Dust particles inside 17-85 IS USM lens

[wcstory]

How the hell did they get there and can I get rid of them without sending to Canon NJ service center??

I hope this is a warranty covered repair.

Thanks in advance.

[tim]

When you zoom the internal chamber changes size, so it takes air in from the outside. The dust comes from there. They might fix it for free, it's not a defect though so i'd not be suprised if it's not.

Can you post a pic where you can see the dust bits?

[topaz]

A bunch of whitish specks appeared inside mine within a week of buying it as part of my 20D kit, after indoor use only. Though the dust was quite easily visible looking into the lens, it didn't seem to affect photos (though I didn't do any serious testing). Still, I had to swing by the store for another reason, and the guy practically grabbed the lens away from me and came back with a new one a minute later. His opinion was that something must have gotten in the lens during the manufacturing process, for what it's worth.

The new copy has been fine for two months without so much as a speck appearing.

[wcstory]

It looks like it will be getting shipped of to Canon NJ this week. Might be a god excuse to get my 50mm lens.

Topaz,
These are white flakes also.

Tim I will shoot a sky shot and post when I get back from Florida this week.

Bill