Canon MP-E 65mm Durability

racketman wrote in post #19314050
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to obtain parts for this unit and therefore unable to offer a repair service to this unit.

1stAid Repairs

I wonder if this is the case everywhere now; I have emailed Canon support UK.

Oh dear there is a reason why people say that the MPE65 is
Wonderful
Irritating
Fascinating
Expensive

I am sure there is an easy way to remember that but I can't think what it is.

racketman wrote in post #19314050
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to obtain parts for this unit and therefore unable to offer a repair service to this unit.

1stAid Repairs

I wonder if this is the case everywhere now; I have emailed Canon support UK.

Yes this was going around a few years back, Canon fixed mine despite that a few years back.

I guess it will eventually run out of parts stock; I wonder if they plan a new version in their mirror less mount, they are doing lots of other replacement lens releases (at a much increased price).

Lester Wareham wrote in post #19315262
Yes this was going around a few years back, Canon fixed mine despite that a few years back.

I guess it will eventually run out of parts stock; I wonder if they plan a new version in their mirror less mount, they are doing lots of other replacement lens releases (at a much increased price).

I wonder though if the MPE65 was sold less than other lens and that is why they have never created a new version.

davholla wrote in post #19315528
I wonder though if the MPE65 was sold less than other lens and that is why they have never created a new version.

I would think that is one factor but I suspect that there are others as well. A few might be that the MPE65 is so specialized that the market is going to be just a fraction of the overall SLR market. Another reason is that there are other lenses with a much larger market share needing updates. Another is that with a new mount being introduced, all resources went to the new cameras. And another reason is that the DSLR market sort of just collapsed. If they were selling lenses like it was 2012, it might be different, but with the DSLR market being just 14% of what it was, there are just not that many buyers. And lastly, it's just such a optically nice lens, there is not much that can be done ti improve it. It would be nice to see a RF version of it though.

Canon in no hurry to reply to an online repair request.
Might just bite the bullet for a refurbished lens £650 and possibly have two in play although a 6month warranty doesn't fill me with confidence.

racketman wrote in post #19315653
Canon in no hurry to reply to an online repair request. Phoned them and was put through to someone clearly working from home who had never heard of such a lens and ended being sent a link to the repair portal which I have already filled in....yeah I know First World problems
Might just bite the bullet for a refurbished lens and possibly have two in play.

Sorry to hear that. I have a theory that some copies are more robust than others as I don't think everyone has this problem.
As I have two then I will find out in a few years!

My 100mm repair was only 6 months (I thought 1 year), so when it s#%t the bed again after 11 months I called Canon. That's when I was told repairs were 6 months & not 12. The following week I ordered the Laowa.

Rubbish warranty. I had the Laowa but struggle with no auto aperture and resulting dark viewfinder.

I probably would have of passed on the Laowa if they did not have a Canon version w/ aperture control. I could not imagine adding a dark viewfinder to the laundry list of complications that already go along with macro. I very much want a MP-E 65mm, but a I also very much want a Texas Leica & they are about the same $$$. Saving for one of them, not sure which one yet.

Which Laowa has auto aperture for canon?

edit: I see that 100mm x2 has this feature.

So I'm back in business with a used MP-E65 from Park Cameras, £650 with 6month warranty described condition 'like new'. It works at all settings so that's good.
Date code is UZ so 2011, my broken one bought new in 2009 was dated UU so 2006, both Utsunomiya, Japan.

The lens was released in 1999 (UN), be interested to know when they ceased manufacture.

Next time I'm in the area I will drop the broken lens into Canon Elstree for a repair quote.

racketman wrote in post #19316700
So I'm back in business with a used MP-E65 from Park Cameras, £650 with 6month warranty described condition 'like new'. It works at all settings so that's good.
Date code is UZ so 2011, my broken one bought new in 2009 was dated UU so 2006, both Utsunomiya, Japan.

The lens was released in 1999 (UN), be interested to know when they ceased manufacture.

Next time I'm in the area I will drop the broken lens into Canon Elstree for a repair quote.

Where is the date code?

take off rear lens cap and it is on the innermost ring (black) eg UU0200 = U-Japan, U-year (2006), 02-Feb, 00-random

https://www.the-digital-picture.com …ses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx
scroll down half way

I think I read someone had a UB (2013), wondering if there are any more recent about. Oldest model would be UN (1999)

Interesting! I've got a March 2013 copy.

racketman wrote in post #19316734
take off rear lens cap and it is on the innermost ring (black) eg UU0200 = U-Japan, U-year (2006), 02-Feb, 00-random

https://www.the-digital-picture.com …ses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx
scroll down half way

I think I read someone had a UB (2013), wondering if there are any more recent about. Oldest model would be UN (1999)

The new one I bought was manufactured in October of 2019.