My 24-105mm lens had an altercation with a rock today. The rock won.
$55 later, it's on its way to Canon to find out if it's worth repairing. I know it's going to be around 6 weeks, but the camera store wasn't able to even give me a ballpark on what it might cost. Anyone else had the front glass replaced on a lens? I'm hoping that's all that's wrong with it - it still seems to auto focus fine, though something is causing the zoom to stick intermittently...
If the zoom is sticking it's not good news. This means that something is bent and that's expensive to repair. The last lens I got a quote on with a bent inside the quote was more than a new lens.
I must admit that I always have a Skylight filter in the front of any each lens, to soak up the damage (and I have bounced enough lenses off rocks in my time). Fingers crossed that your repair works for you.
Sorry to hear that, it's a horrible feeling. Regarding the benefits of a filter, an impact hard enough to dent the outer ring like that would have smashed a filter, and the fragments of filter will quite frequently scratch the front element anyway when they smash, so you probably wouldn't have been much better off.
The damage to the lens would probably have been less, but still enough to be noticeable if shooting into the sun, so you'd probably still need a front element replacement, and a replacement filter as well.
Did you have the hood fitted? That often gives better protection from this kind of impact than a filter.
A front element replacement on this lens shouldn't be too hideously expensive. Assuming the zoom sticking issue isn't anything serious like a cracked internal barrel, and the main thing it needs is a new front element, new trim ring, and full realignment, I'd guesstimate the repair cost as being in the region of $250.
Edit: Did you send it directly to Canon for repair, or is the camera store acting as an intermediary? If you sent it directly, it will almost certainly be turned around in far far less than 6 weeks.
I didn't have the glass repaired but I have had several lenses repaired by Canon. I found they worked quickly and cheaply considering the cost of the lens. A filter is always a great ideal for any lens. It really can protect your investment. I also had a camera strap that wrapped snugly around my wrist. It is the Opteka-GS-2-Genuine-Ergonomic-Stabilizing (I have a habit of dropping cameras). It made a huge difference. Not only did I not drop the camera anymore I found my images clearer and my wrist less stressed from the load.
In my dealings with Canon I have always been happy with the results and I hope you will too.
I too have dropped a lens - my big one (100-400mm) and I know the sickening feeling. The repair took less time, but cost half as much as a new lens. I wouldn't do it again - I'd buy a different lens. They discovered more damage inside when it was opened and extra parts were needed. But I'd have needed a crystal ball to decide that when I OK'd the estimate. Good luck!
Definitely avoid camera stores. I don't where they sent my lens but it took 8 weeks to get an estimate which was almost the cost of replacing the lens which they were ready to sell me. I turned down the $800 repair and am still waiting for the lens to be returned (4 weeks already) so I can send it to Canon as I should have done the first time.
@catwoman2 there is a caveat to this. If you go to the canon web site, they may instruct you to take it back to the store you bought it from to organise repairs.
This was the process when my 5D MK3 went a little messed up
I should clarify that the zoom sticking feels like something small is loose inside the lens, and is catching up on the zoom ring occasionally. When I first picked it up, the lens was completely retracted and didn't want to zoom at all. After carrying it back to the car it had freed up, and would zoom fine, but didn't quite want to go all the way back to 24mm. I gave it a little shake and could hear a rattle, and then it moved fine through the whole range again. Kinda hoping the impact forced a little bit of gravel in somewhere that just has to be removed!
@abirkill I feel a little better about not having filters on then! But no, I didn't have a hood on it, either. I can' t remember for sure of I even have the hood for this one (came as a kit lens with my 6d). I did use the camera store as an intermediary, but they're sending it to Canon. I'm in Canada as well, so I have no idea if they can send it to Canon Canada for repair, or if it's having to go the States.
My camera was actually on the tripod. It felt stable, and I stepped away to get my shadow out of the shot. Then timmmmberrrr! Teach me to make sure one of the legs is right in line with the lens whenever possible!
@toast I would personally never take a camera back to a camera store for repair, only for replacement (under the sale of goods act in the UK, for example). Doing so will only ever add time and reduce the chances of your problem being correctly communicated to the actual repair centre.
In the UK, Canon may instruct you to return it to where you purchased it from simply because of the very large quantity of grey imports, which Canon UK will not deal with. A lot of people don't realise that they have bought a grey import, so I imagine Canon UK get a lot of cameras sent in which have to be sent straight back. Of course, if you are dealing directly with the manufacturer, you need to make sure you are working within the terms of your purchase :)
@cassiadawn Usually a slightly sticking zoom is caused by a loose screw, but it's impossible to accurately say with any certainty after an impact. All the Canon L lenses come with hoods included, and I would recommend using them where possible -- not only do they add protection, but they also significantly reduce flare and increase contrast if you have a bright light source just out of frame.
The camera will have been sent to the only Canon Canada service centre, which is in Mississauga, ON. If you had sent it directly you would have a tracking number where you could see the status, and they would e-mail you with a repair estimate to accept or reject within two or three days of it arriving. You may be able to persuade the camera store to let you have the tracking number? It's called a Repair Order Number and in my case started with WA and then 6 digits.
I can sympathise with your plight -- I had exactly the same situation, I let go of a tripod that seemed entirely stable, and a couple of seconds later watched it describe a graceful arc to the ground. Unfortunately in my case, the ground was about 9 inches under sea water, resulting in both my 5D Mark III and lens being unrepairable :(
@frankhymus Fortunately, yes, I'd taken out a business property cover extension on my home insurance policy to cover my camera equipment, so I was only out my $250 deductible, and a short amount of time.
They were absolutely excellent actually -- I contacted them on Monday morning, was told to send the equipment to Canon for assessment. Canon replied on Wednesday saying beyond economical repair, on Friday morning I had a cheque, and on Friday afternoon I had a new camera.
I was a bit worried about the renewal, but it just came through last week, and my premium has only increased by just under $5 a month. Not bad for a claim totalling over $5000.
@abirkill I've run into a few situations where I wish I had a hood on recently (glare), I'll have to pull them out. The only lens that I routinely have the hood on is my 12-24mm Sigma, but only because that' the only way to keep a cap on it! And it has to come of for the ultrawide end unless I want to see the hood in the final shot.
I called the store and asked if they sent it out already - he said yes, but he could absolutely get it back for me, likely by Friday, if I'd rather send it off myself. I was just going to let it go, but I got more information, and they don't send it right to Canon - it goes to their "repair guy" in Winnipeg, who does something or other with it before forwarding it along. So I'll get it back and try sending it off, and we'll see if it's faster than their times (the standard for them is 2 weeks for the estimate, 6 for repairs)!
"Graceful arc to the ground" describes it perfectly! Glad to hear you had insurance on your gear. All in all, I'm happy it didn't happen the day before to me - I was on the riverbank with the front leg of the tripod set about a foot further down the bank than the other two - not actually sure I would have been able to recover it from a fall there!
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
The damage to the lens would probably have been less, but still enough to be noticeable if shooting into the sun, so you'd probably still need a front element replacement, and a replacement filter as well.
Did you have the hood fitted? That often gives better protection from this kind of impact than a filter.
A front element replacement on this lens shouldn't be too hideously expensive. Assuming the zoom sticking issue isn't anything serious like a cracked internal barrel, and the main thing it needs is a new front element, new trim ring, and full realignment, I'd guesstimate the repair cost as being in the region of $250.
Edit: Did you send it directly to Canon for repair, or is the camera store acting as an intermediary? If you sent it directly, it will almost certainly be turned around in far far less than 6 weeks.
In my dealings with Canon I have always been happy with the results and I hope you will too.
This was the process when my 5D MK3 went a little messed up
@abirkill I feel a little better about not having filters on then! But no, I didn't have a hood on it, either. I can' t remember for sure of I even have the hood for this one (came as a kit lens with my 6d). I did use the camera store as an intermediary, but they're sending it to Canon. I'm in Canada as well, so I have no idea if they can send it to Canon Canada for repair, or if it's having to go the States.
My camera was actually on the tripod. It felt stable, and I stepped away to get my shadow out of the shot. Then timmmmberrrr! Teach me to make sure one of the legs is right in line with the lens whenever possible!
In the UK, Canon may instruct you to return it to where you purchased it from simply because of the very large quantity of grey imports, which Canon UK will not deal with. A lot of people don't realise that they have bought a grey import, so I imagine Canon UK get a lot of cameras sent in which have to be sent straight back. Of course, if you are dealing directly with the manufacturer, you need to make sure you are working within the terms of your purchase :)
@cassiadawn Usually a slightly sticking zoom is caused by a loose screw, but it's impossible to accurately say with any certainty after an impact. All the Canon L lenses come with hoods included, and I would recommend using them where possible -- not only do they add protection, but they also significantly reduce flare and increase contrast if you have a bright light source just out of frame.
The camera will have been sent to the only Canon Canada service centre, which is in Mississauga, ON. If you had sent it directly you would have a tracking number where you could see the status, and they would e-mail you with a repair estimate to accept or reject within two or three days of it arriving. You may be able to persuade the camera store to let you have the tracking number? It's called a Repair Order Number and in my case started with WA and then 6 digits.
I can sympathise with your plight -- I had exactly the same situation, I let go of a tripod that seemed entirely stable, and a couple of seconds later watched it describe a graceful arc to the ground. Unfortunately in my case, the ground was about 9 inches under sea water, resulting in both my 5D Mark III and lens being unrepairable :(
They were absolutely excellent actually -- I contacted them on Monday morning, was told to send the equipment to Canon for assessment. Canon replied on Wednesday saying beyond economical repair, on Friday morning I had a cheque, and on Friday afternoon I had a new camera.
I was a bit worried about the renewal, but it just came through last week, and my premium has only increased by just under $5 a month. Not bad for a claim totalling over $5000.
I called the store and asked if they sent it out already - he said yes, but he could absolutely get it back for me, likely by Friday, if I'd rather send it off myself. I was just going to let it go, but I got more information, and they don't send it right to Canon - it goes to their "repair guy" in Winnipeg, who does something or other with it before forwarding it along. So I'll get it back and try sending it off, and we'll see if it's faster than their times (the standard for them is 2 weeks for the estimate, 6 for repairs)!
"Graceful arc to the ground" describes it perfectly! Glad to hear you had insurance on your gear. All in all, I'm happy it didn't happen the day before to me - I was on the riverbank with the front leg of the tripod set about a foot further down the bank than the other two - not actually sure I would have been able to recover it from a fall there!