Help!!! Dented Filter Ring Question.

[23mjm]

Hello

I am just moving up to LF (4X5) and I have been putting together a set-up some new some eBay-ed.

I just received a Nikkor 90/4.5 the guy on eBay said excellent + condition. BUT the filter ring has a pretty nice dent in it. The glass is nice. The seller said that he thinks the shutter is slow but did not say anything about the filter ring issue. I paid just under $600 for it which seams to be $100-120 less than the going rate!!!

What should I do 1-send it back/contact my cc to stop payment if he doesn't offer a refund. 2-see if he will credit me back some of the money, then how much. 3-send it to get fixed and suck it up.

I do feel the lens was misrepresented:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320209136248&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

Looking for opinions

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Hello

I am just moving up to LF (4X5) and I have been putting together a set-up some new some eBay-ed.

I just received a Nikkor 90/4.5 the guy on eBay said excellent + condition. BUT the filter ring has a pretty nice dent in it. The glass is nice. The seller said that he thinks the shutter is slow but did not say anything about the filter ring issue. I paid just under $600 for it which seams to be $100-120 less than the going rate!!!

What should I do 1-send it back/contact my cc to stop payment if he doesn't offer a refund. 2-see if he will credit me back some of the money, then how much. 3-send it to get fixed and suck it up.

I do feel the lens was misrepresented:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320209136248&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

Looking for opinions

The salient point here, I think are:
1) The lens is described as "The body has a few scuffs and pinpricks from normal wear, but otherwise excellent."
2) There is no dent visible in the pictures accompanying the listing.

If a dent is present, then statement 1) was clear misrepresentation and we can only conclude from statement 2) that the seller either posted pictures of a different lens or dropped the lens after preparing the listing.

A damaged filter thread in itself is an easy fix with the right tool, the question is what did the impact that made the dent do to the rest of the lens. If it was me, I would consider how badly I need an f4.5, they're not all that common, I think in general I would tend to insist in a refund - should be no problem via PayPal or your cc company. There's plenty of secondhand LF equipment about, no need to accept goods which are not as described and have a potentially serious problem.

Regards,

David

 

[23mjm]

David--thanks

Actually the dent is in the pic---if you look at the pic of the front it is on the bottom of the pic!!!! But if you weren't looking for it you would miss it I also didn't tell everyone that according to his feedback he sold the lens in Dec and the buyer returned it. The seller didn't change the auction at all!!!

 

[Terence]

Even knowing, I wouldn't have guessed that was a dent, and I was looking for it. I would say that was misrepresented.

 

[rkmiec]

looks like the pic was positioned so as to minimize the dent,very hard to see.item was misrepresented.however at keh the price for that lens in ex+ is over 800 dollars.sooooooooooo.ask the seller for 40 dollars back and get a filter ring vise and take the dent out.with my 2 cents you now have 6 cents spend it wisely.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I try to avoid lenses with dented filter rings, because they could also have alignment problems from being dropped.

 

[23mjm]

David--

Me to--do you know if there is anyone that can check the optics?

MM

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think Focal Point Lens in Colorado (John Van Stelten) does that sort of work. There are also places that service cine lenses that can do it.

 

[Tim Boehm]

You might try calling John at:
http://www.focalpointlens.com/fp_intro.html

 

[23mjm]

Bummer-was hoping for more opinions

 

[rpsawin]

How about going back to the seller and tell him he can pay the service/repairs or refund your $$$ and take the lens back?

Bob

 

[23mjm]

Bob---

All ready sent him a message. Waitin for him to get back---it's the whole refund or fix thing!!!!!

 

[Jim Noel]

I would not fool with it - send it back!

 

[BrianShaw]

It is interesting how diverse the opinions are. Looking at the ad I saw the dent, but I was also looking for it and don't know if I would have suspected it or not without prior knowledge. I recently bought a LF lens that the seller admited had a rather significant, although straighteded, dent in the filter ring. The seller in my situation offered to send me the lens and gave me the option of sending it back or sending a check. (Isn't that unusual, but really nice?) The filter ring had been dented (about 1/2 inch worth and the dent included a bit of the lens retaining ring. I took a few pics and sent the check. The dent might affect future resale but that isn't my concern. It ends up that it is a wonderful lens. My only nagging concern, very minor but it did go through my mind, is that the lens ring might not be removable if the lens ever needs disassembly of the lens elements.

I suggest you shoot a few pics with it and see if it is a significant problem or not.

 

[23mjm]

Well he just responded "What dent-I don't see a dent......there wasn't a dent when I shipped it..." I wrote a nice response we will see what he says.

This damn thing just keeps getting better n better. If you hold the rear element snug is it normal for the front element to have a little play in it, the shutter speed ring moves with the front element too. It's just a little play--does this tighten up when the lens is mounted or normal. This is my first LF lens so I don't know whats normal. Fly-in blind here people

 

[Don12x20]

Frankly, I would return it. The smaller diameter copal shutters (0,1) often have alignment problems that aren't visible.

Back in 1992, I used a friend's 90mm Grandagon to see if I'd like to buy it. Took it out to make some images in a canyon in eastern Arizona. Unfortunately, the lens board on the Arca was not seated properly. I watched through the ground glass as the image suddenly brightened as the lens board dropped into soft mud with the lens hitting a tiny rock. Lens appeared undamaged other than a slight dent in the front filter. It focused fine and the shutter worked perfectly. When I returned, I immediately purchased the lens(there was no question here of my responsibility). I took it to Rod Klukas at Photomark and he advised sending it back to Germany to get it checked. Bottom line -- the dent in the filter ring was no issue to remove, but the drop into even relatively soft materials was enough the that shutter assembly needed to be completely replaced, and the lens elements had to be reset into a new front (aluminum painted black!) lens assembly. both had enough torgue applied to the number 0 copal to make a slight bend so that the front and rear elements were not optically aligned (they looked fine, and yes I could still focus.) Cost then was about half of a new lens....

So, I wouldn't put up for a moment with this ebay seller.

And with regards to play in copal -- should not be any. You've got copal damage...

 

[Arvee]

I see that the lens was definitely misrepresented and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the photos were arranged to disguise the ding. It happens a lot.

Anytime that I have received a misrepresented item I demand a refund even if the refund policy isn't defined. Misrepresentation is always a reason for return and refund regardless of the listing's information.

If seller doesn't comply, I simply file a report with eBay and mention to seller that if it doesn't go favorably, which it won't in this case, his account is a candidate for suspension. Ebay doesn't put up with shylocks.

I have always received the full refund and the sellers were most cooperative.

I think you may have bought a bunch more trouble with the lens beyond the visible evidence.

Just my .02,

Fred

 

[Harrigan]

I try to avoid lenses with dented filter rings, because they could also have alignment problems from being dropped.

Yep, even a small drop can easily mis-align optics. Often you will see separation exactly on the opposite side of the lens from the ding. As the force from the drop shoots through the lens it (may) come out the other side of the lens (opposite the ding), causing misalignment or obvious separation in that area.

 

[BrianShaw]

Well he just responded "What dent-I don't see a dent......there wasn't a dent when I shipped it..." I wrote a nice response we will see what he says.

This damn thing just keeps getting better n better. If you hold the rear element snug is it normal for the front element to have a little play in it, the shutter speed ring moves with the front element too. It's just a little play--does this tighten up when the lens is mounted or normal. This is my first LF lens so I don't know whats normal. Fly-in blind here people

I hereby retract my enthusiastic optimism. Return it! I hope you can resolve this situation with a minimum of pain.

 

[23mjm]

Hello all

Well he did offer a refund, but he still sticks to his story that nothing is wrong with the lens!!!!! You know---dented filter ring and a loose front element is a sign of quality!!!!! That will take a sharp pic.

Oh yea he says that there is no dent in the filter ring--it never had one!!!!

Thank you all for your input

M Magee