Warranty Claim

[little bobby]

So I had to send in our AF100 because the other day I noticed that one of the lens contacts was, essentially, broken. It actually wasn't visibly broken, but it was causing friction against the Lumix 12-35 and 35-100 when I put them on. Turns out it was even digging into the contacts on the lenses themselves. If you touched it, it was definitely loose and not like the other contacts. So I sent the camera to Panasonic for a warranty repair. They are now telling me that the repair is going to cost more than buying a brand-freaking-new AF100. It might help to mention that it is one of the contacts in the center of the row of contacts, not at the edge.

Has anyone had to deal with Panasonic and appealing what they consider "damage" and what I would call "defect in materials"? The camera is only a few months old and has less than 50 hours on it. It is babied! I never even let anyone else even touch it. I can understand them claiming damage if it was the very first contact the lens touched, but since it is one in the middle, I can't figure out why they would say this (besides the cost for them to repair).

Anyways, just wanted to see if anyone else has had this experience. My boss is not too happy about this and is making me feel like I don't know how to handle the gear, even though I know I didn't do anything wrong.

TL;DR - Camera broken, Panasonic claims damage, I claim defect in materials, what now?

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi Bobby,

You should send me your serial number. did you buy it new? Where did you buy it? Did you register for the extended warranty? How often do you change your lenses?

If you don't feel comfortable in answering here, send me a Private Message.

Best,

Jan

[little bobby]

Hi Jan,
I sent you a PM with the serial number. Purchased the camera through B&H in November of 2012, I did register for the extended warranty, and I hardly ever change the lenses during a shoot, mostly to put a lens on at the beginning of the shoot and then take it off at the end.

Robert

[mcbob]

You know, mine had started doing the same thing... Everything is still functional, but I can see it wearing on the contacts at the rear of all my m43 lenses...

[little bobby]

This isn't just wearing on the contacts, it created a relatively deep groove. I'm hoping it wasn't caused by the Lumix 12-35, which was the lens I put on when I felt the friction. The tolerances on that lens seems very tight. I'll attempt to post a photo of the contacts on the lens. Thankfully it still functions, even with the groove.

[little bobby]

Here's an image of the Lumix 35-100 and what happened. Hope it looks ok, had to take the photo with my phone as our other cameras are out right now.

[Erik Naso]

Oh man! those five contacts and the base look bad.

[mcbob]

Oh s*%t...

This was the sort of thing I chalked up to not much problem when I first noticed it... everything worked fine and grooves weren't too bad. Looking into this more, and just made myself pretty damn sick. I have the same exact problem, two contacts are broken.

Now I'm wondering, what the hell sort of camera is this where something like THIS breaks? I'm not exactly executing speed lens changes in a war zone or anything.

[mcbob]

The culprit:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/stkzj16qzy...F Contacts.jpg

The damage:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bzrta46o0k84x9o/MA1 wear.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0bufjejzih...P7-14 wear.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sacpxzp559ebg0z/P12-35.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5xduspg138...4-140 wear.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o26enserhnpg5t3/PL25 wear.JPG

And the kicker, the old Oly 14-42 that I've owned for longer, but never use on the AF100 (only EPL1 and GH2):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ygvie4pz1jtgmyb/O14-42.JPG


So Jan, can I send my SN# info to you as well? If I have to buy a new camera because of this, it sure as heck won't be a Panasonic otherwise.

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi,

I might recommend that you send the lens to Tom Powell for evaluation. That may impact his decision. It almost looks like something was lodged in between the camera and the lens.

Best,

Jan

[mcbob]

Nothing was ever lodged in between my camera and the lens. Please look at my links; they show the exact same issue as Bobby's lens and camera. What is becoming "lodged" is the contact pins that apparently break and bend far too easily for a professional camera.

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi McBob,

The wear I see on your lenses are not the deep gouges that I see on Bobby's lens. I think that Bobby should send in his lens. If this were a widespread issue, frankly there should be many more examples here of the pins being broken. So can you also give us a list of the lenses that you are using and any adapters, by manufacturer and model of those adapters. This is only the second case that I have heard of and the first is the other guy on this thread.

Best,

Jan

[hscully]

wow... I don't have any lumix lenses but I have a Panasonic DMW-MA1 which I use for my Olympus 11-22 and the contacts on the adapter have similar scratches. They are not that deep but they're there.

[mcbob]

Model#'s should be visible in the pictures:
P7-14/4
P12-35
PL25/1.4
P14-140
MA1 4/3 adapter

Not photographed but owned/used, also have a Voigtlander 17.5, which does not contact the pins (rear element is recessed, no material in pin contact area)
I use several Fotodiox adapters (Leica R, Nikon F, Nikon G, OM), none of which contact the pins (no material at all in that area... dead space)

Notice the bent pins on the AF100. When touched, they are noticeably loose.

Notice also the Olympus 14-42 (last photo link); it's been used longer and harder on my EPL1 (main vacation camera) and GH2; it is the only lens I have never used on the AF100. It does not have contact wear anywhere approaching the other lenses. The 12-35 photographed is relatively new, and shows far, far greater wear.

Scully, when I first noticed the "friction," the lens wear wasn't much and I chalked it up as the AF perhaps simply having slightly stiffer contact pins. I never checked for bent or loose pins.

If I could bother anyone else, please take a look at your AF100's lens contact pins... run your finger over them gently and see if any are loose or bent. I'd like to see if this really is a freak double occurrence.

[little bobby]

McBob,
Exactly the same thing that has happened to me. Almost the same contact too. Unfortunately, the entire MOS Sensor has to be replaced. They can't just put in new contacts. It is essentially the price of a new AF to get it fixed. Seriously. I am actually going back and forth on email with Tom Powell at Panasonic trying to convince him that I didn't cause this and that it is a material defect.

I was thinking of sending the lenses in too but since we only have the 12-35 and the 35-100, I would be without lenses and I have a bunch of shoots right now, thankfully I have my personal AF I can use instead of the office's.