100-400L lens dead!

[defordphoto]

My lens is dead. Was at a Sprint Boat shoot in Eastern Washington. Went to shoot and the AF was tweaking out. Hunting all over the place. I frantically checked all settings as the boats whizzed by. Everything was fine but AF would not lock. Changed AF settings on camera from servo to focus to one-shot. Dead.

Then I decreased the zoom from 400 to 100 and at about the 150 mark met a slight resistance. Pulled just a bit more and hear/felt a POP. Not good.

But, lens is now AF'ing fine. Or so I thought.

Shot the rest of the day like that. It'd lose Af and then I'd pull back on the zoom, let it POP and then go back shooting.

Downloaded photos onto computer and had about 40% throwaways. AF was whacked and AE was also whacked. It seemed that if it wasn't out of focus, it'd be over exposed. I did get some good shots but man I had to toss upwards of 800-900 shots.

At the awards ceremonies I had the 28-135IS on and it worked beautifully. Not like I ever thought it was the camera, but that just confirms it.

Now the lens will not AF at all. Point the lens down and there's a nice little rattle sound of a loose part inside.

The REAL bummer is that I have a shoot in Idaho on 9/11 though 9/15 and I highly doubt I will get the lens back by then (I'd need it no later than the 10th).

Sending lens off to CFS-Irvine first thing in the morning.

[John_T]

A real bummer. Don't know where you are, but maybe you can rent a replacement 'til yours gets back. I know you can from the pro shops here in Switzerland.

[defordphoto]

Yeah I have thought about that. But, L-glass is (also) not cheap to rent. That lens would probably be upwards of $50-$70 a day soooooo I just purchased the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM. I was wanting to get one anyway and with the 1.4TC it'll be right there as far as length with the 100-400, and still a little faster to boot.

I'll be right back. I have to go place my credit card in the freezer for awhile. It's extremely warm right now. ;)

[slau]

Sorry to hear about your 100-400 and hopefully the 70-200 + TC can provide you enough coverage, at least until the 100-400 is back from repair. Anway, isn't your 100-400 a new purchased just recently?

[defordphoto]

Yes it is new. I bought it back in June. The 200 with the TC will suffice, especially at the track in Idaho I'll be shooting because I'll have super-access due to being friends with the track owner. I'll lose 120mm, but I'll be closer to the action anyway, so it'll work out okay. That's better than reverting back to my Sigma 70-300, which isn't a horrible lens, but it's light years from being even close to L-glass.

But, it's no big thing. That's why we have warranties. I also bought the Mack warranty on the 100-400 as well as the new 70-200. The problem with the 100-400 wouldn't even be that big a deal if it wasn't for this shoot coming up weekend after next.

Great excuse to buy a new lens. ;)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well thats scary,.. what a time to have it take a dive. The 70-200mm will be a good investment for sure,. and in the long run,. it will give you some redundancy on your shoots should such a disaster occur again :(

Maybe think about the 2X converter as well,. though maybe not quit as sharp,. it will give you another way to get all the way out to 400mm mounted on that 70-200mm "L" and still be at f/5.6

[defordphoto]

It could have been worse. At least I salvaged some shots out of the mess. I had to delete way too many shots that would have been awesome.

Oh well.

I do have the 1.4X converter, so I'll be fine with this race coming up. It won't teake my quite out to 400, but I will be closer to the action at this track, so all's good!

Canon said about 2-3 weeks complete to get it repaired. Which now isn't a big thing now that I have the 70-200 on the way.

[NILOLIGIST]

RFMSports,

That hurts. I know you will be replacing it but it is just the idea that the lens died. Go out shopping that is the best way to forget about it, send the lens to canon and you will be fine.

I think it might be that taping trick with the TC, I don't know why but that is what I think. I recently purchased the TC and I did the tape trick and it worked but the noise that the lens made was like a little rattling sound like something was loose, that was enough for me. I took the TC off and returned it back to the store. I really can't use with any other lens I have and I don't want to use it with manual focus so I really don't have a need for it now. But, I think that might have been the case. I would not have heard that rattling sound if I were outside but I was in the house with no TV or other sounds and that sound was clear as a bell and it sounded very bad.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

NiL,

[defordphoto]

The lens is dead, but it will be revived by CFS. It gets sent down to the Irvine service center tomorrow. I am not replacing it, just having it repaired. The 70-200 f/2.8 was on my list anyway and a perfect time to add that to my bag.

The 100-400 will live again! Dunno if it was the taping of the terminals on the TC or not. But, it won't be mounted that way again when I get it back. In the meantime I look forward to getting that super-fast 70-200.