How long do L lenses last? Dust mite campground?

[Joytek]

:? What is the average lifespan of an L lens, or for that matter of A lens? I live in a humid and dirty environment (Seoul, South Korea, 16 million people, cars, buses, scooters, everyone chainsmoking....well, you get the picture:-) and have recently checked all my lenses for dust. I shone a flash light into them to see how much dust and dirt has accumulated inside. Needless to say, they are chalkfull of linty things (even though I keep filters on at all times and change lenses mainly in "clean" environments). That got me wondering about other nasty things that could be sprouting inside the dark (probably damp) insides of my glass. urgggg.

This brings me back to my question: How long have you all had your lenses, and what do you think I should expect as an average lifetime of a 17-40L or 70-200L f4 or some such lens?

Reading about fungus growing inside lenses and dust mites camping in peoples glass is very troubling!!!

Sleepless in Seoul :-)

thanks everyone!! :

[ijohnson]

Greetings fellow Seoulite. I am in Gimpo wondering the same thing and figuring that no matter what, its not going to stop me from buying or using a nice lense. The L lense should be sealed much better so the dust should not be a problem, or at least a very little problem. I have a 28-135 and it acts more like a vaccum than a lens. My L's stay clean as a whistle.

Now find me a lens that can see through a good yellow dust storm or monsoon rains and you got a buyer.

Things should clear up in the fall and I can start shooting every weekend again.

How long you been here? Do you know where to buy? I know a very nice guy in Yongsan and a slew of dealers in Namdaemun.

[PaulN]

I don't know about the longevity of an L-lens, but I just sold a first generation 24 mm (non-ultrasonic) canon lens. It is about 13 years old and in perfect working order. If you take care of your lenses, they should last as long as the focussing motors last. L lens should take more environmental abuse as they are sealed.

I am still using the 100 mm macro (non-ultrasonic) and it too is about 13 years old and working fine.

I have never had a canon lens fail.

-paul

[CyberDyneSystems]

"Some" L lenses are sealed... not all.

In either case,. removing the rear sap or attaching the lens to an unsealed body (most bodies) unseals them.

[rmilian]

Greetings,

I am not sure how long the new L lenses will last but I have some
Canon FL lenses from the late sixties and early seventies that are in
perfect condition. I live in South Florida where it is very humid and hot. 8)

[Joytek]

Well, I did not expect there to be someone else on this forum who lives in Seoul.

Yeah the smog and rain are a b**ch:-)

I bought my gear in Yeongsan, but all of it was in some way defective. My 10d has quite a few dust bunnies between the sensor and the low-pass filter, and a power switch issue. Both my 17-40 and 70-200 f4 arrived with fairly sizeable linty things inside them, and my battery grip nob thingy siezed (spelling?) up after a month or so. Canon service here is fairly bad, and very limited. They told me that they don't have the tools necessary to lift the filter and clean the sensor. I was fairly upset, considering that I bought my cam here just so that I could profit from the warranty service.

We should get together at some point in time and go for a little photo tour. I have been in Korea for three years now. I lived in Daejeon, Chunchon, and Pusan. I moved to Seoul a few months ago, and am already changing schools. My current employer broke the contract by refusing to reinburse me for the ticket, not getting me a work visa, and failing to pay overtime. Pretty sweet, eh?

How is your experience so far? Are you a teacher as well?

Here is my e-mail: joytek@hotmail.com

cheers.

w.