Billy Mead
Well-known member
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- Jun 23, 2008
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- Age
- 59
Airing dirty laundry in public can really be uncomfortable and no one has to chime in, reply, or even read any further. If you have a problem with this, then stop now and simply close the browser window. But it's not about taking sides, it's just about (acurate) information that may help someone else. If one person is saved the headaches and wasted money that we are out, then it's worth the risk. I would want to know any bad experiences buyers have had shared publically and wish I did prior to spending the money we have and lost the time waiting. At this point there is no other choice and to be honest, I'm tired of getting screwed and not speaking up.
While this post is not about time, I have spent $25,000+ on 20 lenses with broker Sergey Kravchenco and have had to wait up to 9 weeks with absolutely no regard to even reply or stay in touch. Not 3-4 weeks with some occasionally contact, but nothing. When he did get back, I immediately came on here and updated my post about his absence. Now I have to deal with lenses in unusable condition and untrue statements and cover-up's, not only from the original post when he listed the lenses but now in email messages. This is not a lot of money by any means but nonetheless, it is money. And we have to spend almost the same amount to fix all 20 lenses to the point of being even usable.
It is important to say that I know there have been others who have been satisfied with the lenses that they have purchased from Sergey and I got referrals before my first purchase last summer.. So this may be isolated but it's not by accident and it's happened three separate times with a lot of lenses. We have intentionally been misinformed several times.
The most recent purchase was a set of 4 old Zeiss/Opton super speeds. At the time, we were just wrapping up the first round of capital investment expenditures and were winding down. So the price was right and I (thought) I knew what we were getting into based on what we were being told. I fully expected to have to put some money into the lenses and inquired to Sergey repeatedly pre-sale about any potential issues. But I never expected he lenses to be unusable. Here's the original and much discussed post.
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20470&highlight=Sergey
After waiting almost 9 weeks with not a word back and even a "where are you Sergey?" post here, I received the set of Opton Superspeed lenses we bought, our 3rd pair from you. Immediately we discovered the focus was tight on few lenses... so tight in one case it was unusable with a follow focus. Two of the lens gears were falling off and the overall visual condition was a 5 at best. And an extremely deep scratch on the 35mm was present and it had been described to us and publically as a 'mark'. I had received full disclose from Sergey on the internal condition and was assured quality and that's what matters the most. The exterior can be cleaned up nicely, 80mm fronts, some paint and general housekeeping and they'll look great. The inside mechanicals are a different story entirely.
As with any lens set we buy, they go off for a check prior to renting. I'd never let anything go out with out having the piece of mind that we can stand behind the set. knowing there might be some big issues, we sent the set to Charles Pickelt at Serious Gear. He spent a good few days with the lenses and called, I think to prepare me for the bad news coming via email. Really bad news. To make sure there is no miscommunication or mistakes made in transcribing what I was told, here is the statement of work instead, verbatim.
Then there is the 11 lens LOMO set and the most recent 4 LOMO Superspeeds that were sent to Paul Duclos for very extreme repairs to get them to the point that we can rent them.. do we even need to get into these?
Sergey, I urge you to reply. Lets find a way to work together, no finger pointing, you have heard my side. I'm looking for a solution, not a refund unless they cannot even be fixed which Charles will not know until next week. This is only one side of the story and it's critical to hear both. In your exact words tonight you wrote " I wrote to you that lens F = 35 mm has little scratch near center and especially attach photo of this defect". Sergey, please re-read your original post which I provided a link for above. This is not a little mark as you stated, the phot you sent did not show the depth of the scrstch.. The lens is unusable. And what about all of the other 19 lenses that we cannot use? You didn't mention them in your email? But you have my benefit of a doubt. If you want to make this right, please get back in touch with your thoughts for a solution that works for us both and I'd be happy to update. But your last message clearly indicated again, that there was nothing wrong with any of the lenses we bought from you and we were on our own.
Respectfully,
Billy
While this post is not about time, I have spent $25,000+ on 20 lenses with broker Sergey Kravchenco and have had to wait up to 9 weeks with absolutely no regard to even reply or stay in touch. Not 3-4 weeks with some occasionally contact, but nothing. When he did get back, I immediately came on here and updated my post about his absence. Now I have to deal with lenses in unusable condition and untrue statements and cover-up's, not only from the original post when he listed the lenses but now in email messages. This is not a lot of money by any means but nonetheless, it is money. And we have to spend almost the same amount to fix all 20 lenses to the point of being even usable.
It is important to say that I know there have been others who have been satisfied with the lenses that they have purchased from Sergey and I got referrals before my first purchase last summer.. So this may be isolated but it's not by accident and it's happened three separate times with a lot of lenses. We have intentionally been misinformed several times.
The most recent purchase was a set of 4 old Zeiss/Opton super speeds. At the time, we were just wrapping up the first round of capital investment expenditures and were winding down. So the price was right and I (thought) I knew what we were getting into based on what we were being told. I fully expected to have to put some money into the lenses and inquired to Sergey repeatedly pre-sale about any potential issues. But I never expected he lenses to be unusable. Here's the original and much discussed post.
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20470&highlight=Sergey
After waiting almost 9 weeks with not a word back and even a "where are you Sergey?" post here, I received the set of Opton Superspeed lenses we bought, our 3rd pair from you. Immediately we discovered the focus was tight on few lenses... so tight in one case it was unusable with a follow focus. Two of the lens gears were falling off and the overall visual condition was a 5 at best. And an extremely deep scratch on the 35mm was present and it had been described to us and publically as a 'mark'. I had received full disclose from Sergey on the internal condition and was assured quality and that's what matters the most. The exterior can be cleaned up nicely, 80mm fronts, some paint and general housekeeping and they'll look great. The inside mechanicals are a different story entirely.
As with any lens set we buy, they go off for a check prior to renting. I'd never let anything go out with out having the piece of mind that we can stand behind the set. knowing there might be some big issues, we sent the set to Charles Pickelt at Serious Gear. He spent a good few days with the lenses and called, I think to prepare me for the bad news coming via email. Really bad news. To make sure there is no miscommunication or mistakes made in transcribing what I was told, here is the statement of work instead, verbatim.
"Attached is a rough estimate for repairs to the Opton T1.4 super speeds. These are in very rough shape. I am inquiring through my inside sources about the cost/availability of a front element for the 35mm and a rear for the 50mm. Also waiting for prices on better PL mounts. The Russian ones that were on there are atrocious. They don't even sit on a reference surface intended for mounts. They sit on the exterior lens barrel! We might be able to make them work, but it may cost as much in labor as just buying in some better mounts."
Opton 25mm T1.4 lens PL mount - Sticking iris
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Front element laced with many hairline coating scratches, rear
element OK. Iris mech sticks and hangs up at various settings.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon. Disassemble &
Repair iris mechanism. Caution: no factory parts available.
Machine custom interface ring for PL mount, or replace.
Opton 35mm T1.4 lens PL mount Badly scratched
Front element
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Front element deeply scratched near center, rear element has
A few coating mars, but is generally acceptable.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Opton 50mm T1.4 lens PL mount
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Coatings on rear element have failed. Not sure if this is from
chemical exposure mishandling or combination.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts..
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon.
Replace or polish and recoat rear element (if parts not available)
Machine custom interface ring for PL mount, or replace.
Opton 85mm T1.4 lens PL mount
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon.
As Charles has stated these may or may not even be repairable, and the quoted costs to repair them (if possible) to the point of being usable was quite a shock.Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Front element laced with many hairline coating scratches, rear
element OK. Iris mech sticks and hangs up at various settings.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon. Disassemble &
Repair iris mechanism. Caution: no factory parts available.
Machine custom interface ring for PL mount, or replace.
Opton 35mm T1.4 lens PL mount Badly scratched
Front element
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Front element deeply scratched near center, rear element has
A few coating mars, but is generally acceptable.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Opton 50mm T1.4 lens PL mount
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads: in
projection, shows large amounts of image shift/focus shift.
Coatings on rear element have failed. Not sure if this is from
chemical exposure mishandling or combination.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts..
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon.
Replace or polish and recoat rear element (if parts not available)
Machine custom interface ring for PL mount, or replace.
Opton 85mm T1.4 lens PL mount
Lens shows overall long-term wear. Play in focus threads.
Aftermarket PL mount seats on lens barrel instead of reference
surfaces. These are defective and may or may not be made to
Work by fabricating custom interface parts.
Recommended service: Complete disassembly & cleaning.
Spray and lap focus threads with Emralon.
Then there is the 11 lens LOMO set and the most recent 4 LOMO Superspeeds that were sent to Paul Duclos for very extreme repairs to get them to the point that we can rent them.. do we even need to get into these?
Sergey, I urge you to reply. Lets find a way to work together, no finger pointing, you have heard my side. I'm looking for a solution, not a refund unless they cannot even be fixed which Charles will not know until next week. This is only one side of the story and it's critical to hear both. In your exact words tonight you wrote " I wrote to you that lens F = 35 mm has little scratch near center and especially attach photo of this defect". Sergey, please re-read your original post which I provided a link for above. This is not a little mark as you stated, the phot you sent did not show the depth of the scrstch.. The lens is unusable. And what about all of the other 19 lenses that we cannot use? You didn't mention them in your email? But you have my benefit of a doubt. If you want to make this right, please get back in touch with your thoughts for a solution that works for us both and I'd be happy to update. But your last message clearly indicated again, that there was nothing wrong with any of the lenses we bought from you and we were on our own.
Respectfully,
Billy
