how much to clean oly lens?

[wind30]

Just curious,

does anyone know how much oly singapore charges for cleaning a len? Is it FOC under warranty? How much out of warranty?

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by wind30 Just curious, does anyone know how much oly singapore charges for cleaning a len? Is it FOC under warranty? How much out of warranty?

If it is fungus growth, that would normally be considered negligence, therefore there will be a charge. You can call Olympus Singapore and ask for a quote.

[cjtune]

Hmm, my 14-54 is still under warranty and there's this 3mm strand of dust or metal/plastic sliver behind the 2nd front-most element... so much for being weather-sealed. Not sure if cleaning this off would be free, but then again, I'm rather hesitant as I fear some lens alignment might just get knocked off during the taking-apart, cleaning, and putting-together process, and so far it is not noticeable in any pictures taken with it.

[holidaydom]

Don't think you should worry about it too much if it's not showing up in your photos, although a 3mm strand does seem pretty big.

But I feel for you cos I have a couple of dust-specks in my 14-54 as well but I think this is just unavoidable in the long run. I must confess loosing some sleep over the notion that my darling 14-54 is no longer prestine and perfect but that's life - doesn't affect photo quality in any way as I've taken many "white frames" at f22 to test this.

Case in point - how badly must a Lens be "dust infected" before image quality starts to suffer?

Anyone has a take on this?

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by holidaydom Case in point - how badly must a Lens be "dust infected" before image quality starts to suffer? Anyone has a take on this?

When a cluster forms. Example, fungus. Then it starts to have that misty effect on your image. Modern cameras with sensors which is intelligent somehow has a way to compensate, in a bad way. By the time you really notice the patch... it is time for a major overhaul. So manually check your lenses once in a while.

[btfiend]

Originally Posted by cjtune ...I'm rather hesitant as I fear some lens alignment might just get knocked off during the taking-apart, cleaning, and putting-together process...

Hmm thats a very valid concern since the Oly service centre doesn't seem have any idea of lense (mis)alignment. As long as the camera produces an image with the lense, its a PASS!

[wind30]

Originally Posted by btfiend Hmm thats a very valid concern since the Oly service centre doesn't seem have any idea of lense (mis)alignment. As long as the camera produces an image with the lense, its a PASS!

??? really? you had some bad experience with them? care to share? Makes me think twice about servicing my lens.

[microcosm]

If this is for real and you can quote someone saying this within Oly, he/she is not taking their Chinese New Year bonus package.

[btfiend]

Action speaks louder than words. Just look at the horror stories of other Oly users' experience with Olympus SG service centre. If I had my way I'd have all of them fired.

I sent in my ZD 50-200mm that had a marked chromatic aberration and overall softness problem from day 1, and it took me hours and several emails and sample picts later for them to unwillingly acknowledge there is a problem with my copy. Another service personnel whom I spoke to earlier in April took a test shot with my lense and previewed it using the E1's LCD display and said "it looked pretty sharp to me".

Now they're telling me they're going to **REPAIR** it. 1) I'm not sure how they're going to 'repair' anything when they don't even know what 'defects' to look for and 2) To 'repair' a premium grade lense that obviously has alignment issues in a workshop? I don't think so!

Oly has been too used to servicing P&S cameras where users aren't so discerning with image quality. They seriously need to learn from Canon/Nikon in the service quality department when it comes to DSLR bodies and pricey Zuiko lenses (they command a hefty premium over C&N equivalents).

Maybe for a start they can begin by not patronizing their semi-pro/pro customers.

[wind30]

u have sample pics for your 50-200? How soft is soft?

I read your other thread. To be fair to olympus, what were you expecting from them other than a promise to **REPAIR** it?

[btfiend]

Originally Posted by wind30 u have sample pics for your 50-200? How soft is soft? I read your other thread. To be fair to olympus, what were you expecting from them other than a promise to **REPAIR** it?

I'll try to crop and upload some samples later on.

The last thing anyone need is for some service tech swapping out lense bits and pieces from your $1700 Zuiko with another lemon (and passing it off as "imported spare part from Japan") hoping the problem would somehow go away.

If they are serious about trying to penetrate the semi-pro/pro market to sell all that pricey Zuiko glasses, the least they could do is to send it back to Tokyo for a complete rebuild and tuning. Maybe Oly can then refurb and reserialize the lense and pass it off as new on the retail market.

Its not a $250 el cheapo lense that I can write off if the repair doesn't work out to my satisfaction (they probably would be happy because "it appears sharp on the LCD screen")

[wind30]

Originally Posted by btfiend I'll try to crop and upload some samples later on. The last thing anyone need is for some service tech swapping out lense bits and pieces from your $1700 Zuiko with another lemon (and passing it off as "imported spare part from Japan") hoping the problem would somehow go away. If they are serious about trying to penetrate the semi-pro/pro market to sell all that pricey Zuiko glasses, the least they could do is to send it back to Tokyo for a complete rebuild and tuning. Maybe Oly can then refurb and reserialize the lense and pass it off as new on the retail market. Its not a $250 el cheapo lense that I can write off if the repair doesn't work out to my satisfaction (they probably would be happy because "it appears sharp on the LCD screen")

sending back to Japan for a COMPLETE REBUILD AND TUNING will take months I supposed. Are you willing to wait that long? Not to mention the risk and expense involved in shipping the lens long distance.

The only solution, as far as I can see, is 1 for 1 exchange. But your lens in question is quite old. If you brought up the problem right after your purchase and be firm about it, you probably can get a 1 for 1 exchange, my guess.But your lens is like close to a year old....

[Blu-By-U]

Oly have a 1 year international warranty..Why not give it a try at the nearest Oly center for a 1 to 1 exchange.

[wind30]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U Oly have a 1 year international warranty..Why not give it a try at the nearest Oly center for a 1 to 1 exchange.

I THINK he did but olympus not willing to do 1 for 1 exchange but instead offered to repair the lens.... dunno if it is possible to "repair" a lens though.

[Blu-By-U]

He did mention something visible on the defective lens...maybe he should try to take a picture of it send directly to Oly Japan including the purchase reciept as well as the service report from the service center. Maybe Japan can overide the center's decision.

[btfiend]

Originally Posted by wind30 sending back to Japan for a COMPLETE REBUILD AND TUNING will take months I supposed. Are you willing to wait that long? Not to mention the risk and expense involved in shipping the lens long distance. The only solution, as far as I can see, is 1 for 1 exchange. But your lens in question is quite old. If you brought up the problem right after your purchase and be firm about it, you probably can get a 1 for 1 exchange, my guess.But your lens is like close to a year old....

They are offering a loaner while the repair is being performed IN THEIR WORKSHOP. Olympus has plenty of cargoes going to and fro between SG and Tokyo via Nippon Express. The lense is only 3kg+ max boxed up.

Also the lense is practically mint condition. Used it twice when I bought it, slapped with a penalty for delivering 'soft' images with ghosting (you won't expect this on a supposedly high quality zuiko lense). Sent it in last April only to get some fella telling me 'it looked pretty sharp' on an E1's LCD display. Gave up on that lemon! Got the 150mm/f2 and so the 50-200 went into cold storage for another 6 months until I tried someone else's 'working copy' of 50-200 so I decided to send in my lemon again.

[btfiend]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U He did mention something visible on the defective lens...maybe he should try to take a picture of it send directly to Oly Japan including the purchase reciept as well as the service report from the service center. Maybe Japan can overide the center's decision.

Blu, maybe I'll do just that. Now will have to wait for the lemon to come back from service centre. I asked to temporarily take back the lense for a quick test shoot for posting here, but suddenly both my lemon and their 'test' lense are being worked on SIMULTANEOUSLY. Hmmm "imported spareparts from Japan" eh?

[Blu-By-U]

You will never know. Oly S'pore may have sent it it's birth place...hence the quality is ensured. Some of these service center do not tell you everything...reputation.

[btfiend]

Originally Posted by Blu-By-U You will never know. Oly S'pore may have sent it it's birth place...hence the quality is ensured. Some of these service center do not tell you everything...reputation.

If they had any reputation it was gone when one of the staff tested my 50-200 and said it looked sharp on the camera's LCD screen. Definitely NOT confidence inspiring at all.

I think Oly SG service centre is OK for stuff like cleaning bodies and minor repair work that do not involve the optical elements or anything critical or only shows up under difficult conditions. In cjtune's case, interference patterns on his e330 was unresolved despite lots of exchanges and tests.

Honestly I'm starting to wonder if I made the right move to Oly's 4/3. I admit I like the colour, generally good WB, high quality optics (if you don't get a lemon) and the dustbuster. But if this is the best they can offer for customer support, I'll have to seriously consider migrating back to Canon or move onto Nikon because I really don't have time to deal with this kind of nonsense.

[sunfish]

Its like that lah, nowadays electronics manufacturer cut costs on everything, does not provide sufficient training for service technicians, so what do you expect? It happens everywhere, not just Olympus Service Centre.

Are you sure they are ok with cleaning body? I beg to differ

I send my E500 for sensor cleaning, had to visit the service centre 3 times before the spot was cleaned off. I was surprised when the technician told me they check sensor dirt by shooting without a lens fitted to the body, so when they inspect my camera, the sensor is always 'clean'. It took me three visits to convince them that a lens is needed on the camera body so that when the shutter release is pressed, they will see spots on the picture taken