24-70mm f/2.8L II - also built like rubbish?

LongLensPhotography

LongLensPhotography

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Hands up who had their lens go soft for no reason! Mine has in less than 1 year of ownership. It started as a tiny soft right edge wide open and now it is getting pretty obvious and annoying. I never dropped or kicked mine so what the hell is going on?!

I will have to look into servicing soon, and I've lost all my trust in their products. I don't know if I should still go ahead with the purchase of 16-35mm f/4 or is that going end up as a soft turd sooner or later?
 
That will be a Canon lens presumably? :)
 
One lens developing an issue isn't exactly proof of bad build :/ I assume you've had a search around the interweb to see if anyone else has the same issue?

I know it's frustrating when stuff like that happens but unfortunately nothing is perfect.
 
Phal said:
One lens developing an issue isn't exactly proof of bad build :/ I assume you've had a search around the interweb to see if anyone else has the same issue?

I know it's frustrating when stuff like that happens but unfortunately nothing is perfect.
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it is frustrating as hell. I had a *perfect* copy at the start and ended with something that looks marginally worse than mk1 before it needed service for worn out collar (a few times).
 
OK, you've got one that has a problem and I've got over 20 of them which don't have problems. Why do you think it's a generic issue?
 
This lens doesn't seem to suffer from shifting elements or any inconsistent QC.

Sounds like a lens that simply needs to go to the doctors for a check up.
 
OK, how do I get this thing to Canon CPS without paying well over £100 for insured postage alone? Are there any CPS approved services in Glasgow or Edinburgh that I could use?

I am a bit concerned it will come back just as soft or even softer as it happened in the past. Really not happy with this situation.
 
daugirdas said:
OK, how do I get this thing to Canon CPS without paying well over £100 for insured postage alone? Are there any CPS approved services in Glasgow or Edinburgh that I could use?

I am a bit concerned it will come back just as soft or even softer as it happened in the past. Really not happy with this situation.
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Christ, do you pay a man on a horse to deliver your gear, its £8.45 with RMSD
 
Gary Coyle said:
Christ, do you pay a man on a horse to deliver your gear, its £8.45 with RMSD
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looks like £14 if it's under 2kg... not so bad then.

StewartR said:
A J Johnstone in Glasgow city centre.
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How reliable are they and what is their turnaround time? I can't afford to get the lens badly fixed. (realistically speaking will it be like new again or do I look at dumping it after the service?)
 
24-70mm f/2.8L II - also built like rubbish?

It doesn't feel like a Carl Zeiss offering but they're all built to a price aren't they. Your money can be spent on Zeiss' excellent build quality or Canon's features (AF).

Bob
 
Your camera insurance should include postage... mine does.... I was always finding out cost of postage wiht insurance.. I bet I wasnt the only one...
 
daugirdas said:
How reliable are they and what is their turnaround time?
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I've never dealt with them - I send all my stuff direct to Canon at Elstree. Though common sense might suggest that if they're approved by CPS they're not going to be a bunch of cowboys.

(Come to think of it, if you're going to post it anyway, why did you want a service centre in Glasgow or Edinburgh? The postal service and most couriers cover the whole UK, at least until September 18th.)

As to turnround time, it's just vaguely possible that it might depend on (a) what level of CPS membership you have, and (b) how busy they are. Since you haven't told us the former and nobody but the service centre themselves know the latter, what kind of answer were you expecting here?
 
StewartR said:
I've never dealt with them - I send all my stuff direct to Canon at Elstree. Though common sense might suggest that if they're approved by CPS they're not going to be a bunch of cowboys.

(Come to think of it, if you're going to post it anyway, why did you want a service centre in Glasgow or Edinburgh? The postal service and most couriers cover the whole UK, at least until September 18th.)

As to turnround time, it's just vaguely possible that it might depend on (a) what level of CPS membership you have, and (b) how busy they are. Since you haven't told us the former and nobody but the service centre themselves know the latter, what kind of answer were you expecting here?
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CPS Silver or Gold (can't remember :)) I can walk in to the workshop in Glasgow so no need to post. However it is really important to know if they fix barely within the spec (which means barely adequate to sell on ebay), or if they really do a great job to maximise lens performance. Canon Elsetree have done some porkies to me and friends in the past.


Canon Bob said:
24-70mm f/2.8L II - also built like rubbish?

It doesn't feel like a Carl Zeiss offering but they're all built to a price aren't they. Your money can be spent on Zeiss' excellent build quality or Canon's features (AF).

Bob
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Canons are not really cheap, are they? I don't think there is any point discussing highly specialised and very limiting Zeiss gear. I could see the appeal of 21mm but nothing else from their line up.

BillN_33 said:
have you tried fine tuning?
has you changed your (camera) body?
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I don't have the equipment to tune and reassemble a modern lens. There is likely something loose / broken inside.
 
[QUOTE="daugirdas, post: 6440670, member: 16301]

Canons are not really cheap, are they?

.[/QUOTE]

£1300+ and less than two years old.....why not have a try at the "not of merchandisable quality" angle?
 
daugirdas said:
However it is really important to know if they fix barely within the spec (which means barely adequate to sell on ebay), or if they really do a great job to maximise lens performance.
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I don't think you're being entirely reasonable there. Within spec is within spec, end of.
 
StewartR said:
I don't think you're being entirely reasonable there. Within spec is within spec, end of.
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nonsense. I can show you what canon considered 'within spec' for mk1 if I didn't delete it.
 
Within spec is within spec. If the spec isn't good enough for you, buy a better lens.
 
StewartR said:
Within spec is within spec. If the spec isn't good enough for you, buy a better lens.
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again that is pure nonsense. However I shall I avoid your company rentals since I fully expect them to be soft considering this "advice"
 
You come across as the type of "customer" most companies would rather not deal with. I`m sure Stewart will be around for a few more years without your exceptional custom.
 
daugirdas said:
again that is pure nonsense. However I shall I avoid your company rentals since I fully expect them to be soft considering this "advice"
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Well like he said, within spec is within spec... Yes, there will be some lenses out there which are better than the minimum spec but that's life! Ultimately, if they meet the standard specs then that's all they can aim for surely? Do you expect repair centers to improve your lenses whilst repairing them?
 
fracster said:
You come across as the type of "customer" most companies would rather not deal with. I`m sure Stewart will be around for a few more years without your exceptional custom.
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Companies that treat their customers like s*** deserve far worse than I can deliver.

Phal said:
Well like he said, within spec is within spec... Yes, there will be some lenses out there which are better than the minimum spec but that's life! Ultimately, if they meet the standard specs then that's all they can aim for surely? Do you expect repair centers to improve your lenses whilst repairing them?
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I take it you had never received a lens degraded and be told it is within spec. And the it takes you 3 more attempts sending lens away until it is actually passable... My mate had this exact experience with 70-200 ii. So if you think that within spec is anything like you find them in the shop you are badly mistaken.
 
Chris Wilson said:
So, not familiar with engineering then....or just really annoyed.
It's always frustrating when stuff stops working, but there's usually a reason.

cheers, cw
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£1.5k pro grade lens can't last 9 months of regular but careful use... Great. I hope they choke with their plastics. There is titanium, high strength alumnium, but he'll no they use some s***ty plastic.
 
daugirdas said:
Companies that treat their customers like s*** deserve far worse than I can deliver.



I take it you had never received a lens degraded and be told it is within spec. And the it takes you 3 more attempts sending lens away until it is actually passable... My mate had this exact experience with 70-200 ii. So if you think that within spec is anything like you find them in the shop you are badly mistaken.
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Crappy customer service is one thing but you could still have two lenses that are 'within spec' and have them give different results.

If you've had a bad experience with one place then by all means use another but I guess if everyone else is happy with the place then perhaps you were just unlucky?

You sound a bit angry!
 
<snigger> daugirdas has unreasonable expectations (and some downright extreme views about some things).

'Tis fun watching though :D

/me sits and picks up popcorn.....
 
Phal said:
Crappy customer service is one thing but you could still have two lenses that are 'within spec' and have them give different results.

If you've had a bad experience with one place then by all means use another but I guess if everyone else is happy with the place then perhaps you were just unlucky?

You sound a bit angry!
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It isn't just me. That is the real problem. I think I have a very good excuse to be angry with Canon. I have a very real concern that the lens will never get sorted the way it was unless it is just a simple replacement of plastic bit with no realignment needed. Who knows...

arad85 said:
<snigger> daugirdas has unreasonable expectations (and some downright extreme views about some things).

'Tis fun watching though :D

/me sits and picks up popcorn.....
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Sharp £1600 lens is certainly unrealistic. Anyway have fun but watch out for flying 24-70mm's
 
daugirdas said:
It isn't just me. That is the real problem. I think I have a very good excuse to be angry with Canon. I have a very real concern that the lens will never get sorted the way it was unless it is just a simple replacement of plastic bit with no realignment needed. Who knows...
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Yeh, you do have good reason to be angry about it, I'd be completely *beeped* off if it was mine. Hopefully you'll either take it into the Glasgow repair centre or send it off elsewhere and get a good result from the repair.
 
Just a general question,

Should you have any of you expensive "pro" lens service and checked as a matter of course every few years?

i.e. if you have a £5k lens should it go back to Nikon every 5 years or so to be serviced?
 
FWIW, I'd send it to Elstree, I wouldn't let A.J.Johnstone charge my battery!
 
daugirdas said:
Sharp £1600 lens is certainly unrealistic.
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No. Having a system which needs to be light, compact and adjustable and be 100% reliable is unrealistic. Just take a look at the lens rental blog to understand how the 24-70II is constructed - and why things like this are not unheard of. I'd also be willing to bet that no service centre in the UK will have the equipment to calibrate your lens to your satisfaction. Certainly Elstree just took some photos of a mannequin head with my 24-105 and declared it sharp. No test bench, no imatest results, just a "looks to be good to us".

I believe your expectations of a commercial mechanical system built to a cost (even if you feel it is high) are over and above what are achievable in reality.
 
arad85 said:
No. Having a system which needs to be light, compact and adjustable and be 100% reliable is unrealistic. Just take a look at the lens rental blog to understand how the 24-70II is constructed - and why things like this are not unheard of. I'd also be willing to bet that no service centre in the UK will have the equipment to calibrate your lens to your satisfaction. Certainly Elstree just took some photos of a mannequin head with my 24-105 and declared it sharp. No test bench, no imatest results, just a "looks to be good to us".

I believe your expectations of a commercial mechanical system built to a cost (even if you feel it is high) are over and above what are achievable in reality.
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For all I care it can weigh 2.5kg and over if it needs to be. There is even a law that describes how goods need to be fit for purpose for at least 2 years from the date of sale. If canon cannot meet that they shouldn't be selling junk in the first place. Incidentally Tamron makes as sharp lens that is also built like junk at half price and is certainly eating into their sales (good!); I am just waiting for sigma to release Zeiss quality f/2 zoom and put a nail in their coffin. The 35mm f/1.4 Art is exemplary and only 1/2 price of much softer L.

P.S. This is entirely different to what canon told me personally. They said they use a device (collimator?) for calibration and judgement of sharpness. However back then it was based on APS-C sensor or 1.3x in the best case and hence they made an absolute mess in the edges and midframe (i.e. nothing was sharp, except dead in the centre, and that was "within spec")
 
Gary Coyle said:
Sell all your gear and invest in a Thai bride, I think this is really of more use to you.
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WTF? If you can't contribute anything useful to the discussion perhaps you should build a Thai bridge for me instead.
 
Feel your pain, I sent my 24-70 mk I three times to Canon (Elstree) for service (along with body twice!) before I was happy with my mk I, I now have a mkII too.
I understood that the build of the mkII made it easier to service? Incidentally, as a CPS member your turnaround should be either two or three days (once recieved). So if sent Monday, you should get it back by Friday. Print off the CPS repair form. But it is an expense which I wouldn't expect so soon.
 
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