Goodbye old friend.

[zombiesniper147 12]

Canon deemed it unrepairable and it's now destined for the scrap bin.

Not all is lost. Henry's Camera is providing me with a replacement under warranty. Just can't say enough about having a good brick and mortar store that stands by its customers.

If not for Henry's insistence on attempting a repair, Canon would have for a third time tried to return the lens with "No problem found" on the file. Upon further inspection they found the lens was on life support and it was more humane to let it go.

Lets hope the next one can provide as much joy as the last one did.

My camera by Trevor Baldwin, on Flickr

 

[dxqcanada1]

What happened to it ?

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

It has had issues with the aperture blades getting jammed.
If you shoot at F4 it works awesome and most of the time it worked awesome at other apertures, however sometimes (more often when cold) the blades would lock down to F32 and there's nothing you can do to bring it back.
It's the third time it had been in for repair. Both times before Canon would send it back stating that there was nothing wrong. Thankfully our local shop made a note on the file that if they sent it back without a repair they could call me personally.
When Canon opened it, whatever part that was the issue had been out of production for so long even they couldn't get one so they scrapped the lens.

 

[dxqcanada1]

Nice to hear that Henry's is customer oriented.

 

[Derrel]

Nice to hear that Henry's is customer oriented.

And very distressing to hear that Canon tried to pass off a badly-working, expensive lens as "no problem found": not once, but twice...

Do Canon customers have a habit of sending in costly big glass just for fits and giggles? Why,pray tell, would Canon's repair department fail to find a basic issues such as a failed diaphragm, not once, but twice?

 

[RowdyRay]

Which lens is this? Can't tell from the pic. No hope at all?

Not surprised. Bought a number of things from Henry's. Very honest. I may be a cheapskate, but I'll pay a bit more from them because it's been tested and works. Just my experience.

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

It's my 500mm F4.
Agreed, they've always been my go to stop for camera gear.

 

[RowdyRay]

It's my 500mm F4.
Agreed, they've always been my go to stop for camera gear.

Ouch. That's what I was afraid of. Let us know how it works out.

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

Do Canon customers have a habit of sending in costly big glass just for fits and giggles? Why,pray tell, would Canon's repair department fail to find a basic issues such as a failed diaphragm, not once, but twice?

How do you get your giggles?

I'm quite sure that most involved wanted a positive outcome but there are always penny pinchers in every organisation and like it or not, they have more say sometimes than they should.

I could easily see it boiling down to this.

Lens info comes across someone's desk. They see it's over 10 years old and they will have no monetary gains no mater what. Instructs technician to correct problem at minimal cost i.e. "Don't open the lens. Just make it work." Tech does his best to cure the issue. Send it back and that someone hopes never to see it again. Rinse repeat.

In reality Canon execs couldn't care what I think or say. I'm not going to be bringing in or deterring any market share. As far as They are concerned I don't even matter. If you think any other company is different, go find an ancient broken lens that they'll make no money on and get them to care. Both Nikon and Canon make their money elsewhere.

It sucks but it's a reality I knew about a long time ago.

 

[Jeff1582 82]

It looks like it has seen better days................

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

Externally it was in great shape. Only the tripod foot showed any wear. I always kept it wrapped in cloth tape that only stuck to itself not the lens.

I chalk it up to previous owner and my self literally used it til it died of natural causes. I've put the better side of 300,000 images through it and I could only guess how much it was used by the previous owner.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

Well, I have seen the images created by that beast and I can say it had a good life! As you explained, big corporations worldwide have the same problem - they wish to make all the money in the world. It's a shame they don't stand behind their product ( especially one as expensive as the lens ) to the point of doing everything possible to keep and impress customers. I work for a huge company ( I am sure almost 100% of you would know the name ), and I have to say smaller, Mom and Pop operations are almost always more caring.

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

That's why I'm glad I got this through a good camera store or I'd be screwed.

 

[zombiesniper147 12]

Hello new friend.

Just put it's clothes on. Tomorrow I'll focus adjust it and them I'm back. It's a 6 year newer lens and in better shape than my old one.

 

[RowdyRay]

Wow! Unheard of.