p.2 #1 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Apparently not, because they originally thought my camera was under warranty but the lens was not – and they were going to charge me $285 for the "repair".
p.2 #2 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
badlydrawnboy wrote:
Apparently not, because they originally thought my camera was under warranty but the lens was not – and they were going to charge me $285 for the "repair".
I am positive that a friend of mine sent a 500D (obviously bought outside the US) along with a newlyy bought lens to (regular) Canon for adjustment, free of charge.
Now, I wonder if this is different because:
1) it's CPS,
2) it's free only if the lens is under warranty, or
3) they've already changed the policy.
If you have a chance to talk to them, maybe you could ask them to clarify it for us all. Thanks.
p.2 #3 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
If the lens is under warrenty then YES, it should be free. Every lens I have purchased that had a focusing problem and was under warrenty was fixed for free.
p.2 #4 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Maybe it's more about the lens being in warranty than the camera body. i.e. like teebat said, if the lens is in warranty they'll adjust it for free, even if the camera is out of warranty. That would explain why Wahoowa's friend wasn't charged.
p.2 #5 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
badlydrawnboy wrote:
Maybe it's more about the lens being in warranty than the camera body. i.e. like teebat said, if the lens is in warranty they'll adjust it for free, even if the camera is out of warranty. That would explain why Wahoowa's friend wasn't charged.
If that's the case, that totally sucks. I mean, say, I bought a 5D3 earlier this year and I have 10+ lenses. If I need their service, it'll cost me a fortune to have everything adjusted.
Now, that means one should account that into factor when considering upgrading a camera body.
p.2 #6 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Wahoowa wrote:
If that's the case, that totally sucks. I mean, say, I bought a 5D3 earlier this year and I have 10+ lenses. If I need their service, it'll cost me a fortune to have everything adjusted.
Now, that means one should account that into factor when considering upgrading a camera body.
If the lenses work fine on the older body they will work fine on the new body as well - and if they don't the problem is with the body itself - so I don't see why you would be concerned in case of the upgrade...
Generally speaking I had a very good experience with CPS where in one case they did not even require a receipt from me to confirm that the lens is still under warranty and just took my word for it - of course I did drop the lens and body in person... and in the other case I dropped of lens to be recalibrated with the body and performed clean and check on the body for free even though it was not under warranty... SO maybe it depends on the service center
p.2 #7 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
AlexF wrote:
If the lenses work fine on the older body they will work fine on the new body as well - and if they don't the problem is with the body itself - so I don't see why you would be concerned in case of the upgrade...
Generally speaking I had a very good experience with CPS where in one case they did not even require a receipt from me to confirm that the lens is still under warranty and just took my word for it - of course I did drop the lens and body in person... and in the other case I dropped of lens to be recalibrated with the body and performed clean and check on the body for free even though it was not under warranty... SO maybe it depends on the service center ...Show more →
I'm not saying the old lenses will definitely need service when upgrading the body. But not being able to have service for free of charge is definitely different. I thought I could rest assured if I ever need such a service, I'd have been covered. And by saying to have the whole set serviced, I'm looking at the worst case scenario. With these delicate electronic devices, you'll never know for sure.
p.2 #8 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Wahoowa wrote:
If that's the case, that totally sucks. I mean, say, I bought a 5D3 earlier this year and I have 10+ lenses. If I need their service, it'll cost me a fortune to have everything adjusted.
Now, that means one should account that into factor when considering upgrading a camera body.
But they gave you microadjust on the camera so you could do their work for them. You're welcome
p.2 #10 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
PaulB wrote:
If you calibrate a body to a lens then you cannot be sure that other lenses will not be affected.
The body should be checked as within specification and the lens checked separately - then they should work together (as should any other lenses and/or bodies you have, in any combination).
Most of the time, the calibration is in the lens. Supposedly there are something like 8+ calibration points they can program into the lens. I am assuming they have adjustment tables in the focus controller of the lens that allows them to tweak focus +/- some number of steps at some focal length. I could be wrong. If I am right, the body is not affected and will work with the other lenses as before. This seems to make sense, because Sigma is releasing a new line of lenses that allow you to buy a lens docking station of sorts, and you can adjust the lens yourself.
p.2 #11 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
if the gear is out of warranty I don't think they should do it for free, but $284 is ridiculous any way you cut it. five grand worth of camera and lens and they cant give a customer a labor rate better than $500/hour?
I've got a 135L that's not under warranty and I'm not 100% sure of it even with micro adjust. but I live with it because I can't afford another $300 just to have a $900 lens checked out
p.2 #12 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
goosemang wrote:
if the gear is out of warranty I don't think they should do it for free, but $284 is ridiculous any way you cut it. five grand worth of camera and lens and they cant give a customer a labor rate better than $500/hour?
I've got a 135L that's not under warranty and I'm not 100% sure of it even with micro adjust. but I live with it because I can't afford another $300 just to have a $900 lens checked out
Yeah. That struck me as a ridiculously high price to charge for this kind of adjustment. It's not even a "repair".
p.2 #15 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Wahoowa wrote:
I had always thought that they would provide adjustment free of charge as long as EITHER the camera or the lens is still under warranty. Basically, I thought, say, if I bought a lens and it didn't work well with my camera, Canon would ask me to send the lens along with the camera(s) that I used for free adjustment.
Isn't this the case anymore?
People are people and maybe it's a mistake. It's difficult to hire good workers (been working on interview committees for years) and wrong charges and misinformation is commonplace. Also, there is leeway for charges even when out of warranty. I brought my 70-200 4L in to Canon Hawaii for calibration (blurry on left side) and after making small talk with the counter girl headed for the door. As I walked out she mentioned if I faxed the receipt she's comp the charge even if out of warranty. And, indeed, it was 4 years out and, 10 days later, it was tack sharp on both sides.
p.2 #16 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Gochugogi wrote:
People are people and maybe it's a mistake. It's difficult to hire good workers (been working on interview committees for years) and wrong charges and misinformation is commonplace. Also, there is leeway for charges even when out of warranty. I brought my 70-200 4L in to Canon Hawaii for calibration (blurry on left side) and after making small talk with the counter girl headed for the door. As I walked out she mentioned if I faxed the receipt she's comp the charge even if out of warranty. And, indeed, it was 4 years out and, 10 days later, it was tack sharp on both sides. ...Show more →
Agreed.
My recent experience with CPS wasn't a good one. I sent in a 50D for cleaning. It came back with a battery door wasn't assembled back into the right place. It came back with another problem. This time, the on-off switch wouldn't turn the camera off. I had to send it back again and I was promised that there would be no charge. Then, I got a bill for around $300. I was promised several times that it'd be taken care of, but it took me several calls before getting everything sorted out.
p.2 #17 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Hmm... Cps treated me well.
Don't worry about the calibration affecting your other lenses. Yes they may be different when it comes back but canon will adjust both camera and lens to spec. They won't take a lens that is out of speck and adjust a good camera to out of speck.
I sent my 5dii and 50L in recently and it was significantly better after calibration
p.2 #18 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
I've had great luck with CPS in Jamesburg, NJ, I've had terrible luck with the Newport News, VA.
Jamesburg, NJ always seems to just take care of things or the charge is minimal. (or at least very reasonable)
Every-time I send something to Newport News, they seem to way over charge me. I've sent camera's and lens to be cleaned and they find stuff wrong with it and slap a big ole charge on it.. I've also after paying the ridiculous amount have not been happy with the repairs from that location.
After three really bad experiences with Newport News, I started sending gear back to Jamesburg and been happy ever since.
p.2 #19 · CPS charges $284 to calibrate a lens to a 5D III body? (UPDATED)
Just got my 5D3 & 50/1.2 back from CPS. It is literally a night and day difference. It's like a completely different lens. It hits focus every time, just like my 35/1.4 and 85/1.2.
It is softer wide open than either of the above lenses. I see that now that the focus is accurate. But they sharpen up well with a little post-production.
I'm having so much fun with this lens now. 50mm is my favorite focal length, and the 50/1.4 never inspired me like the 35 & 85. Hooray!
