Experience with repairs, quotes?

Hi everyone, i ran into some trouble with my 16-50 and im having trouble working out what to do about this. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I tried to get a quote for repairs prior to sending but even after describing the problem in detail he refused and said i would have to send it for any quote. The lens has popped out of place in the middle and is therefore misaligned. The focus and zoom still work and all the communications with the camera are fine. The only thing is that its quite wonky and wont pop back into place. I used it for a photo shoot the other day and while it wont focus past about 10 metres and the plain of focus is off, its still useable...
I dont want to repair it myself because i have no experience with such complex lenses and if i shred the screws then im... well... screwed.

I understand its complicated and there are a lot of variables at play here, but i literally have no clue what i might get charged for this, parts and labour dont come cheap any more!

Thanks for reading!

xxx

I scratched the front element of my DA* 50-135, took it back to SRS to get them to get a quote for me, the response came back 'beyond economical repair', apparently due to it being sealed.

From what you have explained, I wouldn't be surprised if you got the same response, and no repairer worth their salt would try and give you a quote for that repair over the phone.

Guess the only advice I can give is to send it off for a quote and cross your fingers.

my 50-135 had the same problem that you describe, so it was bent, and misaligned, but at the mount, not in the middle. Caused by a knock whilst it was attached to the camera, thank God the camera mount was fine....

the charge for repair was £90 at photopia.

Photopia replaced the entire front barrel of my 50-135 just because the lens hood holding wotsit had partly sheered off. That AND replacing the SDM motor cost £78.

Photopia may be as slow as molasses but they send you a quote before starting on the job which you can accept/decline (and don't forget the PUG discount).

K.

These lenses are not that old yet - is it still under a 2 year warranty?

In any event a lens should last longer than it could possibly be old, so under EU and UK legislation there could be some mileage in claiming a warranty repair regardless.

By the sounds of it then, I may have been fobbed off?

It was nearly 2 years ago, maybe they just didn't have the parts / expertise then?

Might just give an independent repairer a call!

wow, thanks for the help guys! At least i know now, i dont have that much money available at the moment so ill have to make do with the 18-55 for a while. samesies nathan, thank god the mount on the body didnt go the same way!

2 year warranty? does that apply to all pentax? Either way the lens was bought for me on comission for a university so it will be a lot of effort to track down that receipt. God damn!
I agree about the legislation though, i cant imagine how the lens could have come under any significant pressure other than being thrown around a bit while inside a lowpro bag. If i track down a receipt i will definitely claim either directly or through some ombudsman.

In the meantime ill check out some other independant repairers, am i looking for some kind of pentax certification for paid-for repairs or will anyone do?

Thanks for the help

Do you have it covered by your household insurance policy?