UK repair centre for panasonic 100-400

[Brian Wadie]

I'm finding the Panasonic "support" system useless and it doesn't even seem to have a category for Lens repair so I wondered if anyone can help in providing details of where to get my 100-400 checked over in the UK.

The zoom seems to be getting progressively more stiff with use (7 months in now) and I want to get it checked before the warranty runs out

Thanks in advance for any help (and I would be very interested to hear if anyone has done this successfully and got a smoothly zooming lens back?)

Its a crying shame because this lens is my favourite for both long range and close work and I don't want to have it out of commission but I'm worried it must be straining the lens mount its so stiff now

 

[Maria_H]

Hi Brian

This is the only official Panasonic repair centre that I know of - but whether they repair lenses, I'm not sure. Maybe worth giving them a ring to check.

http://www.dkavs.co.uk/where-to-find-us/horley/horley

Some years ago I had an issue with a broken IS switch on a lens and they weren't entirely helpful at the time, implying back then that Panasonic don't repair lenses and that if it was a manufacturing fault, the lens would be replaced, otherwise I'd have to buy a new one! As the lens was out of warranty, I ended up using this place, which I can highly recommend:

Home

Specialists in the repair and service of Panasonic Lumix digital compact cameras, bridge cameras and all Lumix G series cameras including the GH5.

www.acecamerarepair.co.uk

I wouldn't say that my 100-400 is too stiff - it's certainly not loose but manageable. Whether some are stiffer than others or whether it's a matter of perception, I don't know. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Trevor Carpenter]

I'm surprised. I have spoken to Panasonic support http://www.panasonic.com/uk/contact-us.html a few times and always found them extremely helpful. Once they have confirmed that it is not the fault of the idiot user they tell you to contact DKAVS who are very good. The combination rates as some of the best customer service I have ever received. I have never used DKAVS for lenses but I'm sure Panasonic will advise you where to go.

 

[Minstadave]

I found them utterly useless. Sent my GX8 back with dirt in the the EVF, got it back unfixed. When I contacted Panasonic I was told they'd cleaned the lens and sensor and it was fixed.

Just gave up in the end.

 

[Brian Wadie]

I'm surprised. I have spoken to Panasonic support http://www.panasonic.com/uk/contact-us.html a few times and always found them extremely helpful. Once they have confirmed that it is not the fault of the idiot user they tell you to contact DKAVS who are very good. The combination rates as some of the best customer service I have ever received. I have never used DKAVS for lenses but I'm sure Panasonic will advise you where to go.

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thanks for the contact Trevor I will try them. My problem was trying to use the official site to identify who to talk to regarding the lens when there is no drop down option showing for lenses, just camera systems

(I had similar problems when I got my 4K Panasonic TV and wanted to check on the extended warranty, took about a week to eventually track them down, great products no doubt of that, but for me, their support system is less user friendly than Canon or Olympus for example)

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it!

 

[WhiteBeard]

I'm surprised. I have spoken to Panasonic support http://www.panasonic.com/uk/contact-us.html a few times and always found them extremely helpful. Once they have confirmed that it is not the fault of the idiot user they tell you to contact DKAVS who are very good. The combination rates as some of the best customer service I have ever received. I have never used DKAVS for lenses but I'm sure Panasonic will advise you where to go.

 

[td_100]

Although this thread. Is 10 months old I have had the same experience. DKAVS can do very little repairs to lenses and especially one of the “flagship” lenses the 100-400. This situation is indeed poor for a company who is obviously trying to lure Professional Photographers to their system. Enough Professional’s are using GH5’ s for video work now., Could you imagine Canon or Nikon lenses being irreparable.

Come on Panasonic this needs sorting, quickly, a dedicated camera and lens repairer, along with a dedicated photography customer service.

 

[glassoholic]

Although this thread. Is 10 months old I have had the same experience. DKAVS can do very little repairs to lenses and especially one of the “flagship” lenses the 100-400. This situation is indeed poor for a company who is obviously trying to lure Professional Photographers to their system. Enough Professional’s are using GH5’ s for video work now., Could you imagine Canon or Nikon lenses being irreparable.

Come on Panasonic this needs sorting, quickly, a dedicated camera and lens repairer, along with a dedicated photography customer service.

And I thought it was an Australian support problem with Panasonic. Fortunately I bought from a large bricks and mortar retailer and will be trying dropping the lens off there as trying to send it directly myself has proven impossible. This is completely opposite to my two Oly warranty experiences.

 

[td_100]

Although this thread. Is 10 months old I have had the same experience. DKAVS can do very little repairs to lenses and especially one of the “flagship” lenses the 100-400. This situation is indeed poor for a company who is obviously trying to lure Professional Photographers to their system. Enough Professional’s are using GH5’ s for video work now., Could you imagine Canon or Nikon lenses being irreparable.

Come on Panasonic this needs sorting, quickly, a dedicated camera and lens repairer, along with a dedicated photography customer service.

And I thought it was an Australian support problem with Panasonic. Fortunately I bought from a large bricks and mortar retailer and will be trying dropping the lens off there as trying to send it directly myself has proven impossible. This is completely opposite to my two Oly warranty experiences.

 

[paul cool]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[td_100]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[Brian Wadie]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[tt321]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[Brian Wadie]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[WhiteBeard]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/58365044@N05/

that plus the automatic 2.5 year warranty on registration (only 2 years without! ) and the further 3 year paid extension.

I rate the Olympus service up there with my Canon Pro service and the ease of access to support + their knowledgeable input really shows Panasonic up I fear

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So much to learn, so little time left to do it!

Panasonic is quite good with cameras.

The 100-400 is designed not to be reparable, apparently. Swap within warranty, tough luck otherwise.

Not too sure how their other lenses behave in this regard.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/xiafei/

my experiences have not been good though, they seem difficult to contact, have a very idiosyncratic system to work through before you can find the relevant contact details and are slow to respond, maybe I have been unlucky?

From what I have read, luck has nothing to do with it. Although I think Panasonic's µ4/3 photo division has done a tremendous job with its cameras and lenses as far as quality and reliability goes, after-sales service appears to be a thing that Panasonic still has to come to terms with. It seems to adopt a general "use it then dump it" approach to consumer goods that is not in line with a provider of "Serious" and "Pro" equipment. I'm pretty sure this mentality is not the same concerning its pro line of video cameras but the link with the µ4/3 division seems tenuous at best...

--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it!

 

[td_100]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[tt321]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[Brian Wadie]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[glassoholic]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas

 

[Brian Wadie]

Olympus pro service is such a bonus wish panasonic would adopt these ideas