I bought a 100/2 new from Beach, it back focuses by about 5' @ 50' on my 5d, and front focuses by about 15' @ 50' on my mk2. I know, it makes no sense, but it 100% repeatable on both bodies. I even reset all settings on both cameras just in case there was a screwy setting somewhere causing grief. The lens does fine up close, but is pretty much unusable at about 20' and on. Here's how it all has gone...

Sent lens to Canon Irvine.

About 10 days later I call to check on the repair. They entered my email address incorrectly, and sent an authorization request to the wrong address. They also couldn't find a copy of the receipt. The note I sent them was on the back of the receipt, and the note even mentioned being on the back of the receipt. Once I told them where the receipt was, they no longer needed authorization since it's covered under warranty.

Lens arrives a few days later. The notes in the form say some electronic adjustments were made, and they would like me to send in the body if the issue persists. Testing shows the exact same issue.

I call Canon Tech Support to ask what I should do since I'm not willing to send in the body. I tell the guy that bodies are spot on with the 400/5.6, 70-200/4 is, 24-104, and Tokina 17, so I would not allow any focus changes to be made to the camera. He suggests I send the lens to Canon New Jersey, because they're bigger, and have been around a little longer (not joking).

Sent lens back to Canon Irvine.

About 10 days later (today) I call Canon to check the status of the lens since I've heard nothing for the past week and a half. Apparently they called yesterday to try and get me to send in the body, but left no message and my caller id says otherwise. The nice lady on the phone tells me that the only thing they can do is send my lens back to me, and I tell her that I'm extremely dissatisfied with the lens. Just so you know, all conversation has been completely polite, though the letter I sent with the lens (2nd time) definitely reflected some irritation. She was about to let me go, but then asks me to hold. She comes back on the line with "Jim", I think he's the manager of the repair department in Irvine. The conversation is weird from here on out. The only thing I can figure is that he thinks I'm some sort of snake who is trying to get over on them somehow, but I haven't asked for any sort of treat/voucher/freebie/refund. I explain the issues, and is extremely aggressive in attempting to explain how this is impossible. He attempts to get slightly technical, but then had no idea about the Canon date code! Yes, I'm serious! He wrote down to have them test the lens with several different bodies, and that's really about as much as I can ask for right now.

So, that's where it's at. I've had several great experiences with Canon Irvine in the past, though you could argue I shouldn't even have had an opportunity to know whether they're great or not. This one hasn't been so great, and I wouldn't even care about the mishaps if the lens just worked. I suspect the lens is going to come back the same, and I'm not going to keep it if it's only usable at shorter distances. Then I'll have to sell it for next to nothing because of the issues I'll disclose, since my integrity is worth more than a few hundred bucks to me.

I wasn't quick to blame the lens, I thoroughly tested it on both bodies, and even retested my other lenses for comparison. I reset all settings and custom functions as well, no change. The front and back focusing was completely repeatable on both bodies. I certainly concede that it's possible this whole mess is self induced. I've had a couple/few other lenses that either front or back focused, and they were returned from Canon spot on. I know the techs at Canon are a billion times more experienced than I am, so I can't help but think the odds are I'm wrong here, but my experience says otherwise. I deleted the test pics unfortunately, but all testing done in one-shot, center af, and tested on both high and low contrast subjects.

By chance has anyone has a similar lens issue?

corndog wrote:
He suggests I send the lens to Canon New Jersey, because they're bigger, and have been around a little longer (not joking).


Being that my 24-70 is at Canon Irvine right now, this isn't reassuring.

Sorry to hear about your frustrating experience.

Bah, it's no biggie.

The 24-70 was one of the lenses I sent in the past, which had either front or back focus issues, I can't remember. The odd thing that I do remember about that transaction, is that they claimed to have changed out the main body of the lens in the repair. Anyway, it came back sharp, and the focus was spot on, so I was happy.

Why not return it to Beach Camera? Or have you exceeded the return period? I got a poorly performing lens and retuned it to Amazon a week later after testing it.

An excellent question! It should be noted that I bought the lens from Beach via eBay. The box appeared to have been opened many times, the contacts were well marked, and it didn't focus accurately. I suspected this lens was the bastard child left over from many rounds of cherry picking, and they were hoping to off it on eBay.

Bought a new 24-70 from NewEgg, and it was soft. Initially I thought that my technique sucked beyond repair, but did the tripod+cable release+mirror lookup+row of batteries test and found it was backfocusing. Sent it to New Jersey and came back a week later a completely different lens. Focus is spot on and I'm really happy. Haven't had any experience with Irvine and I hope not to have the pleasure.

^^^ I won't discount Irvine just yet, my other experiences have been good.

Update; I received the lens back from Canon about two weeks ago. On the repair slip it said "customer refused repair", but last time I spoke with "Jim" we agreed they would test the lens on several different bodies to confirm whether or not there was a problem. Disappointed yet again, I called 800-okcanon and they put me in touch with Jim! Wheeeeee! He was a douche last time, but to his credit, was very courteous this time. Thanks god too because I'm tired of dealing with the lens. Anyway, he must have been having a 'light flow' day, because he was quick to apologize for the mix-up and promptly emailed a prepaid shipping label. The following business day she was off to Canon for the third time.

The lens arrived today, and I was pessimistically anxious to read the repair slip... "We have examined the product according to your request, and, it was found that the adjustment of the AF assembly was incorrect the focus did not operate properly. Electrical adjustments were carried out on the AF assembly and product functions were confirmed. Other inspection and cleaning were carried out".

Sounds pretty close to the typical mumbo jumbo to me, but I like it better than "we found nothing wrong". Here's the real bummer, I've since sold my bodies, I have nothing to test it with right now...the torture!!! Don't give me a hard time for selling them, both cameras worked perfect with my current lenses, and previously owned lenses...just not with this blasted 100/2.

This mess is almost over one way or another. If it works, great! If not, clay pigeon!

Sounds just like my 1Ds3 (4x) or 28-300 (4x). They eventually fixed the 1Ds3 and solved the unfixable 28-300 by sending me a new one. But that took some.

I had focusing issue (can't remember front or back) when I just got my brand new 85/1.8, I only had a 10D at the time so I can't compare how it works across different bodies. Sent it to Canon and they said nothing is wrong with the lens. After a bit of drama, in the end what solves the problem is the eraser trick on the lens electronic contact.

Wow. I have dozens of Canon annoyances. However I had much better luck with Irvine than NJ. Eventually they will fix or replace the item if you are persistent enough.

EBH

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stanj wrote:
EB, why do your posts (almost) always appear 4x?

I don't know. Sometimes my mouse seems to get stuck in the drag and click mode for no reason. Other programs are also acting up.

EBH

This is why Canon needs to worry more about Quality Control than they do a new 24-70. Or how about both, a new 24-70 with a new QC crew!

That said, it took Canon 2X at NJ to get my 70-200 2.8IS right. I the replacement part list they did looks like the inner workings of a Klingon space craft.

3rd and 8th +13th lens element
IS unit
Front element
focus mechanism...

Flux capacitor.

I just got my 17-55 f2.8 today. I noticed that it may have some slight front-focusing issues. Reading this makes me very nervous...

EB, why do your posts (almost) always appear 4x?

EB-1 wrote:
stanj wrote:
EB, why do your posts (almost) always appear 4x?

I don't know. Sometimes my mouse seems to get stuck in the drag and click mode for no reason. Other programs are also acting up.

EBH

Dont believe you , your just trying to get to the top of the total post chart

If you bought it 'new' from beach on ebay what sort of guarrantee do you have? (I dont know about the US way of doing things). If the thing is not working then you should still have the right of return shouldn't you? its not like you just dont want it you dont want it because its faulty. And the fact that Canon have taken so long to still not fix it should not affect your standing with beach.
Or on the listing do they state sold As Is?

^^^ You'll see a little bit up someone asked me the same thing, and I really should have dealt with Beach to begin with. The auction wasn't "as-is", and really I was acting irrationally because the lens had me flustered. The lens arrived in a worn out box that looked like it had been opened many times, and the contact also looked like it had been mounted many times. That combined with the focusing issue had me thinking they were trying to sell a known bad copy, so I didn't feel like doing business with them when Canon would cover the repair under warranty.

So, my mk2 arrived today and I got a chance to test out the lens, it's perfect! The focus is spot on near mfd and near infinity, sweet! I'm so happy it's sorted out, I just might take the wife out to celebrate!

Now...everything can't be perfect can it? Nosiree! The mk2 that just arrived has a failing shutter....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!@@!!@!@@#@#@ Yes, that's the laugh of insanity. No I didn't buy it on FM, it was another fleabay purchase. I'm curious is the guy will do me right, another fun human integrity test that will likely end up costing me a few hundred bones. Have a look at the test shots below if you're interested in seeing one way a failing shutter reveals itself...

Test 1

Test 2