Adnan Siddiqui

Update: 2 more months and no response from Van Diemen. They are refusing to return lens and trying to charge for service they did not perform. Another person has PM me about the same HELL Van Diemen is putting them through.

That the company!! I have attached images of a lens (before and after servicing) they are trying to charge me ~$2k. They kept this lens for 11 months and when it was sent back after "servicing/polishing" it looks identical to before it was sent to them!!! They still want to charge for it!!!!

Update: It seems Van Diemen has been promptly responding to perspective clients but refusing to answer my request to return my lens. Someone sent us a email proof that Christopher from Van Diemen replied to their inquiry within 24 hours. I paid Van Diemen and they have possession of my property but they don't care to respond in months.

Van Diemen has been misleading me for 2 years. Now, they have stopped responding to my emails. I have been contacted by someone (who contacted Van Diemen for lens servicing) that Christopher promptly responds to his/her email! Of course, when Van Diemen wants your money, they will treat you like royalty. But once they get your money, they act like you don't exist. I have taken heavy monetary losses due to their misleading promise. Now, they are intentionally make it difficult to retrieve my property. This, in no way, is characteristic of a professional company. Van Diemen is a disgrace. I will make another post highlighting their so-called service on my 50mm lens. After 11 months in their possession, they sent my lens back claiming to be 'fully serviced' but the lens arrived in the same condition it was sent to them.

My name is Adnan and I sent some Lomo anamorphic lenses to Van Diemen in UK for servicing and upgrading. It has been an absolute nightmare dealing with them. Please read below: In June 2018, I decided to service and rehouse my Lomo anamorphic square and round front lenses, so I personally contacted Van Diemen. Christopher at Van Diemen stated the average turn around time is 90 days for Square front rehousing (V2 version). He also stated that Round front servicing will take longer. Based on this information, I shipped the square and round front lenses to Van Diemen. Round Front lenses were returned 11 months later in May 2019 and according to Van Diemen they were fully serviced. However, one lens was never serviced as it looks identical to before shipment to Van Diemen and after receiving from them. (I'll discuss that topic in a different thread with photos for proof) 35mm Square Front 20 months later, my 35mm square front is still in Van Diemen's possession. **************************** Please read below: The excerpts are from actual email communication between myself (Adnan Siddiqui) and Christopher (owner of Van Diemen) 2018 June 7 (Month 1): Adnan - What is the conversion time from receipt of my lens to completion? I have a Lomo 35mm Lomo Square Front 35BAC10-2-1 June 18 (Month 1): Van Diemen - ....we aim to deliver conversions in 90 days from agreement of terms and receipt of deposit. July 4, 2018: Lenses received by Van Diemen. July 6 (Month 2): Van Diemen - The time to do this work is estimated at 90 days from receipt of PO and deposit payment. September 10 (Month 4): Van Diemen - ....we have parts in stock or arriving this week for the Lomo Square front conversions October 31 (Month 5): Van Diemen - We about to start on the assembly of the first batch...We would hope to be delivering these in purchase order sequence during November. 2019 January 10, 2019 (Month 10) Van Diemen - The 35mm lenses...will all be assembled in sequence yours is no 9 on the list. February 5, 2019 (Month 9) Van Diemen - The position with the Square front lenses....We should have them all done by the middle of March. Your order was 17th in the order book March 8, 2019 (Month 10): Van Diemen - The Square front Total Conversion is on the bench ready for re assembly, but will not be ready for a while longer. We have had to make some on assembly modifications....These problems have now been resolved but we have been delayed whilst new parts were awaited I will let you know when your lens is nearing completion. We do still have 7 lenses ahead of yours to build. March 26, 2019 (Month 10): Van Diemen - Your 35 is now 5th in lens for assembly. April 2, 2019 (Month 11): Van Diemen - With regards to your 35mm we have all components picked and ready for assembly. April 4, 2019 (Month 11): Adnan - I've decided to cancel the order because this is unreasonably a long wait. May 17, 2019 (Month 12): Van Diemen - Your lens has been prepared for conversion and parts allocated it currently is no 18 on the assembly list. May 17, 2019 (Month 12): Adnan - Back in Feb I was #9, then I was #5. Why I'm #18 now?.....this is too confusing. I wanted to cancel my order......there is no consistency. May 20, 2019 (Month 12): Van Diemen - We have had some technical problems to resolve in developing the total conversion of the Lomo SF lenses. May 28, 2019 (Month 12): Adnan - At this point, I do not wish to get a converted lens due to the design problems. You can do a simple PL conversion and send the lens back July 1, 2019 (Month 14): Adnan - Christopher what is the status of my lens and I did not wish to proceed with the conversion just a PL mount. I inform you that a month ago August 15, 2019 (Month 15): Van Diemen - None of these simple conversions of which work well reliably. Do we rebuild your lens as it was- this is costly in time . Who is going to pay? Do we ask you to reconsider your decision and have the work, we contracted to do for you, completed. August 19, 2019 (Month 15): Adnan - I want to have 35 mm converted but this is beyond reasonable. August 20, 2019 (Month 15): Van Diemen - ....we have now resolved the teething problems with the product and expect to catch up on the deliveries. September 16, 2019 (Month 16): Adnan - There is still no timeline provided for the service completion October 21, 2019 (Month 17): Adnan - I've been waiting for the V2 for almost 1.5 year. What is the delivery time for V2? October 22, 2019 (Month 17): Van Diemen - Your Lens remains in exactly the same place in the assembly line as it did in the beginning…..assembly time is now about 2 weeks November 2, 2019 (Month 18):Van Diemen - As soon as you confirm the order for a V2 conversion of your 35mm lens we will load the job... November 6, 2019 (Month 18): Adnan - For the 35mm, I had agreed since last year. What do you want me to confirm? Has anything changed? December 1, 2019 (Month 19) Adnan - I have not heard back from you in a month. I want to get my lens back. December 2, 2019 (Month 19): Van Diemen - The price quoted for this V2 conversion is £ 5950.00 This quotation will expire at the end of 2019 the prices for 2020 will increase. December 5, 2019 (Month 19) Adnan - I've sent you multiple messages between October and November but did not receive a reply from you. V2 for square front. This was agreed upon in July 2018!! **************************** 20 MONTHS LATER (JANUARY 2020): No response from Van Diemen. Lens is still in their possession.

Sold

Fully serviced and modernized by Olex Camera. Real PL mount Text 718.662.1997 $3599 Or best offer

Freshly serviced and updated by Focus Optics. Lense is still with Focus Optics if anybody wants to inspect. $19k

Lens set is sold. Lomo ANAMORPHIC Round Front 300mm available. Lomo ANAMORPHIC Round Front 50, 75 available Lomo ANAMORPHIC Square Front 50, 80 available. Lomo Standard Speeds, 10, 18, 22, 35, 200 available.

On ebay. See all my lenses for sale there http://www.ebay.com/itm/192096546955?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Personal use Lomo anamorphic SQUARE FRONT LENSES: 50mm Lomo Anamorphic T2.4, PL-mount MONOBLOCK 80mm Lomo Anamorphic T2.4, PL-mount MONOBLOCK EXCELLENT CONDITION: STAINLESS STEEL PL-mounts, FOCUS gear rings. No scratches No fungus No haze The lenses are ready for shooting. DISCLAIMER: These lenses are in great condition for their age, but as with any vintage item, it is highly advised to perform a visual inspection. Lenses can be taken to Abel Cine in New York City for an inspection at the buyer's expense. These are sold AS-IS with NO returns. Please make offer accordingly. Looking for a quick sale! $19,999 OBO LOCAL PICKUP ALLOWED IN NEW YORK CITY. SHIPPING IS FREE, BUT INSURANCE IS BUYER'S RESPONSIBILITY CALL/TEXT FOR INSPECTION: 2I2.729.64I9

Personal use Lomo anamorphic SQUARE FRONT LENSES: 50mm Lomo Anamorphic T2.4, PL-mount MONOBLOCK 80mm Lomo Anamorphic T2.4, PL-mount MONOBLOCK EXCELLENT CONDITION: STAINLESS STEEL PL-mounts, FOCUS gear rings. No scratches No fungus No haze The lenses are ready for shooting. DISCLAIMER: These lenses are in great condition for their age, but as with any vintage item, it is highly advised to perform a visual inspection. Lenses can be taken to Abel Cine in New York City for an inspection at the buyer's expense. These are sold AS-IS with NO returns. Please make offer accordingly. Looking for a quick sale! Bid will automatically be rejected if offer is too low. LOCAL PICKUP ALLOWED. SHIPPING IS FREE, BUT INSURANCE IS BUYER'S RESPONSIBILITY CALL/TEXT FOR INSPECTION: 2I2.729.64I9

SOLD.

Bump.

Still for sale.