Quality Red wide angle zoom lenses, 18-50mm

[axel ebermann]

We received our first Red 18-50mm zoom lens in Dec. 08. The barrels and elements were so loose it was literally falling apart. We sent it right back to Red.
It took them about three months, with little or no feedback, to get the lens fixed.

Our New York office also recently acquired an used/almost new lens of the same type - totally out of focus and with the same loose barrels.

So I have no other choice than to send the lens to Red for service. But now comes the punchline:

Because I did not purchase the lens directly from Red - it is automatically not covered by warranty anymore. This is like buying a used car still under warranty - except you voided the warranty of the car by putting a different driver behind the wheel.

So except of defending their product, that is obviously suffering from a design flaw or quality control issue, they will make me pay for the repair.

Don't get me wrong: I appreciate what Red is doing for the filmmaking community.
The lenses are sensational for the price: But only if they are working.

 

[Milan Spasic]

Hmmmm, no answer? Anybody?

I'm anxious to find out what's the story here. I just bought a twice used 18-50. Haven't had a chance to test it yet as my my power pack and LCD are still on the way but I'm a little worried to say the least because I already lined up a couple of shoots for October.

Have to say that the focus ring feels quite rough towards the end and I have a conspicuous gap between the back of the lens and the camera mount. Hope the gap will go away with the backfocus adjustment? Are they set so out of whack straight from the factory?

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Bernhard,

Red is not sold in Europe. AFAIK in California there is no requirement for a guarantee however RED give 90 days on the lens & accessories but it's not transferable.

In Europe you pay higher prices, partially to pay for the more relaxed guarantees you get by law. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Stephen

Dear Axel,

well, I don't know american law exactly, here in Germany guarantee doesn't disappear, when something is sold from Person A to Person B, example would be my 1,5 year old car (which I have for 1 moth now) with a 2 year guarantee. I still have 6 months garantee.

Concerning Film - and Videokameras, that's so damn complicated, I will never again do/buy/clean/... anything without consulting before real independant Camera Service Guys, because service guys are not under the pressure, that they have to sell trash .... ( for example http://www.mediatec.de/index.php/Kontakt/2008030342/service/Kontakt.html)

Greetings Bernhard

 

[Milan Spasic]

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Stephen

I wouldn't exactly call it "free".
I understand that Red needs to protect themselves from the warranty abuse in order to run a successful business but how does the fact that the lens changed hands influence the original, intended quality of the product?

If the lens has not been dropped or abused in any way that would otherwise void the warranty, why wouldn't it be covered by Red? :shrug:

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Bernhard, I'm sorry about your misfortune with the 18-50 lenses. It's a long-known issue with these lenses that there are quality control problems and each lens seems to have its own unique personality. The 18-50 was RED's first attempt at a lens and I believe they made too many compromises to meet their target price. I've encountered some 18-50's that have worked great with mostly smooth gears with proper resistance and I've encountered some that are completely screwy, can't hold focus, etc..

That said, RED warranties do not transfer when equipment is sold to another party. This is not unusual practice. The RED One body, lenses and several accessories come with a 12-month, non-transferable warranty. Media and I believe cables and perhaps a few other things only have a 90-day warranty.

For the camera, when a change of ownership takes place, RED allows the camera to be sent in and (for a price) inspected / tuned-up and they will then issue a 90-day warranty to the new owner.

 

[Milan Spasic]

That said, RED warranties do not transfer when equipment is sold to another party. This is not unusual practice.

I know it's not unusual but is it fair?

If you make a junky lens, should the user bare the cost of repair? Especially if it's a well known issue?

I just hope mine is one of the good ones..... else, this will make me furious.

 

[Jay Schweitzer]

I know it's not unusual but is it fair?

If you make a junky lens, should the user bare the cost of repair? Especially if it's a well known issue?

I just hope mine is one of the good ones..... else, this will make me furious.

Milan,
I told you I would have checked out that lens for you before you bought it. You should have called me that person is about 3 minutes drive away from me.
Jay

 

[Milan Spasic]

Milan,
I told you I would have checked out that lens for you before you bought it. You should have called me that person is about 3 minutes drive away from me.
Jay

You were right. I was going back and forth over wether to buy it or not after speaking to you originally. I plunged into it after I spoke to Mike....
Should have let you check it first....oh well.

Reading that other 18-50 thread were everybody (including Jim) claimed that it's a very sharp lens made me confident about the purchase. Didn't think much of the few comments that mentioned the clunkiness of it's mechanics.


Will report back when I finally fire the Red up. Fingers crossed it's not one of the lemons.

 

[Jeff Coatney]

Axel,

I don't understand why your company bought another used lens after your terrible experience with the first one.

I'm very pleased with my 18-50mm Red zoom. I accept that I may be lucky, but with so many lenses out there, I haven't heard many complaints after the initial ones were shipped.

 

[axel ebermann]

Jeff,

We also had a terrible experience with our first Red and bought another one - simply because there isn't anything else out there like that.

This is also why we are generally very understanding with the nice guys from Red. Even when brand new cameras and lenses have to go straight back to service and we have to wait for a viewfinder for over five months.

But if a piece of equipment, like our zoom, has a quality issue that is known by Red - it is a matter of courtesy to your loyal customer not to have them pay for the repair.

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

Mass producing lenses to cinema standards is not easy & takes a long time to get right. Red were in a hurry & rehoused the Sigma 18-50, they did not have a lot of choice as many owners would have had a camera without any lens options.

Stephen

 

[Milan Spasic]

You were right. I was going back and forth over wether to buy it or not after speaking to you originally. I plunged into it after I spoke to Mike....
Should have let you check it first....oh well.

Reading that other 18-50 thread were everybody (including Jim) claimed that it's a very sharp lens made me confident about the purchase. Didn't think much of the few comments that mentioned the clunkiness of it's mechanics.


Will report back when I finally fire the Red up. Fingers crossed it's not one of the lemons.

UPDATE:

The lens is fine. The focus ring has sticky spots towards the end but all of the 18-50 I tried do.
I played with the 18-85 at the Red HQ today though and it is truly amazing.
I may forget the 50-150 and go for the beast instead....