Just dropped telephoto lens - help

[brandicm]

We are on vacation and my telephoto lens just dropped a story. I was up on a balconey and it rolled off the chair and of course the balconey fence has about 5 inches or so that is not covered. The lens rolled through it and dropped to the balconey below. My auto focus will not work, you can hear it grind but it can't focus. I can focus manually i think. I'm downloading pictures now to see how they look. Problem is (aside from dropping a 300 dollar lens) is we are on vacation. We will be in Southern CA later in the week doing the tourist stuff and i rely heavily on this lens as the only other one i have is the kit lens. I have a digital rebel. Does anyone know of a repair place in southern california or a place to rent lenses? It is a sigma lens so i guess i will have to send it back. Any tips for manually focusing on action shots, like shamu or rides at disney land.

I can't believe this happend, i could throw up right now. I appreciate any help.

[mrerico]

send it in

[Wilt]

I think the Canon factory repair place is in Irvine

[Tyreman]

relax.:)
send it in when you get home.
it could have been a even more expensive lens.

[KirkHMB]

http://www.samys.com/rentals.php

Several locations in SoCal

Good luck, sorry to hear about that.

[hallbilly]

a 300 dollar lens? Just buy a new one!

j/k Sorry for your lens man! Just out of curiosity, how far did it fall? I know 2nd story but that could be 10-20 feet. I'm surprised it did not destroy the lens!

Pictures of the damage??

[Tapeman]

Bummer! Repairing it might cost more than it is worth. Replace it for your trip. (good excuse for an upgrade)

[wazmunstr]

Bummer! Repairing it might cost more than it is worth. Replace it for your trip. (good excuse for an upgrade)

i agree. you may have to count your losses, and get a new one. but like everyone said send it in and try to see if its worth fixing.

[Tee Why]

Yup, repairing a $300 lens will cost about $300 or more. It's not covered by warranty, b/c it was due to damage and I doubt it'll be back in time for your trip.

Samy's is more expensive than Canoga Camera and Samy's don't have Sigma, where as Canoga Camera does. I'd just pick up a lens from there when you get to LA.

[brandicm]

If I replace the lens, what do you all recommend I replace it with? The 70-200? Or is there a better one?

Thanks for the help. I will likely visit Samy's as it is the closest to where we will be staying.

[Wilt]

Canon USA Inc
Address: 15955 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 753-4000

near the intersection of I-5 and I-405, about 50 miles from LA Int'l Airport. You can drop in with an item for repair. Before writing off the lens, call them and inquire what it might cost

[ed rader]

Canon USA Inc
Address: 15955 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 753-4000

near the intersection of I-5 and I-405, about 50 miles from LA Int'l Airport. You can drop in with an item for repair. Before writing off the lens, call them and inquire what it might cost

i think a minimum repair charge is like $95 and canon requires you send a lens in for a no obligation estimate. you will have to pay postage at last one-way for the estimate and maybe both ways (canon paid return postage for me but they weren't obligated to do so because the lens was not under warranty).

if it were my lens i would pitch it.

ed rader

[MueveloNYC]

did you insure it?

As for $300 lens, don't bother fixing it. Go all out. Buy the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. Then insure it. :)

[20D_Newbie]

I agree with the last few posts. I cannont believe there is any economics in fixing it. Buy a 70-200mm F4L and you will forget all about it.

[runninmann]

I think the Canon factory repair place is in Irvine

Canon USA Inc
Address: 15955 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 753-4000

near the intersection of I-5 and I-405, about 50 miles from LA Int'l Airport. You can drop in with an item for repair. Before writing off the lens, call them and inquire what it might cost

i think a minimum repair charge is like $95 and canon requires you send a lens in for a no obligation estimate. you will have to pay postage at last one-way for the estimate and maybe both ways (canon paid return postage for me but they weren't obligated to do so because the lens was not under warranty).

if it were my lens i would pitch it.

ed raderWill Canon repair Sigma lenses?

[runninmann]

We are on vacation and my telephoto lens just dropped a story. I was up on a balconey and it rolled off the chair and of course the balconey fence has about 5 inches or so that is not covered. The lens rolled through it and dropped to the balconey below. My auto focus will not work, you can hear it grind but it can't focus. I can focus manually i think. I'm downloading pictures now to see how they look. Problem is (aside from dropping a 300 dollar lens) is we are on vacation. We will be in Southern CA later in the week doing the tourist stuff and i rely heavily on this lens as the only other one i have is the kit lens. I have a digital rebel. Does anyone know of a repair place in southern california or a place to rent lenses? It is a sigma lens so i guess i will have to send it back. Any tips for manually focusing on action shots, like shamu or rides at disney land.

I can't believe this happend, i could throw up right now. I appreciate any help.Forgot to add OP to thread above.

[ed rader]

Will Canon repair Sigma lenses?

i doubt it :D .

ed rader

[runninmann]

i doubt it :D .

ed raderYeah, I didn't think so. That's why all of the info about Canon repair facilities was so confusing to me.

[ed rader]

Yeah, I didn't think so. That's why all of the info about Canon repair facilities was so confusing to me.

i was confused too but then i forgot and wrote all that stuff. but it all came back to me when i read your post :D .

ed rader

[cdhender]

The problem is brick and mortar stores are so much more expensive than buying online. He'll end up paying a lot for a 70-200 if he wants to upgrade.

[richardho11]

I also say toss it! Its not worth paying almost the same price as your lens to fix it after shipping and everything. Either that or go buy a new one for $300. I think I would rather bite the bullet and get a 70-200L or a 100-400L though...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

i think a minimum repair charge is like $95 and canon requires you send a lens in for a no obligation estimate. you will have to pay postage at last one-way for the estimate and maybe both ways (canon paid return postage for me but they weren't obligated to do so because the lens was not under warranty).

if it were my lens i would pitch it.

ed rader

Yup, when I asked about sending a lens in for calibration in NJ, they told me depending on what it was, and what it needed, it would start at $99.

[brandicm]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. BTW, I'm a she, not a he:) It is a sigma lens so I was confused about the canon posts but was willling to try anything. I think I will have to buy something even if it is more expensive. I don't want to take pictures of my kid's first time at disneyland with the stupid kit lens....or sea world for that matter.

I appreciate all your help. I feel like a black cloud is following my camera on our vacation. Yesterday we were at a family celebration and I set my camea down on a chair as they wanted everyone in a picture. Some yo-yo decided to collect chairs and disregard the fact my camera was on it. Picked up the chair and the camera fell on the grass. Luckily my husband saw it and not me, I would have gone nuts. Still works. Ironically I was just talking to our insurance agent earlier last week about insuring my photography equipment. I needed to find my reciept for the camera to have it added on to our homeowners policy. didn't have time to find it before we left:(

I guess this was an expensive lesson.....insure your equipment. Lenses don't bounce but cameras sometimes do, although I don't think any of us recommend it. Here i thought it was my kids i would have to worry about - ages 3 and 5. It's the adults!

I appreciate everyone's help.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

On a Canon forum, when you mention just "telephoto lens", we assume Canon. As for the she/he, I just assume everyone's a guy until proven otherwise. I suppose the "brandi" should have given something away.