Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5, should I bother repairing?

gibtheo

gibtheo

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Steven
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I'd be grateful of any advice on this. I already have this lens, got it for not a lot at all. It needs it's front glass replacing which I can do myself for the cost of £60. Does anyone who knows anything about this lens think it's worth it? I reckon for that much it has to be worth repairing? I'm aware that there are a couple of versions of this lens, I have the one with MACRO written on, not the picture of a flower.

I've read a lot of reviews saying it's a pretty crappy lens but then other that say it's good for the money...?

Thanks for any help.
 
Hi Steven

Looking at you kit bag, I'd say it probably isn't worth it. It's an old lens that probably isn't best suited to your 7D2.
 
I think the chances of you using it are fairly slim although good copies can produce good shots. It's still worth it for that money as you can probably sell it if it's no use to you and make a profit.
 
It has condensation in, I took the front glass out as it is easy to do and have tried many ways to dry it out, but it always leaves water spots inside that cannot be cleaned. The lens is fine apart from that though. I have tried many things, from rice to silica gel, to oven on low... it will dry out but like I say, I can't find a way to do it without leaving the tide marks!
 
the mark 2 as it were ( the mk 1 have has macro flower and 5 aperture blades ) is the best one of them . Your has 7 aperture blades and despite being an older lens is actually very good. ( the word macro as well as being on the body should be in the aperture window too.
performance was vastly improved over the original and no lens creep ( should be stamped made in Japan as well and not Taiwan where later models were made).
Its also far better than the much inferior proper mk 2 .
USM internal focusing so you can use cpl filters with no problems. second hand on ebay expect to pay around £100-140 for it.
Sure its not an L series lens by any means but its a good step or two up from standard kit lens.
dont know if alcohol over the water spots will clean them off. might be worth a try as its a cracking little lens.
 
The water in the front element is making it impossible to focus properly unfortunately. I think I'll go ahead and buy the new glass. It seems to me like a great little lens build wise it's sturdy and would be a handy back up short zoom for another £60 it's got to be worth it.

Thanks for the info.
 
I would try taking off the front element and leaving it on a sunny widow cill for a few weeks, the front element should clean up easily with alcohol but before reassembly clingfilm the front to see if there is any more condensation.

It must have got badly drenched?

Steve.
 
Thanks Steve, it is full of water now as I submerged it in distilled water in a last ditch attempt to get it to dry uniformly and clear. It didn't work! I can dry it out fully as I said, but it still leaves the water marks inside the element, impossible to get to. Just ordered the new glass. I got the lens for about £10 so with a £52 fix I reckon it's still a good buy.
 
Well I have one of these little lenses, I bolt it on the front of my 5D3 when I want a lightweight lens.

Sure, the quality may not match the L series zooms, but it punches well above the tiny price tag.

assuming it is the 'good' version of the 28-105 (There are three, one is worth keeping) you should definitely keep it.
 
Try steam cleaning the lens if you have the means. The stains are possibly limescale and it can be hard to remove, steam cleaning usually shifts it though. Then clean up with some IPA and finish with some glass polish to see if this works.
 
If it is limescale a drop of vinegar will get that off instantly
 
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almost like double glazed windows when the gases go, they become "blown" full of condensation and stain marks. impossible to clean and only thing you can do is replace.
looks like similar thing where the seal between the glass has got a leak and let moisture in that over time has stained and most likely will start to mold .
If i hadnt suddenly found a new use for my 28-105 i would have offered to sell it for cheaper than your repair part
 
dean messenger said:
almost like double glazed windows when the gases go, they become "blown" full of condensation and stain marks. impossible to clean and only thing you can do is replace.
looks like similar thing where the seal between the glass has got a leak and let moisture in that over time has stained and most likely will start to mold .
If i hadnt suddenly found a new use for my 28-105 i would have offered to sell it for cheaper than your repair part
Click to expand...

You are exactly right.

Thanks for the thought, but I'm happy to pay £50-60 to get this sorted, as you say it'll be a very handy little lens to stick in my bag. :-)
 
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