Canon service - can they get the lens 'right'?

LongLensPhotography

Th..th..that's all folks!
Messages
18,848
Name
LongLensPhotography
Edit My Images
No
I am writing this in total disbelief.

I sent my 24-70L in for a service to fix a couple minor problems a while ago. The service was lightning quick, and a couple days later I had the lens back with some other minor defects, while the original ailments were rectified. You have to pixel peep to really see these.
I sent it back in for repair redo, now free of charge, and it was back a week later with new front lens group. I though 'great!', and it was actually nearly perfect on 1D mkIII, but still had minor backfocus on 1DsII, and the very right edge was SOFT.
It went back in for the third time, together with 1DsII. I got it back on Wednesday. They changed a few more lens elements, and adjusted focus to the 1Ds. The lens is now pin sharp wide open on the right in the centre, and dead SOFT on the left. It is not sharp at any focal distance on the left. It becomes 'OK' at f/8, and good at f/13, and the softness is visible even through a viewfinder. It is a 8x10 crop lens now. 1DIII now refuses to focus properly with that lens.
BOTH cameras focus perfectly with 70-200, 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 wide open, and there are no issues of soft left.

I going to contact them again on Monday to arrange another re-do, as they have really made an OK lens into a door stop. I must give them praise for fast turnaround and willingness to help, but I am gobsmacked by the failure to spot such obvious optical issues before sending out.

This is my experience. Hopefully attempt 4 will be successful.

Has anyone else succeeded in getting their lens fixed? A successful 24-70mm story perhaps? Is there anyone senior / experienced in Elsetree who I could speak to about this?
 
Sorry to hear your probs with this lens, I was lucky enough to get a good one but heard stories like this too. I think some can just be a nightmare to get right. Mine was starting to lens creep a bit but I held back from sending it in for a service just incase it came back bad. My suggestion is selling it and getting one you are happy with on your body (You will prob find it works great on one body and not another).
 
Sorry to hear your probs with this lens, I was lucky enough to get a good one but heard stories like this too. I think some can just be a nightmare to get right. Mine was starting to lens creep a bit but I held back from sending it in for a service just incase it came back bad. My suggestion is selling it and getting one you are happy with on your body (You will prob find it works great on one body and not another).

OK, but how can I manage to sell something in that condition? I think the left side is obvious. I really have to keep playing the game now, as long as it is free of charge.

I also fail to imagine, why this particular lens would behave so differently on different bodies, when say my 50mm f/1.4 is perfect on anything I tried. What is so damn special about 24-70mm?

If I get rid of it eventually I am not getting another one. full stop. I may wait for mkII, get 24-105 and / or 35mm f/1.4L / 24mm f/1.4L in addition to my 50.
 
Out of curiosity could I ask if you sent it to Canon Elstree or one of the other service centres?

Elstree. I have no experience with the others, except I know they charge a lot more for that stupid lens.
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
Was just about to echo this sentiment!

I didn't have a bad experience, just a very lack-lustre one for what I paid.

:plusone: lens is fix and works almost better than before, nice and clean too a couple of annoying dust spots now gone

But it too them nearly a month :shrug:

An it's seemingly impossible to contact them on the phone :shake:
 
Update: I spoke to an engineer this morning and the lens is coming back in.

Apparently they test all equipment with some special tool and computer software, and don't try it themselves in a slightly less 'scientific' way. It would seem that some flaws can get past the process as being within the tolerance limits.

Hopefully this time they will use their own judgement what is right or wrong.
 
Back
Top