I could not read Japanese, but here are links:

http://www.eos-d-slr.net/digi_bbs/wforum.cgi?list=tree&no=27388&mode=allread
http://kakaku.com/bbs/Main.asp?SortID=4504973&ViewRule=1&CookieNon=1

I could be more than a rumor, judging on the availbility of the lens.

John Power wrote:
I wrote a review on a lens. Me? I may have said I was very happy with the 5D/24-105 combo. As for the "rumor", I wouldn't let that stop me from buying one.


John, I think it was last month, but your pictures and general information that was provided on the lens (from a wedding the lens was used at) was quite good.

I think it was you, then again, maybe it was another John. There's the second thing you loose with age... memory

For what it is worth, Amazon lists 11-01-05 as the release date

Calling this lens an "L" I would have expected better. I'm sure some find this lens excellent. I find these problems totally unacceptable.

d~

I shot pics with a 60w lightbulb shining in the top left cornrer of the view finder, Just the very edge of the bulb visible. With more of the bulb visible I didn't get the effect. With a slight change in the orientation of the camera the effect disappears. Set lens at 24mm - aperture f4. Not as vivid as others that are posted but there nevertheless.

My 24-105 does it at 24mm f4, just like everyone describes. I am not sending it in for repairs/redesign. I'm using it to take cool pictures of sunlight through the forest canopy/churches/Roswell NM etc.

This lens is going to develop a cult following, and in a few months the "defective" ones will command a premium over the "fixed" ones. Just you wait and see. --c

myy001 wrote:
ebrandon:
Would you please describe more about how to reproduce the flare. I could not re-produce it or simply mine is not capable of doing so.
Thanks,


1) Set the 20D to aperture priority f4
2) Took the lens hood off the 24-105. Set it to 24m
3) Pointed up at the sky with the sun about 1 sun-diameter out of the frame to the left, near the top of the frame.

Note -- the characteristic streaks did not appear in the viewfinder, only on the
captured image.

It would be very interesting if there were lenses that don''t do it. Hard to tell though -- are you using a 20D? Were you at f4? Were you at 24mm? Did you have the lens hood off? Is your light source just off frame to the left or right (with the camera held horizontally)? Is your light source about 80% up the side, near but not above the frame?

Whew -- when you describe all that it's hard to believe anyone experiences this problem accidentally!

///

I had to get up before dawn on a day with fog over the lake to get the shot below with a 135L and 5D. If I had the nifty new 24-105L with its super light rays feature, it would have been much easier, no fog required.

Bobster2 wrote:
I had to get up before dawn on a day with fog over the lake to get the shot below with a 135L and 5D. If I had the nifty new 24-105L with its super light rays feature, it would have been much easier, no fog required.

Are there owners of the 24-105 who can't repeat the flare problem? It could mean that there are also 'good' copies.

normski wrote:
i've never known anything like it - a manufacturer pulling a product which nearly everyone is raving about, unless it's a health and safety issue. maybe the lens sucks the juice out of batteries so much it can explode! or could the flare damage your eye? come on canon spill the beans.

Well, the recall is a rumor as of now. I believe it will stay a rumor because the flare problem is minor compare to some other Canon lenses.

lexvo wrote:
Are there owners of the 24-105 who can't repeat the flare problem? It could mean that there are also 'good' copies.


I must have a good "photon torpedo" -- I cannot for the life of me duplicate the problem. Set at 24mm and f4, just-out-of-frame bright light source on the left and on the right sides - NO FLARE.

I'm going to try sunlight this weekend, weather permitting.

I was at the Photoplus Expo in NYC yesterday and talked to one of the reps at Canon there. Here said the recall is real, that there are about 1500 lenses out at this point, and the parts are not in yet for the replacement. When I asked if they will send a call tag for this to send it to the service dept. he said he did not know at this point. He was not sure what the fix would be, i.e. complete replacement, opticals... That's about all the info. I was able to get.

I tried to search the Canon website (US and Canada) with no progress. Anyone can point me to the link of where they get the information about the recall? (instead of just talking with their "sources"?)

So far I do not find any problem; in fact I like this lens a lot

dnenciu wrote:
You know the problem with spreading this kind of rumors is that there is no proof that there ever was any comunication with canon!
How do we even know that this kind of "emails from canon suport" are not written by people that hope to get a second hand 24-105 for a low price from a user that believes all this stuff.

My advice is stop spreading rumors! If you do have a problem with the lens do one of the 3 things I listed above.


While I agree there's no proof of this type of email, the gist of it is the same as was told me on the phone when I called Canon support. I've got a call tag coming to return the lens but I'm waiting to hear what the "repaired" lens owners find before sending mine in.

I'm waiting for the dust to settle, but I'm still set on getting a 24-105 myself ;-)

I was told Canon will not ship new lenses out until the older ones are fixed. Makes sense they dont want everyone sending them back for a refund and there might be confusion about sending new ones back when the announcement is made. Nonetheless, they will offer a refund if you talk to customer service. It is not something they volunteered but when i asked they implied refund was an option.

Well I returned mine to the store and got a 10-20 wide from sigma, a 430ex flash and also got some cash back.

I'll look to buy it again maybe in a year or so after they fix all these problems.

Weirdness...all the good reviews I'm hearing about this lens and people are dumpin' them because of a small issue (which is fixable...or you can even replace the lens)...rediculous.

Canon Europe link

Canon Europe will start repairs on the 15th Nov