Praise for Century Precision Optics at DVinfo.net

John Sandel · January 31st, 2005, 09:47 PM

A plug for the service at Schneider Optics' Century division:

Recently I bought a .7x wide adapter for my XL2 on Ebay. I paid just a couple hundred dollars, so I was provisionally happy---but it arrived pretty ragged: the front concave element was beyond filthy (though no scratches) and the metal housing had some worrisome dings. Worst, the connector ring, which was also banged up, wouldn't mount to my Canon 14x manual lens (it was designed to mate to one of Canon's OIS lenses). That was a result of my not quizzing the seller closely enough.

A quick call to John Sioringa at Century Optics confirmed they'd convert the mount and clean the lens. Late in the day I dropped it off, I got a call from John saying the adapter had led "a pretty hard life," but they would tear it down and rebuild it. They'd disassemble the (4) interior elements, clean everything "to new," reseat & recement them in their retainer rings, adjust for asymmetric distortions, collimate the lens assembly and machine me a new back mount, to fit my 14x zoom.

Price? $155. Drop it off, pick it up, like dry cleaning. It's as good as a new adapter, which goes for around $600. Dumb luck & Century's service saved me at least $200.

Chris Hurd · February 1st, 2005, 12:19 AM

Congrats. I've known those guys for several years from all the trade shows they do; they're a class act all the way around.

Dean Sensui · February 1st, 2005, 02:41 AM

Just FYI, that's about what you'd pay to get the adapter's mount converted.

Great deal!

i seldom ever take my adapter off, and the guys I work with are the same with their cameras. Great optical quality.

Dean Sensui
Hawaii Goes Fishing
www.HawaiiGoesFishing.com

John Sandel · February 1st, 2005, 10:10 AM

Yeah, and the fact that they're about a mile from my house doesn't hurt. I just wish they did oil changes ...

January 31st, 2005, 09:47 PM	#1
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Praise for Century Precision Optics A plug for the service at Schneider Optics' Century division: Recently I bought a .7x wide adapter for my XL2 on Ebay. I paid just a couple hundred dollars, so I was provisionally happy---but it arrived pretty ragged: the front concave element was beyond filthy (though no scratches) and the metal housing had some worrisome dings. Worst, the connector ring, which was also banged up, wouldn't mount to my Canon 14x manual lens (it was designed to mate to one of Canon's OIS lenses). That was a result of my not quizzing the seller closely enough. A quick call to John Sioringa at Century Optics confirmed they'd convert the mount and clean the lens. Late in the day I dropped it off, I got a call from John saying the adapter had led "a pretty hard life," but they would tear it down and rebuild it. They'd disassemble the (4) interior elements, clean everything "to new," reseat & recement them in their retainer rings, adjust for asymmetric distortions, collimate the lens assembly and machine me a new back mount, to fit my 14x zoom. Price? $155. Drop it off, pick it up, like dry cleaning. It's as good as a new adapter, which goes for around $600. Dumb luck & Century's service saved me at least $200.

February 1st, 2005, 12:19 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	Congrats. I've known those guys for several years from all the trade shows they do; they're a class act all the way around. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 1st, 2005, 02:41 AM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Just FYI, that's about what you'd pay to get the adapter's mount converted. Great deal! i seldom ever take my adapter off, and the guys I work with are the same with their cameras. Great optical quality. Dean Sensui Hawaii Goes Fishing www.HawaiiGoesFishing.com

February 1st, 2005, 10:10 AM	#4
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Yeah, and the fact that they're about a mile from my house doesn't hurt. I just wish they did oil changes ...