Sony Hit with Class Action Over 2019 G Master Camera Lens Recall

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Sony’s use of a sticker to affix the serial number to its G Master SEL1635GM F2.8 camera lens is the subject of a proposed class action filed almost two years after the company voluntarily recalled the top-of-the-line product.

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The 17-page lawsuit was brought by a Pomona, California resident who says he was unable to have his G Master lens repaired as part of the defect-driven recall because the sticker on which the product’s serial number was affixed had fallen off. The man contends that he would not have purchased the lens, which reportedly retails for $2,199.99, or would have paid less for it, had he known defendant Sony Electronics falsely and misleadingly represented the product.

“Defendant misrepresented the Product’s value because the high probability the serial number sticker would become detached meant Plaintiff and consumers were deprived of the value of their purchase, through, among other things, the inability to obtain post-sale servicing in the event of a recall due to defects of design or manufacture,” the lawsuit summarizes. 

Per the suit, Sony’s G Master (Gold Master) lenses are touted as top-of-the-line products made to satisfy professional imaging, speed, efficiency and reliability requirements. The G Master lenses, which reportedly range in price from $1,500 to $2,800, are known to be more resistant to dust and water and, due to their advanced actuator technology, can supposedly operate faster and focus with greater precision when the camera is in manual or auto mode, the filing says. 

In November 2019, Sony voluntarily recalled its G Master SEL1635GM FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM E-mount lenses by way of a Lens Check and Repair Program. The reason for the recall, the case relays, was because the lens “may cause the camera to not operate correctly” when it is attached, including by preventing the camera’s rear screen from displaying correctly.

For the recall, Sony advised consumers that only lenses with serial numbers between 1800502 and 1823192 were believed to be affected, according to the case. Per the suit, Sony instructed consumers to enter their lens’s serial number on its website to see if it was covered by the recall. If a lens was affected, Sony agreed to provide repairs free of charge until March 31, 2023, the lawsuit says. 

The plaintiff, however, takes issue with Sony’s decision to affix the serial number to a lens with a small sticker plate attached to the base of the lens, apparently “an outlier among leading lens manufacturers.” A picture included in the complaint purports to show that the space where the serial number was supposed to be on the plaintiff’s lens is empty, which posed a problem when the man attempted to participate in the recall, the suit relays:

The case stresses that camera lenses are “handled intensively by their users,” causing dirt, moisture, and oils to contact the part of the lens where the serial number sticker is located. The serial number on a Sony lens can detach “within six months of intensive usage,” the filing claims. 

“Over time, the serial number stickers on Sony lenses have a high tendency to fall off,” the complaint states. “Should that happen, users of Sony lenses will not be able to receive product support, servicing, warranty coverage, nor participate in any recalls, because Sony requires the user to provide the lens’ serial number.” 

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons in the United States who bought a Sony G Master SEL1635GM F2.8 lens within the applicable statute of limitations period.

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