200mm f/1.8 owner question

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Archive 2008 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

mmalleck
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p.1 #1 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

I recently purchased a 200mm f/1.8 and it has been 3-4 years since I've owned one. Is there a tiny bit of play in the body of your lens? With the camera in the trunk, can you rotate the body back and forth body slightly, just enough to make a slight clicking noise. Seems like my other one was like this too but I can't remember. Just wondering if this is normal.

Also, if you have access to a manual, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mark

Nov 15, 2008 at 07:22 AM

PetKal
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p.1 #2 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

I am not positive I understand the problem here, however, when my cameras are mounted on the 200 f/1.8, there is no more play in the mount than with any other lens.....which is very small and absolutely normal.

When it comes to the lens alone, it should be at least as solid and sturdily built as any supertelephoto of today. Mind you, in the 200 f/1.8 design days Canon was probably not as aggressive with their lens weight minimisation. Thus, no structural compromises were made.

Nov 15, 2008 at 10:57 AM

Grantland
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p.1 #3 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

send me an e-mail and i will send you a manual.

ylgranthill@yahoo.com

Nov 15, 2008 at 03:10 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #4 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Thanks Grant.

Nov 15, 2008 at 04:42 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #5 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

PetKal wrote:
I am not positive I understand the problem here, however, when my cameras are mounted on the 200 f/1.8, there is no more play in the mount than with any other lens.....which is very small and absolutely normal.

When it comes to the lens alone, it should be at least as solid and sturdily built as any supertelephoto of today. Mind you, in the 200 f/1.8 design days Canon was probably not as aggressive with their lens weight minimisation. Thus, no structural compromises were made.

What I'm trying to describe is not in the mount.

There is slight play in the lens itself. For instance, while the lens is sitting on it's lens cover, by gripping the back end of the lens where the switches are, I can ever so slightly rotate the lens back and forth. If this is normal, I won't be concerned, if other 200s are tight, then I'll ship it to Canon for a check.

Nov 15, 2008 at 04:48 PM

bobbytan
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p.1 #6 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Nothing moves on my copy. My take is that if it's not broken or causing any problems, don't fix it. Firstly, Canon will probably refer you to a Canon-certified repair facility, as they don't normally take discontinued lenses. Secondly, it's probably going to cost you at least $100 just for an inspection. So if you have no focus issues, I would advise that you leave it .... unless it really bugs you.

mmalleck wrote:

There is slight play in the lens itself. For instance, while the lens is sitting on
it's lens cover, by gripping the back end of the lens where the switches are, I can
ever so slightly rotate the lens back and forth. If this is normal, I won't be concerned, if other 200s are tight, then I'll ship it to Canon for a check.

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:03 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #7 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

mmalleck wrote:
What I'm trying to describe is not in the mount.

There is slight play in the lens itself. For instance, while the lens is sitting on it's lens cover, by gripping the back end of the lens where the switches are, I can ever so slightly rotate the lens back and forth. If this is normal, I won't be concerned, if other 200s are tight, then I'll ship it to Canon for a check.

Gotcha, checked mine again, just to be sure........the barrel is rock solid in all its sections.
I hope Canon will accept to look at the lens, if not, an independent shop should fix it for ya.

Take a look at the barrel section screws on the chamfered parts.....should be 4 screws on the main barrel diameter transition, and 4 more at the back of the lens where the barrel narrows to the filter holder. Are any missing/loose ?

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:10 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #8 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Thanks for confirming that it should be solid. I'll have it checked out when I get back from a trip as I think this will be a simple fix for a good lens shop.

All screws are present. The play is occuring where the focus preset reading ring meets the manual focus ring. Other than this, the lens is in pristine condition.

I wonder if I sent all of my gear to Canon for cleaning and calibration, they'd notice it and fix it. The equipment I've sent in the past comes back spotless with little issues resolved.

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:49 PM

Ronan O Keeffe
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p.1 #9 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Mine's rock solid too.

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:50 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #10 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Wish I had an exploded view of the lens so I could visualize the problem. I'll just be careful with it on my trip.

Nov 15, 2008 at 05:59 PM

PetKal
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p.1 #11 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

mmalleck wrote:
All screws are present. The play is occuring where the focus preset reading ring meets the manual focus ring. Other than this, the lens is in pristine condition.

That's where it seems that the main "punchbowl" barrel section (with the MF rubber ring) joins the cylindrical barrel section (with the knurled AF preset ring). Definitely something to check and secure.

Nov 15, 2008 at 06:17 PM

wtlloyd
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p.1 #12 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Canon quit servicing this lens a couple years ago.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 15, 2008 at 07:10 PM

BrianP
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p.1 #13 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Mine is solid too. There are a number of places that will service it though.

Nov 15, 2008 at 07:39 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #14 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

I'm in the Seattle area. I might take it to a shop for opinion on Monday.

Nov 15, 2008 at 08:18 PM

Shuko
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p.1 #15 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Solid, and its even from 1990.

Nov 15, 2008 at 08:48 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #16 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Thanks

Nov 15, 2008 at 09:10 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #17 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Okay, this is cool...

Parts catalog for the 200mm f/1.8
http://www.micro-tools.net/pdf/Canon/EF%20200%201.8%20L%20USM.pdf

Other parts catalogs: http://www.micro-tools.net/pdf/Canon/

Nov 16, 2008 at 12:45 AM

PetKal
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p.1 #18 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

mmalleck wrote:
Okay, this is cool...

Parts catalog for the 200mm f/1.8
http://www.micro-tools.net/pdf/Canon/EF%20200%201.8%20L%20USM.pdf

Other parts catalogs: http://www.micro-tools.net/pdf/Canon/

You've got an interesting condition with that lens, Mark.

Never seen anyone report a slop in the barrel sections before. If it was there, I imagine people would have noticed it readily because the two barrel components that I understand are in a relative slip carry the pod mount (lens barrel) and the other one (indicator sleeve) carries the lens mount/camera.

Please let us know the outcome of lens servicing.

Nov 16, 2008 at 01:28 AM

Focus Locus
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p.1 #19 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

I don't know much about how lenses are put together, but I do know that one of the places on that Canon list posted above had no trouble at all with servicing a 200/1.8 this year.

Nov 18, 2008 at 07:05 PM

mmalleck
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p.1 #20 · 200mm f/1.8 owner question

Focus,

Which service facility did you use?

Thanks

Nov 30, 2008 at 09:06 PM

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