While I was out shooting this past week, I noticed that the Mega OIS switch had popped-up from the barrel of the lens. I took a closer look and found that the lower edge of the switch had cracked around the tab that attaches it to the lens barrel. Unfortunately, that is the only thing holding the switch to the lens, and it can easily pop all the way out (only tethered by the wires). I used a rubber band around the lens to keep the switch in place. I will probably super-glue the switch, because the crack is so clean that it is almost impossible to see, when the two pieces are held together. I have absolutely no clue as to how, or when, this happened.
Mega OIS Switch Cracked
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I must have bumped the barrel right at the switch. It's a real puzzle though, because I always hand-hold the camera (I don't have a neck strap), or it's in the bag where the lens is very well isolated from any bumps. There's no other mark on the switch or lens to indicate that it was bumped - just a clean break.
I can see from the small amount of plastic used to anchor the switch, that the switch mount is pretty fragile. I think the type of plastic used added to it's vulnerability. It's very brittle, and thin at the anchor point. I mainly wanted to let people know about this so they can take it into consideration when handling and storing their lenses.
Overall, though, I think the lens is well made. It feels like a tank. This won't deter me from buying any of the other OIS-enabled lenses.
The camera body, itself, feels well made. I don't have any reservations about it, except for the well-documented neck strap lug issue.
I can see from the small amount of plastic used to anchor the switch, that the switch mount is pretty fragile. I think the type of plastic used added to it's vulnerability. It's very brittle, and thin at the anchor point. I mainly wanted to let people know about this so they can take it into consideration when handling and storing their lenses.
Overall, though, I think the lens is well made. It feels like a tank. This won't deter me from buying any of the other OIS-enabled lenses.
The camera body, itself, feels well made. I don't have any reservations about it, except for the well-documented neck strap lug issue.
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If you're not really throwing the camera around (and even if you are throwing it around a little, for $1500) it really shouldn't break that easily. Did you try contacting Panasonic about warranty replacement? You never know, and if they refuse, you're likely not out more than a couple of minutes on the phone. Also, if you purchased within 90 days and you used American Express, there's purchase protection there as well.
Not trying to say you should make somebody else pay for your mistake, but really if it's a workmanship issue (Even if the problem is really poor design on that one part) then they really should fix it.
Not trying to say you should make somebody else pay for your mistake, but really if it's a workmanship issue (Even if the problem is really poor design on that one part) then they really should fix it.
Now that I've had a look under the switch, I'm not so sure I can do it myself. There is a small black 'ribbon' cable attaching the switch to the lens, but no obvious way to disconnect the cable from the lens or the switch. One end of the cable just disappears into the edge of the switch, and the other end disappears into the opening in the lens.
I've attached several (poor-quality cell phone) pictures to illustrate my point.
I've attached several (poor-quality cell phone) pictures to illustrate my point.
