so it was likely worth it.

OP can answer, but it says "Origin DE" so presumably lens went to Wetzlar for service.

[wizard]

vor 2 Minuten schrieb pedaes:

... but it says "Origin DE" so presumably lens went to Wetzlar for service.

Actually, regarding the amount in question, the invoice says "Origin JP", which is kind of mysterious. "Origin DE" only applies to the washer, and no custom duties were charged for the washer.

Still, if the lens was purchased by the OP in the US, why would he have to pay custom duties again if the lens is serviced in the county of purchase?

[maxinmanhattan]

35 minutes ago, wizard said:

Actually, regarding the amount in question, the invoice says "Origin JP", which is kind of mysterious. "Origin DE" only applies to the washer, and no custom duties were charged for the washer.

Still, if the lens was purchased by the OP in the US, why would he have to pay custom duties again if the lens is serviced in the county of purchase?

I was told during the process that one part is out of stock and the service would be delayed as they were waiting for supplier to ship the part to them.  so the part seems to be from Japan, maybe the part is called "LENSH. ASS`Y M2/50".  the washer maybe from Delaware.  my guess.

the shipping cost of $35 was for UPS form NJ to New York City.

Edited August 7 by maxinmanhattan

[maxinmanhattan]

I paid for the same amount as original estimate.

 

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[wizard]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb maxinmanhattan:

I paid for the same amount as original estimate.

Ok, so now things seem to be clear. Your lens had fungus, and Leica did indeed replace the entire optical cell of your lens, in line with their estimate. So you actually got a pretty good deal. 

The only thing that puzzles me is that the optical cell came from Japan. I was under the impression that this Summicron lens (judging from the serial number quoted in the estimate, it is the still current Summicron v5) is made in either Portugal or Germany, at the respective Leica factory. Interesting.

[maxinmanhattan]

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27 minutes ago, wizard said:

Ok, so now things seem to be clear. Your lens had fungus, and Leica did indeed replace the entire optical cell of your lens, in line with their estimate. So you actually got a pretty good deal. 

The only thing that puzzles me is that the optical cell came from Japan. I was under the impression that this Summicron lens (judging from the serial number quoted in the estimate, it is the still current Summicron v5) is made in either Portugal or Germany, at the respective Leica factory. Interesting.

interesting indeed!  glad that my lens is functioning well like new.  the outer shell is the same, the white mark/scratch that caused by hitting on the door during one of my trip is still there.

[PCPix]

On 8/7/2025 at 8:05 PM, wizard said:

The only thing that puzzles me is that the optical cell came from Japan

It may be something as simple as Japan had the parts in stock for immediate use - whereas Wetzlar may have been in a state of 'awaiting next production bactch' ?

[pedaes]

1 hour ago, PCPix said:

Japan had the parts in stock for immediate use

Leica used to get some lens elements from Japan and maybe use Japan for one off spares needs.

[jgeenen]

It is all down to politics. 
 

Leica has produced the lens assembly housing spare part for the old Summicron in Japan. For a good while nobody cared. But then, under authority of Mr. Trump has changed tariff rules and it became important where the unit is coming from. Leica has modified the billing software to incorporate those information. As we all read and hear in the news, Mr. Trump has announced those different tariffs but they are to a good extent not effective right now. In summary the miracle resolves to:

When repairing an old Summicron, Leica sometimes replaces the lens assembly housing. The spare part is no longer coming from 50 year old stock in Germany but new stock that has been machined/milled in Japan. Leica is prepared to fulfill US customs requirements depending on origin, but at the time of invoicing no surcharges had materialized.

Do I know this for sure? No, but to me this sounds like a reasonable explanation.

 

[maxinmanhattan]

4 hours ago, jgeenen said:

It is all down to politics. 
 

Leica has produced the lens assembly housing spare part for the old Summicron in Japan. For a good while nobody cared. But then, under authority of Mr. Trump has changed tariff rules and it became important where the unit is coming from. Leica has modified the billing software to incorporate those information. As we all read and hear in the news, Mr. Trump has announced those different tariffs but they are to a good extent not effective right now. In summary the miracle resolves to:

When repairing an old Summicron, Leica sometimes replaces the lens assembly housing. The spare part is no longer coming from 50 year old stock in Germany but new stock that has been machined/milled in Japan. Leica is prepared to fulfill US customs requirements depending on origin, but at the time of invoicing no surcharges had materialized.

Do I know this for sure? No, but to me this sounds like a reasonable explanation.

 

very likely!