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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How long for a previous generation lens to remain serviceable? | |
It's not completely predictable. They plan to carry parts for 5 years or so. But certain parts (PCBs, electronics) are made by third parties and might become unavailable, certain glass elements might have a finite supply, etc. So it's impossible to say for certain.
Given that, though, as out-of-production lenses fail, a fair number of them become parts themselves. I found an AF motor for a 50mm f/1.0 a few months ago, and you can find a 'not working for parts' version of the 200 f/1.8 on eBay every so often. A third party repair shop can strip one for parts to fix the other.
As fotosculptor said, though, newer lenses with their electronic systems are going to be less repairable than older lenses. For example, the new IS systems can't just be replaced like Gen 1 and 2 could; they have to be tuned and set up using Canon's software which third party shops don't have (even authorized centers don't always have it, it's expensive). That's going to limit some of the stripping old lenses for parts thing.
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