Durability of digital lenses

[Bamboopictures]

I have just got the motorised lens element of my mzuiko 9-18mm replaced for $250. Had it for about only three years. This is the first time I have ever had to repair a lens in 30 years! Makes you think about the durability of modern autofocus digital lenses. All my film lemses - both AF and manual are still working strong even after twenty years in service. They don't make things like they used to....

 

[JacePhoto]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe there are some lemons, but most likely some products are designed to fail after 3 years.

Well, lets think the good side to this bah...

 

[kandinsky]

lensrental.com had a very interesting blog post on this topic a couple of months back:

We have a unique opportunity: We own a very large number of lenses and cameras subjected to rather harsh conditions. Basically, we have a laboratory set up to stress test photography equipment and we share those results with you.
Our numbers reflect heavy and hard use. Your personal equipment shouldn’t fail nearly as often; it isn’t subjected to rental conditions. But this does provide some comparison about how fragile various pieces of equipment are.
It’s not completely scientific, but with data on over 12,000 copies resulting in over 2,000 repairs it’s a bit more useful than posts on a forum going back and forth between “mine’s great” and “mine sucked.”
This list is not a comment about how good a lens is. It’s simply data about how often it breaks under harsh conditions. Some of my favorite lenses and cameras are rather fragile.

See: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/08/lensrentals-repair-data-2012-2013

 

[JacePhoto]

Interesting read. Very technical and lots of clarification in the front but becomes juicy when it ends.

Glad that he is open enough to share these insights.

 

[Bamboopictures]

Excellent report! Thanks for sharing. Best take-away for me from the report:

"If you want to buy a lens that will last decades, then you want a completely mechanical prime lens.
It’s just logic. Electronic components get hot, or moist, and eventually capacitors leak or solders break."

 

[Deunamist]

Haha, you get what you pay for! I suppose in order to keep the lens prices down with all those electrical components, they also sacrifice a bit of durability in the materials used.