Just bought a gorgeous 50mm 1.4 3 cam newer design lens off ebay at a very reasonable price with a return priviledge. Wouldn't you know it, after a few minutes of focusing the focusing mechanism fails. It turns but lens does not move in or out. Seller told me to either send it back or see about getting it fixed if there are any good local repair shops. There are a couple of shops in the Raleigh/Durham NC area that I have never used but they have good reputations. I believe one will clean a Leica lens but neither will touch a Leicaflex body so there is a limit to their expertise. Question: Is this likely to be a minor repair or should I figure on sending the lens to Leica in NJ or one of the major independent Leica repair centers.

Thanks.

-- Art Begun (beguna@mindspring.com), June 01, 2002

Answers

If it were me I'd send it back to the seller for a refund with first dibs on it when it comes back from service if you haven't found another one by then. It will probably be at least $100 and take at least several weeks and maybe even a couple months depending on where you send it and if any parts need to be ordered from Solms. In the meantime the seller would have your cash and you would have-- well, you get the idea.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 01, 2002.

Art: Send that turkey back ASAP. Beware of Ebay: it is the hukster's paradise.

-- Albert Knapp MD (albertknappmd@mac.com), June 01, 2002.

My experience with this kind of repair is that it makes a $150 dent in the bank account. I'd have Sherry or DAG do the work.

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), June 01, 2002.

I believe the good Doctor is right about eBay. But suppose you send the lens back to him and he does not send your money back? At present, you have a repairable lens. If it were pretty well discounted in the first place, I think I'd consider absorbing the repair cost and forgetting eBay in future. And, I would post my experience in the appropriate feedback place on eBay.

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), June 01, 2002.

If the seller has a good history on e-bay as a seller I would send the lens back (insured with delivery confirmation) and rely on e-bay to right by you if the seller does not refund your money. If you undertake to repair this will look like a completed transaction.

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), June 01, 2002.

Art, I'd recommend that you let Sebastian take at look at it over in Durham, at Camera Works. Good luck.

-- Steve Brantley (superglidesport@mindspring.com), June 02, 2002.