Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

[Phill D]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

The 100-400 was f4-6.3 so at 300 they would be about the same. Then I still have the f2.8 from 40-150. Hopefully the IQ wouldn't drop too much with the x2 it certainly doesn't using the 1.4x as far as I can tell anyway. Overall I don't get quite as much reach but I think the setup would be more versatile and weatherproof and cheaper!

[blu-by-u]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

I am sure there is a trade off somewhere. Back then when the 4/3 version of the X2 came out, it was not that great for the others but was superb for those having those f2.0 super pros.

Maybe start saving now for that mzd 150-400

Or hope MJ224 sells his 100-400

[MJ224]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

I am sure there is a trade off somewhere. Back then when the 4/3 version of the X2 came out, it was not that great for the others but was superb for those having those f2.0 super pros.

Maybe start saving now for that mzd 150-400

Or hope MJ224 sells his 100-400

[Phill D]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Not missed what yet Mark?

[MJ224]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Not missed what yet Mark?

Sorry, should have said I had not missed the zoom ability yet...………..

[snerkler]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

I've got the Panny 100-400mm (bought a couple of months ago from HDEW) and was concerned with the tight fit. I too googled around and saw many complaining of the tight fit but then I found one that showed that the weather seal gasket was thicker on this lens than Olly ones and it was this that was causing the tightness and not the metal rubbing, and that certainly seems to be the case on mine. Granted I've never used a magnifying glass but I haven't seen and metal shards etc. I'd not be too happy if I did though

[Phill D]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Hope yours is ok Toby. I guess I was just unlucky as there are a lot of happy owners out there. Although I was quite lucky it was at the show and I could ask Olympus for another camera clean.

[MJ224]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Twice now, I have missed the zoom. I put the lens back on the camera recently, and really notice how light it is compared to the Oly 300mm Pro...

[RobEW]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

I see there is someone advertising "Repair Service For Panasonic 100-400mm H-RS100400E Damaged Broken Lens Mount" on EBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Repair-Se...gAAOSwqLRcKrx-

also adding:

"We repair all Panasonic digital cameras and lenses. Please contact us with any questions you may have. We are happy to help."

He supplies contact details:

Mr Michael Carroll,
Clearer Images,
24 Holland Grove, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire OL6 8TN

No idea how good he is or what sort of warranty he might offer, but it does suggest this is a fairly regular problem.

[Phill D]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

it does suggest this is a fairly regular problem.

Hmm, I hope not for all those 100-400 owners out there Rob.

[RobEW]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Hmm, I hope not for all those 100-400 owners out there Rob.

It suggests its quite common if someone sets up an advert for that particular fix. But I don't know what proportion of the total ownership of this lens that might represent.

[art frames]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

I see there is someone advertising "Repair Service For Panasonic 100-400mm H-RS100400E Damaged Broken Lens Mount" on EBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Repair-Se...gAAOSwqLRcKrx-

also adding:

"We repair all Panasonic digital cameras and lenses. Please contact us with any questions you may have. We are happy to help."

He supplies contact details:

Mr Michael Carroll,
Clearer Images,
24 Holland Grove, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire OL6 8TN

No idea how good he is or what sort of warranty he might offer, but it does suggest this is a fairly regular problem.

I am by nature cautious. But I would be very cautious of a 'company' that runs out of a semi-detached house with no company formally registered to that address, to that person or by the names used (Clearer Images, Ace Camera Repair, Michael Carroll) as far as the Companies House website and others are aware. Being a limited company places obligations on the Company to submit records and accounts to Company House - so it could just be a sole trader.
But the website claims to be the copyright of Clearer Images Inc. (Inc. is a term more normally used in the US) it is running on the domain https://www.acecamerarepair.co.uk - which I have not been able to find much about either. So I have concerns.
As a Panasonic user I would like to think there are alternatives to repair but please be very cautious about how they might deal with complex optics, and the care of your property whilst mending it. Panasonic say they cannot deal with the more exotic optics in the UK and need to send them to Japan - but they also said they were changing that. I am still waiting.
I see a few people elsewhere talking about their experiences with this operation, so you may be OK but it is worth asking a few questions, I feel.

[RobEW]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Interesting. I wasn't recommending the guy, nor promoting his business. Just suggesting that his decision to advertise suggests the problem is not rare. Another person with an instinct for research I think. :-)

[art frames]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Interesting. I wasn't recommending the guy, nor promoting his business. Just suggesting that his decision to advertise suggests the problem is not rare. Another person with an instinct for research I think. :-)

Absolutely, and I was keen to check out what you found. I would love Panasonic to speak out and be more open about what is going on. I have tried asking them, and the main suppliers. I am grateful to Phill for sharing his experience as well. I would have bought the lens myself apart from the 'concerns' But can only guess about the numbers of poor lenses.

I think we are all better off here for the sharing that goes on.

[snerkler]

Re: Panasonic 100-400 Photo Show saga. Buyers warning.

Hmm, I hope not for all those 100-400 owners out there Rob.

It suggests its quite common if someone sets up an advert for that particular fix. But I don't know what proportion of the total ownership of this lens that might represent.

Interesting. I wasn't recommending the guy, nor promoting his business. Just suggesting that his decision to advertise suggests the problem is not rare. Another person with an instinct for research I think. :-)

Looking on eBay he also offers repairs for the Panny 12-60mm and I've not read about many complaints about that lens. The only complaint I've seen of the 100-400mm is that it's stiff, but I've not heard of one breaking like in the ebayer's images, I don't even know how you could do this unless you drop it whilst attached to a camera?

The fact that he also does the 12-60mm and doesn't offer services for other lenses (that I've seen) suggests to me that it's just someone who's once done their own repair, found it relatively straight forward and so now offers to do it for others. I have a friend who did this for the iPhone screens.