24-105mm can't focus to infinity and ebay issues - advice needed!

Last week, I won 24-105mm on ebay auction and paid for it in person (we live in the same city)

On my first walk outside, I've realized that it has horrible front focus - can focus only up to few meters.

In addition, it thinks that it is at 50mm while actually being zoomed out all the way (at 24mm) and consequently will not open aperture more the 4.0 (should be 3.5).

The seller is not admitting the issue. He even never had the digital Minolta body but only film and hasn't used it in many years.
When it focuses, it does well and sharp (upto few meters).
What am I suppose to do - I cannot use insurance as I have paid cache.
Does anyone has an idea of what the problem could be anf the potential fix?

I've tried it on my A900, A700 and A100 - same issue. All my other lenses are great!

Thanks in advance!
novak

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http://www.supernovak.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogic

FED-S (my father's) > Canon AE1 (my brother's) > Minolta Maxxum 3xi (my first precious) > Minolta Dynax 400si (hello Canada) > Minolta Dimage 7i (darling) > Konica Minolta 5D (first DSLR) > Sony Alpha A100 (killer baby) > Sony Alpha A700 (serious tool) > Canon 5DMkII (weird computer with average lenses) > Back to A700 (reassured about the greatness) + A900 (depth of colours and pixels)

sounds like the chips fried . My 35-80 minolta is doing the same and i've owned it from new . It only registers upto 50mm then its dead as a dodo but still works well in full manual. sorry i'm not more help than that cheers Paul

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new to technology,always learning

it cannot focus to infinity even in the full manual!
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http://www.supernovak.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogic

FED-S (my father's) > Canon AE1 (my brother's) > Minolta Maxxum 3xi (my first precious) > Minolta Dynax 400si (hello Canada) > Minolta Dimage 7i (darling) > Konica Minolta 5D (first DSLR) > Sony Alpha A100 (killer baby) > Sony Alpha A700 (serious tool) > Canon 5DMkII (weird computer with average lenses) > Back to A700 (reassured about the greatness) + A900 (depth of colours and pixels)

I would have thought that ebay would force a refund as it's not as described and not working. If evrything's out of kilter, I would suspect that it's been stripped down and assembled wrongly. And if so, why was it desassembled? Have a close look for signs of repair such as damaged or brightened screw heads etc. Check the diaphragm blades for any oil or stickiness in operation. If the seller won't acknowledge fault, raise a complaint with ebay.

Ebay will likely not do squat, since payment was in cash - you can't even prove that you paid. I'm afraid you may be out of luck.

I bought my 24-105mm brand new in March 2001 and used it infrequently on Dynax 7 for 1 year. Since 2002 it was in storage. Recently it put it onto A700; opically it is perfect but when the lens is at the extreme long end position the A700 indicates that there is no lens attached. I suspect that time must have taken its toll on the distance transducer mechanism. I will live with the problem rarther than having it 'fixed' as optical errors may be introduced in the process.

e-bay cannot help you as you have paid cash.
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Bo

Since you paid for it "outside" of ebay and with cash your most likely out of luck. If you had used PayPal, depending on how many feedbacks and or sales the vendor had in the last month PayPal holds the money till notified of delivery or untill the buyer leaves a positive feedback or 21 days. I sold my A100 and shipped it outside of ebay and then had to jump through hoops showing PayPal that the camera had been delivered before PayPal would release my money. for some reason the buyer never bothered to leave me a feedback. you could threaten a negative feedback for what it's worth. you shoulda woulda coulda checked it out before you paid for it considering you had the opportunity since you picked it up in person. live and learn!

COntact him via ebay mail, if he refuses to refund then all you can do is leave negative feedback.

I think you should list his name so others wont buy from him also on Dyxum.

JMO

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Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!

I had the same problem with my tamron zoom. I figured it was related to the ROM chip so I removed the ROM circuit board and re-sat the grounding spring. Cleaned all the electrical contacts too. Now I don't have that problem any more. This might solve your problem.

BoDrey said:

I bought my 24-105mm brand new in March 2001 and used it infrequently on Dynax 7 for 1 year. Since 2002 it was in storage. Recently it put it onto A700; opically it is perfect but when the lens is at the extreme long end position the A700 indicates that there is no lens attached. I suspect that time must have taken its toll on the distance transducer mechanism. I will live with the problem rarther than having it 'fixed' as optical errors may be introduced in the process.

e-bay cannot help you as you have paid cash.
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Bo

Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice. I want to try that; how do I go about it?
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Bo

I think Harleyguy is right on the money. As someone who has purchased over 200 items on eBay I never pay for anything in cash even when I live close enough to drive there. Which has happened a few times. I always pay by PayPal. Always protect yourself as sometimes people are trying to unload their junk on anyone they can. Had a guy try it with me selling me a Tokina lens that had a bad gear in it. It only acted up when you leaned the lens up or down while focusing. I sent it back and he repaid me thanks to PayPal. He later sold the lens with a note of its problem.

Really too bad you didn't check it out first when you met him in person.
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All the best and keep shooting -

TLAnderson
(Gateway camera club member) Natick, MA
http://www.tla-photo.smugmug.com/

Sony a700, a700 -
Minolta 100 2.8 MACRO, 28-135 f4-4.5, 75-300 BBC, 500 f8
Sigma 28-70 2.8, 28-300, 170-500
Sony 50mm 1.8, CZ16-80, HVL-F36AM, HVL-F58AM
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Tokina 80-200 2.8

My 24-105 died on me a year ago. The focus clutch was blocked and the lens would not focus to infinity. I'd ditch the lens and/or ask for a refund.

Go for a 28-105 minolta RS, it's the much better lens, both optically and mechanically.

Why can't you go back to him with the lens and show him the issue?

Bring up your original transaction and on the right side there should be "ask the seller a question" or via ebay you can request the sellers information.

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Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!

It seems that we have negotiated the deal - he'll take the lens back but it will cost me around $60. Oh well, I will be much more careful next time!

Thanks everyone for great feedback!
novak

--
http://www.supernovak.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogic

FED-S (my father's) > Canon AE1 (my brother's) > Minolta Maxxum 3xi (my first precious) > Minolta Dynax 400si (hello Canada) > Minolta Dimage 7i (darling) > Konica Minolta 5D (first DSLR) > Sony Alpha A100 (killer baby) > Sony Alpha A700 (serious tool) > Canon 5DMkII (weird computer with average lenses) > Back to A700 (reassured about the greatness) + A900 (depth of colours and pixels)

If he is charging you for the fees he paid to ebay for selling the lens, he can actually get 100% of them back with a transaction cancellation. Ebay doesn't really tell anyone that it is possible, but you can cancel a transaction and get your fees back. The seller has to initiate it and the buyer has to agree to it for it to work. To get the link to the cancelation page search for "cancel transaction" in the "help' area of ebay.

Just a heads up incase this $60 includes fees paid to ebay.

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Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!

That certainly doesn't seem like it should cost you anything. Maybe you should contact EBAY directly and have the negotiate a deal HE CAN'T REFUSE... Seriously bad lens, bad transaction, 100% refund do...

Jim in VT

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Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

You can put a dress on a pig, its still a pig!