Canon 50mm f/1.4 - crazy quote for repair

ajax_andy

ajax_andy

Messages
3,650
Name
Andy
Edit My Images
No
I bought a 2nd hand Canon 50mm f/1.4 some time ago and it seemed to work fine... tbh on my 7D I found it too long a focal length and so hardly used it.

One day (about 8 months after buying) I decided to use it for some fairly close up shots of an orchid... the focus kept jamming (focus ring issue I'd imagine).

Since then every time I've tried to use it I get issues as soon as I get too close to anything and the focus jams. Only way to fix this is to switch to manual focus, focus on something and then switch back to auto focus.

In other words it's buggered!

Asked the Canon repair shop in Glasgow about a rough quote and they said it would be about £390 which is £100 - £150 more expensive than just replacing it with a new one!!!

Anyone else experienced this kind of problem and know a cheaper place to get it repaired?
 
I had the nifty 50 (the cheapo version of yours), and the focus ring locked up about about 3 uses, and indeed I did the same work around, and was quoted about £80 to fix.
Luckily mine was covered under DR's warranty, so they just sent me a new one.

I appreciate it doesn't help, but it does sound proportionally similar figures to a similar issue I had :(
 
The shop quote sounds a bit err wrong.

Call Canon UK on 0844 369 0100 and explain to them the problem and that the quote you received seemed disproportionate.

If Canon operate like Nikon they'll ask you to send it to your nearest service centre where they will assess the repair & cost and then you'll have the choice of going ahead with the repair or not.

http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Consumer_Products/Telephone_Numbers/telephone_numbers.aspx
 
Digifrog said:
The shop quote sounds a bit err wrong.

Call Canon UK on 0844 369 0100 and explain to them the problem and that the quote you received seemed disproportionate.

If Canon operate like Nikon they'll ask you to send it to your nearest service centre where they will assess the repair & cost and then you'll have the choice of going ahead with the repair or not.

http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Consumer_Products/Telephone_Numbers/telephone_numbers.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply... yeah it's the Canon repair shop in Glasgow that fixed my 7D under warranty so they are the official guys. Have replied to them explaining that the new lens is cheaper than their quote and asked if they'd made a mistake.

I don't really want to pay to send it to them if their quote comes back at more than buying a new lens, so hopefully it's an error and the actual cost is much less
 
The 50/1.4 AF is susceptible to damage if the lens experiences heavy pressure or a stiff knock to the front of the lens when it is set at focus distances less than infinity. Preventative measures include storing the lens with focus at infinity or leaving an official (or pattern fit) lens hood in place - a bayonet fitting onto the lens barrel rather than one which screws onto the filter threads - to protect the front of the lens. I use a Canon original lens hood on mine, as I do with all my lenses.

If the repair shown in the video is not to your tastes I have read that the fault might be remedied by sharply twisting the focus ring by hand to get things realigned. There's discussion of the problem here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/canon_50mm/discuss/72157603775874649/.

Obviously this is all at your own risk, but with repair costing more than a brand new lens it seems there is little to lose. If it gets fully FUBAR then I guess it'll be costly one way or the other.

Good luck.
 
I recently used these people http://www.camerarepairworkshop.co.uk/ for a repair to a Tokina lens. They don't charge for taking a look and quoting for repair, if you decide not to proceed all you pay for is the return postage of the lens. They did a good job on my lens and have a 6 month warranty for the repair, I felt it was good value.
 
tdodd said:
The 50/1.4 AF is susceptible to damage if the lens experiences heavy pressure or a stiff knock to the front of the lens when it is set at focus distances less than infinity. Preventative measures include storing the lens with focus at infinity or leaving an official (or pattern fit) lens hood in place - a bayonet fitting onto the lens barrel rather than one which screws onto the filter threads - to protect the front of the lens. I use a Canon original lens hood on mine, as I do with all my lenses.

If the repair shown in the video is not to your tastes I have read that the fault might be remedied by sharply twisting the focus ring by hand to get things realigned. There's discussion of the problem here - http://www.flickr.com/groups/canon_50mm/discuss/72157603775874649/.

Obviously this is all at your own risk, but with repair costing more than a brand new lens it seems there is little to lose. If it gets fully FUBAR then I guess it'll be costly one way or the other.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks that's a very helpful post :)
 
PaulButler said:
I recently used these people http://www.camerarepairworkshop.co.uk/ for a repair to a Tokina lens. They don't charge for taking a look and quoting for repair, if you decide not to proceed all you pay for is the return postage of the lens. They did a good job on my lens and have a 6 month warranty for the repair, I felt it was good value.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll send them an e-mail :)
 
ajax_andy said:
Just got a reply from the company and they explained the e-mail should have read £90 + vat, but they must have forgotten to press the shift key hence the 390 instead of £90 :D

That sounds like a much more reasonable charge!
Click to expand...
hehe, much more reasonable - glad it looks to be sorted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top