Problem with contacts on used lens

[camerasss]

I bought a used Canon 70-300mm DO lens the other day on Ebay. After maybe 5 test shots I got the "Error 01-clean the lens contacts" message. So I turned the camera off and back on, it worked for maybe 10 more shots and did the same thing. This is my only lens with this problem, so it's not my camera. I attached a few photos of the contacts on the lens, they have tiny scratches on them. Would this be the problem, and is it fixable or should I return the lens?

 

[EIngerson]

Try cleaning them with an eraser.

 

[camerasss]

I've heard that can have negative effects. I tried a microfiber cloth and a lenspen with no improvement. I read rubbing alcohol works but I don't have any.

 

[EIngerson]

It has negative effects if you do it thousands of times. No offense, but if your lens isn't working as is, what do you have to lose?

 

[camerasss]

Tried the eraser, no luck.

 

[Josh66]

I have heard that graphite works better than an eraser (use a pencil), though I have never actually tried it...

 

[EIngerson]

Tried the eraser, no luck.

I wonder if its due to that scoring in pic 1? I'm stumped on this one. I hope you figure it out. Please keep us posted.

 

[camerasss]

It doesn't make sense, because the lens does work, just not consistently. I can get about 5-10 shots in before I get the error. If I turn the camera off and back on it will work for another 5-10 shots. So far it seems I only get the error when zoomed out to 300mm.


Does anyone know how much it would cost to send it to Canon (out of warranty) for replacement contacts?

 

[Garbz]

I've heard that those contacts look clean. Actually I can see it.

Loose connections inside the lens are more likely. The camera probably gives it some leeway before giving up in error.

 

[Dao]

If you are able to make it work again by just power cycle the camera, then I think it may not be the contacts at all.

 

[camerasss]

I've heard that those contacts look clean. Actually I can see it.

Loose connections inside the lens are more likely. The camera probably gives it some leeway before giving up in error.

The camera is only a few months old, and I've never had the problem with my other 2 lenses.

 

[KmH]

The contacts look pretty worn.

If they are not backed by a spring that assists contact with the camera, contact may be intermittent.
A slightly bent mount flange on the lens could also cause intermittent contact. A symptom of that would be being able to gently 'wobble' the lens when it's mounted to the camera.

 

[Garbz]

I've heard that those contacts look clean. Actually I can see it.

Loose connections inside the lens are more likely. The camera probably gives it some leeway before giving up in error.

The camera is only a few months old, and I've never had the problem with my other 2 lenses.

I meant the camera may have some leeway in communications to the lens. I.e. if some data doesn't get through properly it may resend it and take a picture anyway then complain if it happens too often or something. That's common in a lot of electronic data transfer, like remotes for your TV will send the data, and then the logical inverse of the data and the TV checks to see if what it got made sense.