New old lens but big problems.

[Big Dawg]

I just got a lens off Ebay. It is a Vivitar 135mm f/3.5 preset lens with 15 iris blades. Brand new in a shop worn box. Never been on a camera. A T mount that came with a Minolta adapter...that is for sale if someone needs one PM me. It will be cheap as I can't use it.

Any way being a 1960's lens that has never been used the iris blade are stuck. Someone before I received the lens tried the Aperture rings and caused several of the blades to jump out of the holder rings and bend....Now I have a brand new 135mm that is useless...Oh well off to Vphoto of Atlanta for a repair. Makes my lens cost 3 times what I wanted to pay......My luck was not so good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170429229746&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[fish4570]

you will come out ahead somehow, bd ...

[Big Dawg]

[tkbslc]

I'd just toss it. There are plenty of good 135mm lenses out there.

[Attila]

[woodrim]

Return to seller.

[visualopsins]

this fellow used a piece of copper wire to fix a broken aperture "stick" in his PENTACON:

http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=15783

[eeyore_nl]

[Rolf]

See the "Question and Answer section" of this auction. I´m sure that the seller knew the problem

[magnet-2009]

Q: you have another picture of item ? you have picture that take by item ?
A: Lens is new! Why would you need another picture? And if I was tking pictures with it, it would no longer be new.

Clever reply by the seller knowing the problem of his item.

Discuss the problem with the seller, mention that new item means new condition + perfect working order. Ask for sending the lens back. No response or no agreement? Just a claim.

edit: I've just read your reply Rolf and you are right.

CHOOSE A RELIABLE MAIL COMPANY IF YOU HAVE TO SEND THE ITEM BACK WITH RELIABLE "TRACK AND TRACE" AND "SIGNED FOR", PAY INSURANCE [a few bucks for that price but totally may be much more than 24 bucks ]. Sorry for the capitals

[Big Dawg]

[estudleon]

Somebody says in the forum that the "new" old lens probably never used 'cos it's bad mechanically and/or optically.

And he is right. I bought, years ago, a "new" pentacon 2,8/29 and it was a desaster - misaligned element -. A good used lens, can be bad too. But when somebody sees a lens like new, he waits a real "like new" mechanical and optically. And almost always isn't.

Rino.

[Big Dawg]

Thanks Rino. This truly was an untouched lens except for someone exercising their curiosity and working the Aperture ring. Still and all it will in the future become what it should be...a used lens..LOL...I will get it fixed my friend.

[estudleon]

Well done !! Revive it !!

Rino.

[Boomer Depp]

People who sell lenses in a deceptive way like this seller should be taken to task and dealt with,so your compensated and so he doesn't try to pull these tricks on other unsuspecting buyers.

Three times in the past year the seller mistakenly or dishonestly misrepresented a lens and that's after I inquired about a working aperture,focus or zoom rings,fungus,etc...In each case I asked for and received compensation,in one case the seller returned my money and told me to keep the lens.

I believe this seller was deliberately dishonest and you should be compensated no matter how trivial the price or he will continue his dishonest practices on unsuspecting buyers.

[pat donnelly]

I doubt he will want the lens back. Ask him for a part refund?

Shared experience can make friendships, it is all a question of how you both deal with it.

Correcting the lens sounds best but a wide open lens may be all that it is worth, given the cost of repair? A few test shots may help you to decide if it is a keeper or sell it on, describing its condition fully, and allowing someone to sharpen their repair skills?

If you get much from resale it will help determine the size of the refund. The vendor may learn to tell the full truth too!

[DSG]

[fatdeeman]

Two can play at pretending to be innocent,

Message the seller and do your best to sound angelic and sincere, explain that you are grateful for the lens and appreciate his quick delivery etc and then go on to explain that the aperture is not functioning and that this is not acceptable as the lens was described as new, a fact that was further re-enforced by his answer to another buyers enquiry.

Regardless of if he was aware of the fault, any seller worth his salt or at least protective of his reputation will make an effort to rectify the situation, I have bought many lenses in the past that have not met the expectations set by the item description. We all tend to bid based on the apparent quality and condition of a product and when I find an item to not be as described I will ask for a partial refund either as a contribution towards a repair or to simply bring the price of the item more in proportion with it's quality. The important point being that I would have not bid as much in the first place if I had been aware of the faults.

Many sellers will ask you to return an item at your own expense which is unfair and benefits only them. I usually reply stating that I wanted that specific item and that's why I bid on it in the first place and that a partial refund will go some way towards bringing the overall price in line with the condition of the item.

As a last resort a threat of negative (but accurate) feedback often helps motivate unhelpful sellers. Whilst it can be frustrating as a seller being unable to leave a buyer negative feedbacks it does allow buyers to be more honest and not fear false retaliation feedback from disgruntled sellers.

Some may argue that a seller may be novice and not really know if the item they are selling works or not and as such should not be approached for a refund but I believe this kind of attitude just allows people to sell any old junk with no comebacks, likewise if an item only fetches a very low price I don't see how this makes a faulty item any more acceptable, when buying something from a shop even a very cheap item will be returned if it is no good, no matter the cost it's money that would not have been spent if the item was known to be faulty.

[Big Dawg]

[hk300]

as stated by fatdeeman ... just give the seller a negative feedback and summarize what the issues are.
Very often sellers will then offer returns.

Also, i would not put too much effort in trying to repair the current lens, a repair man will cost more than the current value of the vivitar 135 lens.

Perhaps it is an idea to post a WTB 135mm lens in the Marketplace section ... i guess some members will have some cheap idle 135mm lens available.

[peterqd]