Do not make the same mistake as me (24mm Odyssey)

I was lured into the desire for a 35mm equivalent field of view lens with a bright F1.4 aperture. Obviously on a crop the natural choice for this is the 24mm F1.4L II. Well after going through 3 copies that each weren't perfect in any way focus wise, I reached the last one, which seemed at least decent.

I thought...what the hell, I'll just send it to Canon and they'll get it all tuned up for me and I'll be good to go....THIS IS THE MISTAKE.

In order to remotely hit focus most of the time, I needed +18MA. So I sent it in saying this, with the body. It comes back...no change. Frustrated, I send it back on Canon's dime....it comes back...+10MA for the outer focus points, +15 for center...can't focus on some objects that really shouldn't be that hard.

So I send it in again(third time) and it comes back...fairly decent. 0MA needed. The only problem is that the center focus point is absolutely horrid with some targets. It focuses on a random area of contrast within the scene...far far far from the actual target(trust me on this one...I know the points are larger than they appear). I keep it for a few weeks like this. Then I take a walk outside one day with it and I'm frustrated as it misses EASY targets.

So I call Canon and send it in a fourth time. This time I even try to raise a bit of hell and send off an e-mail explaining the trouble I had gone through and that I just wanted a lens that was reliable. I get contacted back assuring me that all my repair history would be forwarded to the NJ service center. I am hopeful something will happen this time...or at least maybe they would look for a replacement that worked(this lens has a history of AF problems from the factory). So the typical thing happens, it spends a few days at Canon and suddenly its shipped back....no word on if anything was wrong.

Well I picked it up and guess what...its back to completely random focus. Different targets behave completely differently...outer points sometimes work better than the center point...center point sometimes misses black and white text....focus behavior changes seemingly dependent on subject and distance(MA can't fix this).

So I call Canon and ask for a supervisor. I explain to the gentleman that I have given Canon four chances to repair this lens and that I want to know what Canon can do for me....and what's the answer? You guessed it...I can send the lens to the Canon Factory Service Center. When I ask what help that will be given that I have given them four cracks at it...he says "we have no three strikes you're out policy"....I guess its four strikes for Canon.

I had previously contacted BHphoto to ask if they would take it back...its spent more time in the hands of Canon than my own and its less than 3 months since I bought it. They responded that once it went to repair there was nothing they could do.

So now I am SOL with a lens that costs $1700. Canon can't fix it, my credit card can't help, BHphoto customer service can't help. I'm stuck with a MF lens. If I wanted a MF lens I would have bought a Zeiss.

Tomorrow I plan on calling BHphoto and pleading with them to help me. I will instantly plop down money for a trade for a 70-300L and Siggy 30mm if that makes any difference to them. If they can't help me...I guess I'm sending Canon my lens for the FIFTH time.

Yes, I do know how to focus, my 100mm, 17-55mm and previously owned 35L were/are all great. Canon's 24mm F1.4L II is a piece of garbage. The only thing I have heard is that people sometimes remedy the problem by getting a 5D of some sort...why this matters I have no idea...but if your local and would like to try the lens and buy it off me feel free.

Sympathy welcome....B and H photo customer service please save me from Canon!

EDIT: Here are my boring test shots from yesterday. When you see the framing change that is me trying the outermost focus points on the exact same point.

http://flickr.com/gp/p​urduery/m875d7/

That is unfortunate. Have you tried sending your body with the lens to canon?

DonSantos wrote in post #12467720
That is unfortunate. Have you tried sending your body with the lens to canon?

Meant to mention that...each of the four times its gone to Canon...I've included my body with it.

It may sound cliche...but seriously considering going to Nikon. Maybe they have a crazy expensive 24mm prime that works.

sell it to me. . i'll buy it and send it into Canon CPS Canada. I hope they can fix it.

Marloon wrote in post #12467756
sell it to me. . i'll buy it and send it into Canon CPS Canada. I hope they can fix it.

I might take you up on that if it comes down to me being stuck with it. I obviously don't want to stick anyone with a lens as troublesome as this however. I do wonder though if its simply an issue with 7D's as most of the AF complaints I've seen from this lens from from this camera.

I am very sorry to hear about your experience with this lens and especially with canon service. I would be very upset if I spent that much money and could not get it to work right. However, I do not believe your experience is indicative of the overall performance of this lens as a whole. Many here, including myself, have and will continue to enjoy the capabilities of this lens. Don't give up all hope yet. Have you tried sending it to another canon service center?

I am shooting the 24LII with a 7D and it nails focus every time, except in darkness.

jp129 wrote in post #12467930
I am very sorry to hear about your experience with this lens and especially with canon service. I would be very upset if I spent that much money and could not get it to work right. However, I do not believe your experience is indicative of the overall performance of this lens as a whole. Many here, including myself, have and will continue to enjoy the capabilities of this lens. Don't give up all hope yet. Have you tried sending it to another canon service center?

I am shooting the 24LII with a 7D and it nails focus every time, except in darkness.

Yup there are definitely working copies out there. I could be hopeful if Canon appeared a bit more proficient at testing these lenses. How you can send a lens out that is so blatently off I have no idea. Especially when I wrote in the directions to "actuate shutter as many times as necessary to diagnose problem" and "has problem with certain targets while working perfectly on others"

If you were closer I'd try my lens out on your body and see if its a compatibility issue or just a lens issue.

Sorry for all the troubles you are having. Your story really shows how much Canon really doesn't care about consumers. If they don't have a 3 strikes and your out policy they should, shame on you Canon.

What you have went through is inexcusable and I would try and raise hell with someone higher up. I'm sure there is another avenue you can go through to get better results.

I know there are many that love their 24L II, but unfortunately my experience was very similar to the OP's. Sent it in to Canon with my 7D (although not that many times!) and eventually gave up.

Oddly, it didn't seem to have nearly as much trouble focusing with my older Rebel Xsi.

Switched to the 30mm, and despite its own occasionally funky AF, pretty happy with it.

I know it is off topic but talking of getting lured into , Those ebay listings are horrible were they say 6 lenses but 4 of them are screw in ones!!

stateman wrote in post #12468557
I know there are many that love their 24L II, but unfortunately my experience was very similar to the OP's. Sent it in to Canon with my 7D (although not that many times!) and eventually gave up.

Oddly, it didn't seem to have nearly as much trouble focusing with my older Rebel Xsi.

Switched to the 30mm, and despite its own occasionally funky AF, pretty happy with it.

Yeah I tried the 30mm and it was decent in all but very dark and low contrast subjects. At least with that lens I could justify it given the significantly lower cost. If it missed the occasional subject that would be forgivable.

http://flickr.com/gp/p​urduery/m875d7/

There are my test images I took yesterday fresh after coming back from Canon. When you see the framing change that is me trying the outer focus points. When the image is centered that is the single center AF point.

well it seems it is still not working as it should.

I am really puzzled that it has gone so far. Mine is really sharp wide open and never had any focusing issues. Well that's on 5D II. Now I don't know the history so my q is - have you tried it on a different body at all?

alpha_1976 wrote in post #12468657
well it seems it is still not working as it should.

I am really puzzled that it has gone so far. Mine is really sharp wide open and never had any focusing issues. Well that's on 5D II. Now I don't know the history so my q is - have you tried it on a different body at all?

No and I definitely have thought of that. I have considered taking it to a camera shop and seeing if they would let me test it on their camera body...I'd prefer to do it out of a retail environment though...anyone in the Peoria area???

Yes try doing that. Hope you find some POTN member near you.

These are on 5II and no sharpening applied (in addition to what you have as default in CS5). Full resolution files.

http://farm6.static.fl​ickr.com …11737366_619fe6​9d7a_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.fl​ickr.com …11166051_ec905d​8631_o.jpg

Edit: Focus should be near lips (not eyes)