how much to clean oly lens?

[Blu-By-U]

EEK!!! it's there...I was not looking that closely!!!!

Anyway, the cam and the few shots are all with Oly now. Let's hope something good comes out of it. You were so fortunate that they gave you a body swap. I hope they will do the same....but then only hope..it may not happen.

 

[nonski]

Just want to share this...

Went to the infamous Singapore Oly SC last Saturday to have my lens cleaned (expired warranty).

Dun ask me how that thing got there or wats that. Dunno also :dunno:

No technician was around so the lady asked me to leave my baby and they will call me to quote for the cleaning. Monday came and no calls.... I phoned them Tuesday noon... no quote yet... lady said again they'll call me afterwards... Finally Wednesday afternoon the technician called... service fee for cleaning $130 :bigeyes: Was really shocked and told the guy that this ZD 14-54 is supposed to be dust and splash proof (that's what I thought) and he dun know that. So I tried to bargain and the guy told me that he'll inform his boss about my case. And so Thursday came and this tech guy phoned me again to tell me that its now $105 with GST. I don't trust third party lens cleaners so I said ok (and I need it this CNY). Yesterday afternoon(Friday) they sms me and said lens already done. and so after office I rushed to Oly SC to get my baby and guess what I saw when I peek inside me lens?!

THAT THING IS STILL IN THERE!!!

Was really really disappointed. This is what I'll get for $105? If they cannot remove it, why did'nt they informed me? I'm just a newbie and I dun think you need to be a pro to notice that huge thing in there.

I kept my patience and did not accept it of course. BTW the techie guy that "cleaned" my lens was not around.

They loaned me a "new" lens instead. Now I dunno when I can get mine yet since its holiday till Tuesday...

This only proves to me that btfriend's case is not an isolated one. Sngpr Oly SC has a lot to improve. Now I wonder how they will calibrate my lens.....

Very very sad experience :cry:

 

[Blu-By-U]

You get to use new lens...what are you complaining about?? I had to leave my 14-45 there as the parts are still not here.

 

[wind30]

Finally Wednesday afternoon the technician called... service fee for cleaning $130 :bigeyes: Was really shocked and told the guy that this ZD 14-54 is supposed to be dust and splash proof (that's what I thought) and he dun know that. So I tried to bargain and the guy told me that he'll inform his boss about my case. And so Thursday came and this tech guy phoned me again to tell me that its now $105 with GST.

I don't know that you can "bargain" one. Frankly, dust/splash proof doesn't mean nothing will get into the camera. It is not air tight, also must maintain. Just like oly dust buster does not mean 100% not dust spots, it only mean you will get 10 times less dust than C/N.

But from your picture, the "thing" seems to too big to be dust leh. Probably something internal got knocked off during usage or something. Is your lens 2nd hand? you don't know what the previous owner did to the lens.

 

[nonski]

You get to use new lens...what are you complaining about??

Never complained about that. Loaned lens is great :thumbsup:. Just like mine without that "thing" inside.

Just disappointed on Oly SC QC...

 

[nonski]

I don't know that you can "bargain" one. Frankly, dust/splash proof doesn't mean nothing will get into the camera. It is not air tight, also must maintain. Just like oly dust buster does not mean 100% not dust spots, it only mean you will get 10 times less dust than C/N.

But from your picture, the "thing" seems to too big to be dust leh. Probably something internal got knocked off during usage or something. Is your lens 2nd hand? you don't know what the previous owner did to the lens.

Bought it 2nd hand in very good condition... never dropped nor knocked and always in dry cab when not in use.

:think: maybe your right, probably its from the inside. hope nothing serious.

never knew can bargain either. just tried and they give lah

 

[cjtune]

Hi nonski... I've got a 'foreign object' about as big as that shown in your picture in my 1st-hand 14-54 too. Was clean when I first got it so it must have gotten in during intensive use. Discovered a few months ago but never really bothered to send to the service centre because I have more or less anticipated your sort of outcome. Good news for me is that it doesn't affect the image quality at all. Bad news is that it'll kind of knock off a bit off its 2nd-hand resale value should I sell off my Oly gear to go to another brand's platform...

 

[btfiend]

Oh no...not again...

but at least they loaned you a new, usable 14-54 for CNY and thats a step up in service already. The 50-200 loaner I got seemed like something I'd write off.

My advice: if its unresolved, don't deal with the service techs directly. Ask for the service manager (edwin) and have a word with him. He's a lot easier to deal with. Brought my blood pressure down a lot too.

Also, they CAN clean lenses, my first repaired (front group replaced) 50-200 came back looking rather clean...except 1 or 2 element/groups (check the 'layers') looked somewhat cloudy...like...nevermind. Whatever it is, make sure you check to make sure MOST of the asteroids and space twigs are gone and there are no 'cloudy' areas as these will reduce contrast in the image.

Remember no lense is PERFECTLY clean even fresh out of the factory so be reasonable.

...This only proves to me that btfriend's case is not an isolated one. Sngpr Oly SC has a lot to improve. Now I wonder how they will calibrate my lens.....

Very very sad experience :cry:

BTW its btfiend as in :devil: not btfriend :sticktong

 

[cjtune]

BTW its btfiend as in :devil: not btfriend :sticktong

"I'm not your friend" LOL.

 

[btfiend]

Bought it 2nd hand in very good condition... never dropped nor knocked and always in dry cab when not in use.

:think: maybe your right, probably its from the inside. hope nothing serious.

If its just 1 or 2 particles that you can see in the front, it's probably not going to affect the image quality. However if enough dirt and contaminants are trapped on the glass elements, then its time to consider sending in for cleaning.

Zoom lenses do suck in air when extended, either from inside the camera chamber or via the ring 'seal' between the lense body and barrel if you turn the zoom ring too quickly. After some use there would be dust and dirt inside the lense, even for supposedly sealed, 'self contained' internal zoom lenses like the 35-100.

1) Keep the extending lense barrel as clean as possible. 2) avoid 'pumping' your lense unnecessarily. Less air movement = less dirt inside the lense.

 

[nonski]

Good news for me is that it doesn't affect the image quality at all. Bad news is that it'll kind of knock off a bit off its 2nd-hand resale value should I sell off my Oly gear to go to another brand's platform...

It does not show any obvious effect on the image quality of my pics too. Just sent it for cleaning coz it bothers me to see it in the viewfinder everytime I shoot.

Yup, it'll definitely lower the resale value.

 

[nonski]

If its just 1 or 2 particles that you can see in the front, it's probably not going to affect the image quality. However if enough dirt and contaminants are trapped on the glass elements, then its time to consider sending in for cleaning.

Zoom lenses do suck in air when extended, either from inside the camera chamber or via the ring 'seal' between the lense body and barrel if you turn the zoom ring too quickly. After some use there would be dust and dirt inside the lense, even for supposedly sealed, 'self contained' internal zoom lenses like the 35-100.

1) Keep the extending lense barrel as clean as possible. 2) avoid 'pumping' your lense unnecessarily. Less air movement = less dirt inside the lense.

Thnks for the tips btfiend and apologies for the typo.

 

[nonski]

My advice: if its unresolved, don't deal with the service techs directly. Ask for the service manager (edwin) and have a word with him. He's a lot easier to deal with. Brought my blood pressure down a lot too.

Hope it does not come to that. Besides, I don't like going too often in that area. Those shops (CP, AP, John 3:16) always pulling me in... so tempting.

Also, they CAN clean lenses, my first repaired (front group replaced) 50-200 came back looking rather clean...except 1 or 2 element/groups (check the 'layers') looked somewhat cloudy...like...nevermind. Whatever it is, make sure you check to make sure MOST of the asteroids and space twigs are gone and there are no 'cloudy' areas as these will reduce contrast in the image.

Remember no lense is PERFECTLY clean even fresh out of the factory so be reasonable.

I'll remember that. Thanks for the advise btfiend.

 

[btfiend]

It does not show any obvious effect on the image quality of my pics too. Just sent it for cleaning coz it bothers me to see it in the viewfinder everytime I shoot.

Yup, it'll definitely lower the resale value.

If you can see the speck in the viewfinder, its going to show up in the photos.

 

[nonski]

If you can see the speck in the viewfinder, its going to show up in the photos.

Yup can see very very faint speck in my viewfinder but surprisingly still not noticeable in the photos.
Or maybe it is :think: ... eyes need new specs :bsmilie:

 

[cjtune]

Yup can see very very faint speck in my viewfinder but surprisingly still not noticeable in the photos.
Or maybe it is :think: ... eyes need new specs :bsmilie:

Strange... it ought to show up on your photos... unless it is a speck of dust on just the mirror or viewfinder screen that is also coincidentally near the area where that dust embedded in your lens is located too.

 

[Blu-By-U]

Think it's on the focusing screen. I had that when I was changing my lens very often while traveling in JZG. There was nothing on the sensor. hence nothing shows up on the pictures.

 

[nonski]

Got my 14-54 lens back last Saturday and its clean alryt. Just have'nt tried to shoot much yet to check the calibration if off or not. Don't know how to check also.... heeheee. Initial shots still show very sharp images though...

Too bad was not able to use it during the Chingay parade. Was so far from performers I used my 40-150 kit lens. But that's another story...

If ever you'll send your lens for cleaning, make sure there's a technician around so you can tell what's wrong with your lens. There were no technicians when I left my lens so was not able to show them that huge thing inside me lens. I just expected them to see it since its so humongus...

Anyway, Olympus SG SC can definitely clean your lens. Just need to give a little more effort on QC I guess...