I sent my beloved Tamron 180/2.5 LD IF lens to a local Camera Repair
Service (supposedly a reputable company) to be cleaned - I suspected
fungus was starting to develop on an internal lens element.
I received the lens back today and - what a terrible shock - the glass
is what I would call badly damaged. Firstly, a piece of glass measuring
8 x 3 mm is *chipped off* the edge of the front element. Secondly there
is a *thick* radial scratch 7 mm long at the edge of the front element
(ca 3mm from the edge). The metal ring, holding the front element is
scratched, it looks somewhat like a target of an amateur burglar.
There is more, however. On the internal element that was being cleaned I
can see two thin semi-circular scratches about 1 cm long, located at the
lens center, and one thick scratch 3 mm long at the edge. Although the
glass seems now to be clean of fungus (or whatever it was), there are
several substantial dust particles inside that were certainly not there
before.
I am of course writing a complaint to the company, and I am also likely
to contact the customer's protection bureau.
What I would like to ask you is, what do you think of the "service" I
got? What would likely happen in your country in such a case? Am I
entitled to expect either a replacement of damaged lens elements or a
new, undamaged lens in exchange? The glass was in mint condition before
(save for the suspected fungus).
The bureau likely has not got much experience in photo gear and I would
like to present them your independent "second opinions", if neccessary.
By all means I am not going to use any of your responses without seeking
your explicit permission beforehand.
Desperate,
Marko Vrabec
Kamnik, Slovenia
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