Filter ring damage to Tamron lens - repair advice?

[havoc]

At Silverstone at the weekend I've managed to rip off the front filter ring (I'd just swapped lenses at the end of a race, and the backwards-facing petal hood got caught under the front of the fold-down seat I was on, so when I stood up the petal hood stayed where it was, taking the filter ring with it but leaving the 3 small screws and some plastic fragments behind still attached to the lens body).

Lens visually looks fine (except for no filter ring / lens hood / lens cap...small details!).
Lens continued to perform just as before - no obvious IQ deterioration (although I'm far from an expert).

Spoke to Tamron's UK distributor (Transcontinenta), who said I needed to send it to their approved UK repairer - Fixation.
Spoke to Fixation, who won't quote before seeing it (fair enough) but who didn't want to even give an estimate or a cost-range before I shipped it to them (not so reasonable), and who didn't want to get into any discussion, just "send it to us and we'll quote" repeatedly.
- Cost to ship it to them is £6. Cost to me if I don't proceed with any quoted repair = £18 of shipping just to send it and get it back.
- After much pressing I got told the labour cost would be "at least £150" - apparently every lens has to go into the tunnel multiple times for the element alignment to be checked.
- A decent lens on the second hand market is only worth £150-250 retail.


Now, whilst I'm not an expert, I don't think it needs to go through multiple alignment checks - it's not been subject to a knock, it's still performing, and from what I can see it only needs a few-quid plastic part and 5 minutes of labour. But that's not how Fixation work, and they're the only approved repairer. Good gig, eh?

(For reference, used Fixation several years ago on a lens I dropped, so have no problem with their workmanship...just the whole policy of "you must get it repaired here, we must do a load of work to every lens regardless to bump the bill up, no you can't get a part and do it yourself")


Any advice? Should I suck up the repair cost? Should I buy a second hand lens and stuff this one (or possibly try to remove the good parts from the 2nd hand lens)? Does anyone have any alternative repair companies to recommend?

[Tony1963]

It's a cheap consumer lens, not a rare Leica.

It's not built to take large impacts like a pro lens can.

The service centre need to make money to stay in business. They'll do a good job, and the lens will be returned at least as good as new.

If you have the funds, I'd just buy another, or better still, save up a few more quid and buy a nicer lens! The old one will always fetch a few quid on eBay, especially as it still works.

[trashbat]

Why does it need to be the approved repairer?

If you're in the West Mids as your profile says, try https://www.hlehmann.co.uk/ in Stoke. I haven't used them though.

I have used Fixation and whilst they did the stated job, I thought they over-billed and I wasn't especially happy.

Edited by trashbat on Saturday 3rd September 16:17

[Turtle Shed]

I'd just carry on using it, if you break it properly just buy another one.

[Turn7]

Turtle Shed said:

I'd just carry on using it, if you break it properly just buy another one.

This.

Filter isnt really required most of the time anyway.

[havoc]

Tony1963 said:

It's a cheap consumer lens, not a rare Leica.

1) Not sure what your definition of cheap is, but it cost me several hundred quid.

2) It didn't take a knock - it just had the front plastic ring ripped off the screws it was mounted by. And as I mentioned quite clearly above, there's no obvious damage to the IQ, going by the subsequent 40-50 photos.

3) "A nicer lens"?!? This replaced a Canon 24-105L and frankly does a better job in most scenarios. How many hobbies do you drop thousands of pounds a year on???

How about you ditch the attitude and try to be helpful?




H Lehmann - - tried calling them 3 or 4 times, the phone just transferred to an engaged line. Will try again next week.

"Continue using it" - I would, but the there's nowhere to fit the lens cap or the lens hood (the outside of the bit where the filter-ring thread is/was has the bayonet-fitting for the offending filter hood, which of course is entirely undamaged!

[Turn7]

Havoc, have you tried looking for a not working lens ti use for parts ?

Ebay, TP etc often have damaged lens for sale,

[Derek Smith]

havoc said:

How about you ditch the attitude and try to be helpful?

How about you following some of your own advice.

What he said is probably spot on from his point of view. He offered advice from his point of view. It's a forum. What did you expect?

[havoc]

Derek Smith said:

It's a forum. What did you expect?

Given some of the st in NP&L and The Lounge, you're probably right.

...I just expected this corner to be a little more cordial...always has been up to now.

Turn7 said:

Havoc, have you tried looking for a not working lens ti use for parts ?

Ebay, TP etc often have damaged lens for sale,

[Tony1963]

havoc said:

1) Not sure what your definition of cheap is, but it cost me several hundred quid.

2) It didn't take a knock - it just had the front plastic ring ripped off the screws it was mounted by. And as I mentioned quite clearly above, there's no obvious damage to the IQ, going by the subsequent 40-50 photos.

3) "A nicer lens"?!? This replaced a Canon 24-105L and frankly does a better job in most scenarios. How many hobbies do you drop thousands of pounds a year on???

How about you ditch the attitude and try to be helpful?
:

Apologies. I didn’t come across well there. I was trying to be helpful!
Which lens is it?

[havoc]

It's the 24-70 f/2.8 Di VC - the earlier version with the slow-ish AF, not the current G2 that punches equal to the same-spec Canon.

I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and send it off (somewhere) - Tamron UK won't sell me the parts, I can't find the right part on the web (even on AliExpress), nor a damaged lens available as a donor...so I'd be spending a similar amount (+/- £200) for a 2nd hand lens of unknown provenance (albeit from a vendor - MPB in this instance).

...and while it'd be nice to upgrade since I've got to spend some cash anyway, 2nd hand G2s are still several hundred quid...

[Simpo Two]

Turn7 said:

Turtle Shed said:

I'd just carry on using it, if you break it properly just buy another one.

This.

Filter isnt really required most of the time anyway.

This would be my view. I can't remember the last time I used a lens hood (or filter). If flare is a momentary issue I just use my hand as a shade.

Think of it as honourable battle damage

[tog]

Do you have any insurance that might cover it? Accidental damage under home contents?

Dedicated camera insurance is worthwhile in my experience. Obviously as a professional I have cover, but I have always insured my cameras ever since I got my first SLR as a teenager. (And have always been with Glover & Howe since then too.)

[havoc]

Our home contents cover does include all my gear (made sure it did, and the additional premium is still <50% what Glover & Howe wanted at my last renewal about 4 years ago), so I could.

...but if the repair is ~£200, it's probably not worth the claim - got a £50 or £100 excess for personal belongings claims, and you just know the next few years would get loaded with extra premium. It's mainly there to cover catastrophic damage/loss...

[Whoozit]

Is this the puppy?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001502581980.h...

Also here's a repair video that I think shows the filter ring reassembly at the 24 minute mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyYEHuMN1bU

Edited by Whoozit on Monday 5th September 10:47

[havoc]

That's the part for the successor lens...looks similar but not sure I'd want to take the chance at £70 + post & duty/VAT.

Video looks helpful though - thanks!