Canon lens build quality prroblems??

[electrolyte]

Is anyone else having problems with the build quality of Canon lenses or is it just me? This post verges on a rant so apologies for this but there is a general point to it - have Canon got a problem with lens QC or am I just unlucky?

As regular AVFers will know I had a problem with a Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens last year. It had a front focus problem. I bought the lens from Onestop-digital in HK and sent it back. They sent it to Canon HK who said that there was no problem. After much argument I managed to persuade onestop to send me a new lens.

This one worked as it should but barely 6 months later it stopped working. The inner glass part came apart from the outer plastic shell while taking the lens off my camera. I tried to put the two pieces together and the lens then got stuck on the camera and in my efforts to get it back off again the ring snapped:

I complained to onestop who said that it wasn't a fault of the lens but poor use by me!

I decided not to bother arguing with them any more, put it down to experience and decided not to bother with Canon's cheap lenses again. I decided to go a bit more upmarket and buy a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens instead. This, I was led to believe, had a much better build quality.

Bare in mind this is a £300 lens not an £85 lens like the f/1.8. But I have had a similar story with the more expensive lens. It worked for 9 days and then stopped focusing any closer than 1 - 1.5 metres.

I bought the lens from a place in Leeds called Martin's Camera Shop as they were reasonably local to me. I took the lens back and they refused to replace the lens instead sending it off to a company called Fixation for repair.

Almost 2 weeks later the lens came back to me and worked again for a whole 2 days. Now it refuses to focus on anything - either in AF or MF. I was in London on hols most of last week when the lens broke down and all I had a chance to do was contact Martin's Camera Shop by email. They haven't as yet replied. As they are shut at weekends I can't ring them now unfortunately.

To say that I am angry is putting it mildly! I have replaced a cheap £85 lens that would only work for 6 months with one that has barely lasted more than a week! Am I unlucky or is this a sign of Canon's poor lens QC?

Answers on a postcard - or by replying to this thread - please!

PS and before anyone says anything, yes I should have a gone down the Sony, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax route 3 years ago when I bought my DSLR but I didn't OK....

[HelloMoto]

I'd have thought Canon QC would be pretty high, well higher than companies like Sigma etc where a few more lemons might slip through the net. What do you mean 'poor use by you' did they expand on that?

[cedmondson]

I think you've been unlucky (make that VERY unlucky). None of my Canon lenses have ever given the slightest problem and I've been pleased with their performance. I have 5 at present & I've sold a couple too. One is the 'nifty fifty' which I dare say looks a bit fragile (though so far so good...). Nor have I heard many other tales of woe from Canon users.
I was almost a bit disappointed when I got a camera with micro focus adjust & found that none of my lenses needed adjusting at all.

Fixation have a good reputation so I'm surprised about your latest development but I'd expect it'll get sorted fairly efficiently. Good luck

[electrolyte]

Originally Posted by HelloMoto

I'd have thought Canon QC would be pretty high, well higher than companies like Sigma etc where a few more lemons might slip through the net. What do you mean 'poor use by you' did they expand on that?

Thanks mate. The poor use by me was my interpretation of what they wrote in a email to me:

Originally Posted by Onestop Digital email

(The) lens has been in your possession for over five months. If the lens had developed a manufacturer’s fault, we would have offered you to get it repaired under warranty. However, judging by what you have described in your email and the picture you had emailed us, it seemed that you had force opened and damaged the lens and I’m afraid this is not covered by the Canon warranty. Sorry!

I wrote back saying:

Originally Posted by me

I am afraid I strongly disagree with your assessment of the problem with the lens. The lens is broken due to a fault. When I unscrewed it from my camera the lens separated into two. The central glass section separated from the plastic outer section. The lens was in two pieces. A 5 month old lens is not supposed to do this. If you think it is normal for a 5 month old lens to fall apart like this is normal use then fine. But I would imagine most people would not agree. Obviously when the lens was in two parts I could not use it.

I was on holiday in Paris and needed to use the lens so tried to fit it back together. I managed to fit the two parts of the lens back together again but once I had done this the autofocus made a grinding noise and the focussing did not work correctly. The central glass section was also at a slight angle (it was impossible to get it to fit back in completely straight). And then the lens got stuck on my camera and I had no choice but to force the lens off.

Again, for a 5 month old lens to be stuck on my camera (when my other 2 lenses never get stuck) suggests a fault also.

They wrote back saying:

Originally Posted by Onestop Digital email

What we can offer is to send your lens to Canon Hong Kong and let the manufacturer themselves decide. We will send the lens together with your email, so that they know the cause of the problem.

However, please be aware that if Canon do decide the damage is not covered by their warranty, you would have to pay for the repair and postage.

I decided that Canon HK would claim it was my fault and I could be liable for an expensive repair so gave up.

[electrolyte]

Originally Posted by cedmondson

I think you've been unlucky (make that VERY unlucky). None of my Canon lenses have ever given the slightest problem and I've been pleased with their performance. I have 5 at present & I've sold a couple too. One is the 'nifty fifty' which I dare say looks a bit fragile (though so far so good...). Nor have I heard many other tales of woe from Canon users.
I was almost a bit disappointed when I got a camera with micro focus adjust & found that none of my lenses needed adjusting at all.

Fixation have a good reputation so I'm surprised about your latest development but I'd expect it'll get sorted fairly efficiently. Good luck

I hope you are right but my confidence in Canon's lenses has taken a hit. I am almost tempted to ask for my money back from Martin's Camera Shop and spend a bit more on a Sigma 50mm f/1.4. But knowing my luck this will be faulty as well!

[jonnypb]

I think you've been very unlucky. Yes the 50 1.8 isn't well built but unless it's used to play catch then it shouldn't fall to bits. I also have the 1.4 version and it seems pretty solid to me. I've got 5 Canon lenses inc the cheaper 55-250IS but even that one seems to be built to a good standard.

After the luck you've had I can see why you're feeling down hearted with Canon but I'm not sure you'll fair much better with Sigma. The build quality might be OK but there's lots of people on here, including me, who have issues with Sigma where they focus very very soft

Hope you get it sorted as the 1.4 is a nice lens

[senu]

I have to agree.. with johnnypb

I have both the "poorly built " 50 mm 1.8 and better 1.4 and TBH I don't treat them like eggs.. sometimes just leave them in a lowerpro bag in the car boot for weeks on end.. No problems so far .

I did have a Canon 17-40 f 4 L and EF-S 17-55 f 2.8 neither of which put a foot wrong

Ironically the seemingly better built 17-85 EF-F has a loose screw which rattles annoyingly and occasionally makes the zoom ring stiff ( I just give it a gently thump to displace it) but its IS and AF mechanism seem intact inspite of that

Im told Sigmas QC is dodgy and Tamron makes some lemons but neither my 70-300 Sigma nor Tamron 17-50 have been an issue, nor the 12-24 Tokina

In short you have been very unlucky and perhaps letting Canon know ( copy your one stop emails to their Cust Service quoting how well respected you are on here )about it might help. Your confidence in them is understandably shaken and that is not good for them TBH

[denno75uk]

That is a rank run of 'luck' Simon. I've no experience of either of the 50mm lenses, but from what I've read, the dodgy build quality of the nifty was about the standard of materials used, rather than shoddy construction. I certainly have never heard anything bad about the quality of construction of the 1.4.
The only Canon lenses I've ever had are the 18-55, the 75-300 and the 28-105 MkII. The 18-55 wasn't used much and I never really liked the 75-300, but they always worked. Both have moved on now, but I still have the 28-105. It was 2nd hand when I got it and used it alot on my old film SLR and for a good while on the 30D. Apart from the zoom ring getting a little loose, it's never given me any gip. For the record, my Tamron has been fine (just a little rattle on the front which is a known issue and easy fixed) and the Sigma, no probs at all, though that's what I would expect from a £700 lens.
Already from this thread that it seems you've just had naff luck. Hard to accept perhaps given it's been with 2 lenses now, but your experience doesn't seem to be the norm.
I reckon what senu suggests is the right way to go. Let Canon know how disappointed you are. It'll be interesting to get their take on it all. Fact is, whether any of us share your experience of Canon lenses or not, your recent history with them has left you with very understandably negative feelings and they should be prepared to address that. I'd say try not to be too accusatory at first though, unless of course they are completely dismissive. In which event, give 'em hell.

[jenufa]

That is bad luck Simon. I hope you chase Canon up about it.
Oh and I would not have bet on the horses for a while mate.

[electrolyte]

Thanks guys. So it just seems to be me then! But I am guessing that you all bought your lenses over 6 months ago. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has bought a Canon lens in the last 6 months or so to see if it really is just me.

Originally Posted by jenufa

Oh and I would not have bet on the horses for a while mate.

Hahaha, you are probably right! Quality reply though, made me laugh.

[electrolyte]

An update on my "bad luck" with canon 50mm lenses. And the news isn't good I'm afraid.

Martin's cameras replaced my faulty 50mm 1.4 lens with a brand new lens and guess what? Yep, this one has developed exactly the same fault!! The focus ring has broken so the lens won't focus on anything. To say that I am angry is an understatement! My faith in the build quality of Canon's lenses has taken a terminal blow.

So I've decided to send the lens back, get a refund and do what should have done in the 1st place and buy a sigma 1.4. I think I will think long and hard before I buy a canon lens again....

[denno75uk]

I find that very surprising. You would have thought QC wouldn't be so much of an issue with Canon lenses. And whilst your experience may not suggest Canon are worse than any other manufacturer, that they don't appear to be reliably better does put them squarely in the mix.
Have you been in touch with Canon UK to get their thoughts?

[electrolyte]

Originally Posted by denno75uk

I find that very surprising. You would have thought QC wouldn't be so much of an issue with Canon lenses. And whilst your experience may not suggest Canon are worse than any other manufacturer, that they don't appear to be reliably better does put them squarely in the mix.
Have you been in touch with Canon UK to get their thoughts?

Thanks James. I must admit I haven't tried contacting Canon but I think I will draft a well worded email to them and see what they say. Still going to get a Sigma instead though.

[Holowlegs]

Hello there


You are having some bad luck mate.


Maybe link them to this thread as well. May get something out of it.

Cheers Holo

[OrbitalPete]

Don't take this the wrong way - I'm just wondering if there might actually be something you are doing to the lenses which might be causing this? It seems incredible to be having so many problems.