IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

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Archive 2010 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Dreamliner
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p.1 #1 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

I had an 70-200/2,8L IS for 5 years, during my "film days", which I finaly sold. My lens had light use (about 300+ films) and I had never noticed any kind of degradation in IQ through these years -except some kind of centering problem which was there from day one. I 've read in another forum, that almost all IS lenses are prone to some kind of IQ deterioration over time due to the nature of IS mechanism (forced decentering which uses loose lens elements for that purpose).
I am seriously thinking to add the new 70-200/2,8 IS II to my collection (and this time it will have certainly more usage than before) and even though I 'm sure that Canon's QC will be better on this one, I would like to have a second opinion from the "heavy" users of 70-200/2,8 or 4 IS who have accumulated a lot of usage on their lenses during the digital era: did you noticed any kind of IQ deterioration through all these years of use ? Did you also had any IS mechanism failures ?
Thanks in advance for your replies !

Edited on Jan 26, 2010 at 10:56 PM · View previous versions

Jan 26, 2010 at 09:12 PM

Nill Toulme
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p.1 #2 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

All of my IS lenses are as sharp today as the day I bought them, and I've had them all for years.

Nill

Jan 26, 2010 at 09:34 PM

Peter Kotsa
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p.1 #3 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

I have never heard of that either. All my IS lenses are spot on, even after years of use, and some "abuse" as a professional.

Jan 26, 2010 at 09:40 PM

Jeff
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p.1 #4 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

You might want to edit your original post to delete the 'all caps' in the title; it's kind of considered shouting here on the internet.

Regards,

Jeff

PS: I have heard more than one report of IS mechanisms needing to be repaired or replaced over time.

Jan 26, 2010 at 09:42 PM

Dreamliner
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p.1 #5 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Jeff wrote:
You might want to edit your original post to delete the 'all caps' in the title; it's kind of considered shouting here on the internet.

Regards,

Jeff

PS: I have heard more than one report of IS mechanisms needing to be repaired or replaced over time.

I have already done that. Thanks !

Jan 26, 2010 at 10:57 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

I've certainly heard of IS systems than have failed and needed replacement (happened on my 70-200/2.8L IS), but as Nill and Peter have said, I've never had nor heard of an IS lens that had IQ degradation over time.

Jan 27, 2010 at 04:25 AM

FSJ_Guy
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p.1 #7 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

No problems with my old 100-400 that I bought used during Bush Jr.'s first term in office. I take it on helicopter rides with me and it does just fine.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

Jan 27, 2010 at 04:59 AM

Chris Fawkes
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p.1 #8 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

I had a lens that i was about to toss thinking it was no longer usable. The problem was similar to what you suggest and was easily repaired.

Jan 27, 2010 at 10:17 AM

jcmedeiros
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p.1 #9 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Nill Toulme wrote:
All of my IS lenses are as sharp today as the day I bought them, and I've had them all for years.

Nill

+1

Jan 27, 2010 at 02:00 PM

CW100
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p.1 #10 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Dreamliner wrote:
who have accumulated a lot of usage on their lenses during the digital era: did you noticed any kind of IQ deterioration through all these years of use ? Did you also had any IS mechanism failures ?

the guy from www.photozone.de doesn't like IS !

www.photozone.de
"I do no longer recommend IS/VR/OIS/OS/VC lenses till the manufacturers have sorted out their QC and manufacturing problems. The problem originates in the nature of IS. The mechanism forces lens elements off the the optical axis. This is nothing else but a forced decentering. This works very fine on paper as we all know. However, de facto it introduces loosely held elements into the system. While this works fine assuming proper QC and manufacturing the system is doomed to deteriorate over time - sometimes less, sometimes more but always a little bit. The extra number of "superfluous" elements make things even worse. There were times when lens kept their performance over a decade or longer. Assmuing regular use I wouldn't bet on a constant performance for longer than 3-5 years now (IS lenses).
Take this as my official statement
http://www.photozone.de/active/forum/ShowMessage?ID=1113961A

Jan 27, 2010 at 03:56 PM

J. Allen
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p.1 #11 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Yes, I have had the quality degrade on my 70-200 2.8 IS as the IS gradually died without my realizing it until it died completely over about 1000 frames. Sent it into Canon for a complete repair and calibration for about $180 US and it's been dead on for many thousands of frames ever since.

Jan 27, 2010 at 03:57 PM

Masahara
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p.1 #12 · IQ degradation over time with IS lenses ?

Very interesting. The prospect of this happening to my lens is disturbing. I'm no expert but I can tell you that my 70-200 2.8 IS has been in service daily since approx 2005 (I work primarily for a newspaper) and I've never been able to see any significant change. That doesn't mean nothing has happened, I just can't see any standout difference.

Jan 27, 2010 at 04:06 PM

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