I have a couple of L lenses that are approaching 19 years old, and am wondering when I can expect problems with them.
These are my two oldest lenses. Before that, I used fully mechanical lenses on the Olympus OM system and did run into problems with the grease hardening from old age, or migrating onto the aperture blades and causing them to stick. My understanding is that this is no longer a problem with modern materials and lubricants, but that the AF motors and IS mechanisms do wear out with use. And then there’s random failure of electronics. I just have no relevant experience, so I’m asking here.
The two lenses are the EF 70–200mm f/4 IS (first version) and the EF 35mm f/1.4 (first version).
The zoom has been heavily used and looks like it cosmetically. I might use it less in the future, since I now have the RF 100–500mm and RF 85mm f/1.4, but it remains useful. My main concern is a failure on a trip.
The 35 hasn’t been used as much since I got a Sony RX1, but I keep it around, e.g. for video.
I also have the EF 180mm f/3.5 macro, which is nearly as old, but being a specialist lens it hasn’t been used as much, and anyway there’s as yet no RF replacement available.
As far as I know, there is nowhere in Australia to get these two lenses fixed any more. Canon have discontinued service for them, and the place in Easey St. Collingwood no longer services Canon except for government customers.
I suspect they will probably be fine indefinitely, unless abused.
I mean, there's no real way to predict if or when they might fail. I've never experienced an EF lens failing without some physical damage being the cause, but that doesn't mean it could never happen.
If you rely on them for your livelihood, then perhaps proactively replacing them could make some sense. But otherwise, you can just enjoy them until you're ready to move to something new, probably.
Part of me thinks that using the lenses regularly would actually be beneficial.
No idea but I hope my only EF gem lasts me forever 😁
melcat wrote:
I have a couple of L lenses that are approaching 19 years old, and am wondering when I can expect problems with them.
These are my two oldest lenses. Before that, I used fully mechanical lenses on the Olympus OM system and did run into problems with the grease hardening from old age, or migrating onto the aperture blades and causing them to stick. My understanding is that this is no longer a problem with modern materials and lubricants, but that the AF motors and IS mechanisms do wear out with use. And then there’s random failure of electronics. I just have no relevant experience, so I’m asking here.
The two lenses are the EF 70–200mm f/4 IS (first version) and the EF 35mm f/1.4 (first version).
The zoom has been heavily used and looks like it cosmetically. I might use it less in the future, since I now have the RF 100–500mm and RF 85mm f/1.4, but it remains useful. My main concern is a failure on a trip.
The 35 hasn’t been used as much since I got a Sony RX1, but I keep it around, e.g. for video.
I also have the EF 180mm f/3.5 macro, which is nearly as old, but being a specialist lens it hasn’t been used as much, and anyway there’s as yet no RF replacement available.
As far as I know, there is nowhere in Australia to get these lenses fixed any more. Canon have discontinued service for them, and the place in Easey St. Collingwood no longer services Canon except for government customers....Show more →
I bought an EF 300 4L USM and EF 200 2.8L USM new in 1994 and used them extensively. I sold both of them last year in perfect working order. Ditto for my 1994 EF 50 2.5 CM. I don't know if my experience was typical or I was just lucky, but I've only had one L lens that needed service: an EF 70-200 4L USM drifted out of alignment.
Does it really matter?
Not trolling… being serious
Nothing lasts forever. Just use it until it stops then either get fixed or bin and buy a replacement. They are just tools.
I have a huge selection of lenses. The money is spent, if I sell I’ll maybe recoup what I paid. If it breaks I’ll probably maybe bin or replace.
Well, yes. It is not a business, but if I’ve driven 700km, stayed two days, hiked and snowshoed, and driven 700km back, I do not want a lens failure to ruin the photographic part of the trip.
melcat wrote:
Well, yes. It is not a business, but if I’ve driven 700km, stayed two nights, hiked and snowshoed, and driven 700km back, I do not want a lens failure to ruin the photographic part of the trip.
(The above is an actual example of use.)
Well I’m assuming you take something along as a back up?
Even an older zoom stopped down would deliver useable results. And said zoom could just sit in the boot as a emergency back up.
Pixelpuffin wrote:
Well I’m assuming you take something along as a back up?
Even an older zoom stopped down would deliver useable results. And said zoom could just sit in the boot as a emergency back up.
melcat wrote:
Please nobody respond to this off-topic post.
That’s fair enough
But what are you wanting to hear/read?
People you’ve never met IRL stating categorically that L lenses will last 40yrs before they begin self destructing ?
You really need to contact someone like LensRentals who loan out L stuff on daily basis. They will know which models are prone to die young
For what it’s worth the EF 24-105F4Lis is almost guaranteed for ribbon/diaphragm failure.
Your best course of action is to take along a back up.
My 70 - 200 F4 non IS that I bought a long time ago is still working perfectly
It’s always on my second body along with a longer lens on my main and still gives nice sharp images
I haven’t seen any need to replace it and would be gutted if it went wrong, not sure if it is repairable now
I have had more failures on EF and RF cameras versus older EF lenses. Often it has been only 1/2 hour or so and things came back to life. In the case of EF lenses I have only sent in 2 lenses for actual repair, sometimes the failure was the contacts needed cleaning, or I had to unmount the lens and remount it.
When I do long trips I try to overlap the lens focal lengths a bit just in case of a failure but in general I have never been concerned with using older no longer repairable lenses. I will continue to use them until such time they fail or I decide to sell it.
Much too old may be considered worse than not too old, but that's controversial depend upon conditions; however, when they cease to function, and there are no longer any repair options available, that could be reasonably considered by those with an "open" mind to be far too old.
I have a number that are at least 10 years older than those lenses with no issues. I really wouldn't worry about it. Wait about 20 more years then ask again. If nothing else, look at how many photojournalist lenses have been bashed around (literally) for decades and still going. Something tells me that your lenses haven't seen near the use or abuse as those.
I dropped a lens on the 1st day of a roughly 1000 mile trip. Everyone talks about backup bodies but you need to consider if losing a lens is a problem and take a backup if you're worried about it.
Im still using a 180 Tamron I bought 20 years ago. It's showing signs, but OK so far, might have to replace. Heavy use imo
Any lenses that quit stopping down (ribbon cable? Non L doubt it matters much) just quit on part of the zoom then continued to work for a long time before quitting completely and could be used wide open even then. It's not like new lenses are a guarantee.
I have several EF "L" lenses that are well over 20 years old, and I can guarantee that they will outlast me. As long as your EF lenses aren't dropped or damaged, they'll be just fine.
For what it’s worth
I have around a dozen L optics (EF) - all bar one bought used.
I keep them all in clear sealed plastic tubes with giant sachets of silica gel.
I admit I only use one these days (100-400Lii) the rest just never see use no more, I’ve often considered letting go, but the faff and risk of scammers or silly low dealer offers… makes me think they can stay where they are.
If a lens sits unused for many years the lubricants within the lens can gum up causing resistance when focusing. I have a 300 f4L lens that sat on the shelf for about 10 years and now it cannot autofocus and is very difficult to manually focus due to the lubricants either drying out or gumming up.
20 years old? They are just past their teenage years! If they are L lenses they are just getting warmed up!!!
My EF 35mm f/1.4 version I I sold last year here on FM just because the version II was better and I owned both, why keep two versions? I didn't get much for it. But it was working flawlessly. The EF 70–200mm f/4 IS version I I kept. Nice lightweight kit but I rarely use it. But good for travel! I store everything in Pelican cases with silica gel. I've had very few issues with L lenses and I've owned a lot of them.
Pixelpuffin wrote:
For what it’s worth
I have around a dozen L optics (EF) - all bar one bought used.
I keep them all in clear sealed plastic tubes with giant sachets of silica gel.
I admit I only use one these days (100-400Lii) the rest just never see use no more, I’ve often considered letting go, but the faff and risk of scammers or silly low dealer offers… makes me think they can stay where they are.
