Rusty Lens

Gather ye, my friends & fellow hoggers close to your computer monitors so that you might be warmed and made wiser by the words I will write here.
A few months ago I suffered a serious GAS attack and was moved to purchase a Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. After much research I found the lens of my dreams at MPB Photography in New York; a revered and well established firm. The lens arrived, my heart swelled with pride, strangers marveled and said things like, "what the hell is that?"
Yet, not all was well. My photos were close but "no cigar". Images I thought were outstanding, weren't quite sharp. Occasionally I would get a photo I could love but it was hit or miss. "A steep learning curve," I told myself. "You are still learning how best to use this thing," I said. Time passed.
Finally two things happened. First, I realized I was past MPB's 6 months warranty and second, I sent the lens to Tamron for repair & service. They found 5 problems with the lens. I was and am highly p---ed at myself for letting the warranty expire, at MPB's quality control failure & at Tamron for their quality control failure & because the warranty is not transferable.

My Scottish ancestors scream in my head, "have ye learned nothing in your eighty plus years ye daft fool?" So I leave you with these words of wisdom from a man wiser than myself. "Trust, but verify," Ronald Reagan.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You bought this used? Very few companies let the warranty transfer from owner to owner, and if there are problems with a used item, I would suspect handling by previous owners. Still, you have to wonder what MPB's response would have been. "It works fine for us."

Would you care to tell us how much Tamron charged to repair the lens and how it worked when you got it back?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Join the crowd, We’ve all made ignorant decisions.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

That is the risk one takes buying used. I doubt that any seller of used gear does comprehensive quality testing. Ronald Reagan was right.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

You did what journalists call, "Burying the lede." You post could have been half its length and still told the story. Sorry to have to post this, but sometimes it's helpful to know you needn't prattle on.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

NEW or used, do NOT trust - you MUST verify !!
.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yeeeeaaaaahhhh. Warranty rules bite. Reagan was right about that, "Trust, but verify," process.

Tamron lenses come with a six-year warranty. But it is ONLY VALID if you have the *original sales receipt*. So if you buy used Tamron lenses, be sure they work before the KEH or MPB or other resale warranty runs out.

Rusty Lens

For newsguygeorge. True, prefer my way.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I bought my G2 new and still have 4.5 yrs left on my warranty - plus I got the TAP in console to do updates on the firmware and adjustments with my lens.
I also owned a G1 I bought new and when the problem with the Canon 7DII was discovered I sent it in to Tamron and they did the adjustment and firmware update. I only paid postage one way - return and the work was free - then I found out if I had done the process differently I wouldn't have had to pay that postage - but over all I was happy - bet I got off cheaper than you did.

Sometimes it is cheaper to buy new than used in the long run. Esp with Tamron when new gets a 6 yr warranty.

Enjoy you great lenses. How much better are your images coming out now?

Rusty Lens

Don't have the lens back yet. I expect to get it early next week. If it is what I hope it will be I plan to heat that puppy up with the photos going thru it. A lot of built up frustration.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

It is a really good lens. The only lens I have that consistently does better is my Canon 100-400L Mk2 and the Tamron has 200 mm on it and is just barely behind on speed of focus and sharpness out to 400 mm. So I keep the 100-400 paired with my 7DII which makes my fastest focusing combo with a pistol grip for walking around and hand holding and my 80D on a tripod with gimbal head is paired with the G2. Of course I can swap them around.

akamerica

If you bought the lens with a credit card - Visa Master Card AX - most have a benefit of doubling the warranty.* If so and you have a copy of the six month warranty, proof of purchase, and you are now less than a year, the credit card company/issuing bank will reimburse you the cost of your repairs. Even if you are beyond the 12-months but had the repairs done during the extended warranty you may be in luck.

Check it out remembering Monday is MLK & a bank holiday.

When I buy an item of value i make a copy of the invoice (proof of purchase), and staple them with the product's warranty statement into a file folder, adding the items manual with the documents. The bank will require these documents to support your claim. The file folders are labeled with the alphabet so a Nikon item goes into the "N" folder.

This benefit obtained by saving the required documents has saved me THOUSANDS of dollars. Really! And it is FREE with the right credit card like the Costco/Citi Visa.

*A longer extended warranty i.e. 5-years is usually only extended by one year.

Art

Collhar Loc: New York City.

"I would suspect handling by previous owners. Still, you have to wonder what MPB's response would have been. "It works fine for us.

Or return the item for repair. Everything isn't a negative.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I only buy lenses that carry the same name as the camera. It has served me well in over 60 years of photography I have never had an issue with a lens. NO ONE.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Not one of my 5 x 4 lenses carry the name Sinar, but they are all superb lenses.