d_lague Posted March 4, 2008 Share #1 Posted March 4, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just sent my Leica D VARIO-ELMARIT 1.2-6.5 14-50 ASPH lens in for repair under warranty to the Bigston Corp in Elk Grove Village IL. They are the Panasonic licensed repair facility. I had to send the camera body along with the lens....at least that is what Panasonic wanted me to do. Problem I am having is that the lens will stop at 18 to 25 when zooming about 50% of the time. A bit of wiggling gets it to go to full zoom. Also at full zoom and lens extension, the front part of the lens is loose and can be moved about 1/8 of an inch. I have no idea what is wrong. I have not used this lens and camera that much. I have probably shot more with my Olympus Zuiko lenses on this body than the kit lens. I hope they turn it around quickly. I am happy that it fits under the 12 month warranty. I have had the camera for 9 months now. Bigston did a good job on the sensor replacement on my LC1 about 7 months ago......however I did have to pay 560.00 USD to have it done because the warranty of 6 months on the CCD was up. I guess that is where the Leica warranty is better......however I paid something under $1100 USD for the LC1 when I bought it new. I don't regret replacing the sensor, because I do love the LC1 and I am happy to have it while my L1 is in for repair. I will report back to the list what we find out just for everyone's general information on this lens. I posted something about this before, but it seemed like I was alone with this problem. Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 4, 2008 Posted March 4, 2008 Hi d_lague, Take a look here My L1 Leica 14-50 LENS REPAIR. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lmr Posted March 5, 2008 Share #2 Posted March 5, 2008 Dick: Thx for the information. I will keep Brigston Corp. in mind if I have Panaleica issues... and I hope I do not have to use them. Please keep us posted on your progress and the quality of work by Brigston Corp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnotaniceboy Posted March 5, 2008 Share #3 Posted March 5, 2008 I had the same problem with my l1 kit lens. I send it with warranty and they replace it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 5, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted March 5, 2008 Tell me more. Did your lens have both of the same symptoms that mine did? I am just curious. I did not use the lens much and did not abuse it. Almost like something broke inside. Any additional information would be appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chkphoto Posted March 6, 2008 Share #5 Posted March 6, 2008 Check this link http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/47427-did-you-have-problems-your-digilux.html I have just sent my lens and camera to NJ because of what appears to be the same inner barrel movement that is mentioned here. It has alot of side to side movement. And any side to side movement no matter how small would never allow the lens to accurately line up with the sensor. It did not stick while zooming in or out, however. It must be a manufacturing defect as now several members have indicated this same issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted March 6, 2008 That is very interesting! It looks like there are a few cases of this problem. I wonder if they have fixed this problem in newer lenses, or if it is just random. I have not heard from Panasonic yet, but they have only had the lens for a day, so I don't expect to hear until next week. The most aggravating thing about this failure is that I was in Chile shooting a TV show and we were using the L1 for stills, and I did not pack my LC1 because I wanted to be packing light......big mistake. The L1 photos are OK, but there are times when this defect got in the way and I lost some good shots. next time I pack the LC1 as well. Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted March 17, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I got a letter from Panasonic that the repair will be covered under warranty. I called them last Friday and they said it would be shipped out on Monday.....tomorrow. I have no idea if they repaired my lens or replaced it. I am looking forward to opening the box. I am sure it is going to be late this week before I see the camera. UPS from Chicago will take 4 days or so to get to California. I will let all know what the story is when I get the lens back. I am anxious to use that camera again. d. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 17, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 17, 2008 I've noticed my L1 lens has recently developed a bit of stiffness in approximately the same range where your lens apparently refused to turn any further... no effect upon image quality that I can see -- so far, anyway -- but I suspect this reflects a problem and it will get worse rather than go away. Alas, I was an early adopter, so my warranty ended a few months ago and I'll have to pay for any repairs myself... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share #9 Posted March 18, 2008 Is there any side to side movement with the lens in full telephoto position? I believe mine started with a little stiffness and then it would just stop like there was a stop at 25. If I wiggled the loose lens a big and kept trying, it would eventually to to full zoom. Very frustrating to say the least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chkphoto Posted March 18, 2008 Share #10 Posted March 18, 2008 Dick When you get your lens back, please post the total turn-around time from when it was sent to its receipt back to you. I have sent mine (D3) for the same issue to Leica NJ approximately when you had sent yours out and have not heard a word from them regarding status. Thanks CHK Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted March 18, 2008 Share #11 Posted March 18, 2008 Is there any side to side movement with the lens in full telephoto position? Nope, no noticeable movement. I believe mine started with a little stiffness and then it would just stop like there was a stop at 25. If I wiggled the loose lens a big and kept trying, it would eventually to to full zoom. Very frustrating to say the least.For now, mine has just a bit of stiffness -- enough to be noticeable but not enough to slow down my zooming action -- but I think I'll keep an eye on it for a while yet before sending it in for repair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted March 20, 2008 Share #12 Posted March 20, 2008 I just sent my Leica D VARIO-ELMARIT 1.2-6.5 14-50 ASPH lens in for repair under warranty to the Bigston Corp in Elk Grove Village IL. They are the Panasonic licensed repair facility. I had to send the camera body along with the lens....at least that is what Panasonic wanted me to do. Problem I am having is that the lens will stop at 18 to 25 when zooming about 50% of the time. A bit of wiggling gets it to go to full zoom. Also at full zoom and lens extension, the front part of the lens is loose and can be moved about 1/8 of an inch. I have no idea what is wrong. I have not used this lens and camera that much. I have probably shot more with my Olympus Zuiko lenses on this body than the kit lens. I hope they turn it around quickly. I am happy that it fits under the 12 month warranty. I have had the camera for 9 months now. Bigston did a good job on the sensor replacement on my LC1 about 7 months ago......however I did have to pay 560.00 USD to have it done because the warranty of 6 months on the CCD was up. I guess that is where the Leica warranty is better......however I paid something under $1100 USD for the LC1 when I bought it new. I don't regret replacing the sensor, because I do love the LC1 and I am happy to have it while my L1 is in for repair. I will report back to the list what we find out just for everyone's general information on this lens. I posted something about this before, but it seemed like I was alone with this problem. Dick This lens has a problem. I picked up a DMC-L1 today as it was on clearance, and the lens already had that problem. Sometime it would just hang, other times i would not. Same as described here. So, I didn't buy it. Pissed off 'cause I've been WAITING for it to go on clearance. Of course I could buy it and immediately send it in for repair... Price is $500. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chkphoto Posted March 20, 2008 Share #13 Posted March 20, 2008 I sent my D3 and lens back to Leica NJ the beginning of March for this lens issue and was just informed they sent it to Germany and will advise me when they hear from the factory. And I thought they'd just swap out the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted March 21, 2008 Share #14 Posted March 21, 2008 I sent my D3 and lens back to Leica NJ the beginning of March for this lens issue and was just informed they sent it to Germany and will advise me when they hear from the factory. And I thought they'd just swap out the lens. That's the problem with assembly lines, one little error gets repeated twenty zillion times before you find out that there is a problem with a five cent bit of plastic and all the widgets will wear out at the same time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnotaniceboy Posted March 24, 2008 Share #15 Posted March 24, 2008 my l1 kit lens had the same problen it was replace under warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted March 24, 2008 Share #16 Posted March 24, 2008 my l1 kit lens had the same problen it was replace under warranty. The question is was were will be, "Will it fail again the same way?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share #17 Posted March 24, 2008 The question is was were will be, "Will it fail again the same way?" That is ALWAYS a possiblity on just about anything! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share #18 Posted March 24, 2008 I got my lens back from Chicago today, Bigston Inc. It has not hung up at 25 on zooming. However, the front element is still loose. It moves back and forth even when fully retracted. It has lots of movement in it when it is fully out in the 50mm position. So they fixec 50% of my problem. I called them back immediately and they are to send me a UPS label to ship it back to Chicago again so they can look at it again. Another 2000 mile UPS trip. At least I insisted that I send the lens only this time. They asked for the body as well last time. I would rather keep the body and not take that risk....and I can use some of my other lenses on it. I will shoot some test shots just to see how it works even with the loose element. Does anyone else have this looseness on the front (movable portion) of the lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_lague Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share #19 Posted March 24, 2008 Someone asked for response time from Panasonic. Here is the information: shipped 3/3/2008 received 3/6/2008 Shipped 3/18/2008 received 3/24/2008 pretty good response, except they fixed only one of 2 problems. next steps: Will be shipped back 3/26/2008 (see above) will probably arrive in Chicago 4/2/2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chkphoto Posted March 25, 2008 Share #20 Posted March 25, 2008 I'm the one who asked for your turn-around time. I wanted to have some reference of time the camera would be gone. And your current problem is exactly why I sent my D3 and lens back to Leica - the side to side movement was extreme. It did not, for some odd reason, seem to effect the focus adversely.(image attached) I had previously posted that Leica NJ emailed me telling me they, in turn, sent it back to Germany and I would be notified as to what was going to be done after Solms checked it out. My fear now is I won't see my camera and lens for months. And I should have demanded to just send the lens like you did. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/47008-my-l1-leica-14-50-lens-repair/?do=findComment&comment=519551'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.