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

Well B&H can't do anything for me...now debating two options...send it Canon for the 5th time...or sell everything and go Nikon(I'm seriously mad enough to do this).

OP, this is a depressing report My 24L returns from it's 2nd Canon trip this week, and if the problem isn't fixed, I honestly don't know what to do. Can't return it for a refund, no one will buy a defective, $1800 hunk of sh1t.

What's worse for me is that my lens is a refurb, meaning someone else was fortunate enough to recognize the issue and return the lens. If the problem turns out to be uncorrectable, then there is a 100% chance I am stuck with a lemon.

My thread on the issue: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1041504

i wonder how common this problem is. i'm no statistician, but four different lenses in a row that don't work properly, and the last one failing to be repaired after five calibrations doesn't sound like poor service.. it's either a defective design or you have the worst luck possible with it comes to lens purchases.

alt4852 wrote in post #12468946
i wonder how common this problem is. i'm no statistician, but four different lenses in a row that don't work properly, and the last one failing to be repaired after five calibrations doesn't sound like poor service.. it's either a defective design or you have the worst luck possible with it comes to lens purchases.

I agree, as an engineer I believe it is a poor design on Canon's part. What's amazing to me is there is no recognition of this issue. I'm sure they've had other returns come back again and again, we've had at least a couple on this forum...yet they act like all is fine and good in the land of F1.4.

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12469062
I agree, as an engineer I believe it is a poor design on Canon's part. What's amazing to me is there is no recognition of this issue. I'm sure they've had other returns come back again and again, we've had at least a couple on this forum...yet they act like all is fine and good in the land of F1.4.

How old is the lens?

alpha_1976 wrote in post #12469086
How old is the lens?

The one I currently have? I bought it from B&H at the end of Feb 2011.

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12469113
The one I currently have? I bought it from B&H at the end of Feb 2011.

I tried two; both were UY date coded and perfect. May be it's a bad batch/lot or something?

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12467723
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.

I tried to look at your flickr photos to see the problems, but not sure where the problems were if you did not explain.
I think it is best you find a hosting site for a few photos, then copy and paste them here, with detail infos (F stops, focus points,...) of how you took them and what the problems were.

Not that i don't believe you, but we only hear the story from your side so far. Can you scan and post Canon comments on the lens when you received them back the last 4 times you sent to them?

I think before you complain higher up or change to another camera brand (and find out every brands have strengths and weaknesses), maybe you should:

1. Try the lens with more different bodies.

2. Shoot real photos (not test) and share the infos with us of how you shoot them.

3. If you decide to send it in for the fifth time, maybe send to a different Canon SC and see if you have better result.

Best of luck,

hhuy888 wrote in post #12469987
I tried to look at your flickr photos to see the problems, but not sure where the problems were if you did not explain.
I think it is best you find a hosting site for a few photos, then copy and paste them here, with detail infos (F stops, focus points,...) of how you took them and what the problems were.

Not that i don't believe you, but we only hear the story from your side so far. Can you scan and post Canon comments on the lens when you received them back the last 4 times you sent to them?

I think before you complain higher up or change to another camera brand (and find out every brands have strengths and weaknesses), maybe you should:

1. Try the lens with more different bodies.

2. Shoot real photos (not test) and share the infos with us of how you shoot them.

3. If you decide to send it in for the fifth time, maybe send to a different Canon SC and see if you have better result.

Best of luck,

The EXIF information is fully available on Flickr should you want it. Basically every image was taken with the center point, right most and left most. A few were taken with the topmost focus point and bottom. Most of the images are moderately to severly front focused.

1. I would like to do that if I had another body to test it on. I have mentioned in this thread that I may try to take it to a camera shop and see if they'll let me put it on their body. My body works fine with all my other lenses leading me to believe the body has nothing wrong with it. It's been shipped back everytime with the lens anyway.

2. I'm not going to take the time to take "works of art" with a lens that doesn't focus correctly...that'd be a waste of my time.

3. That is a possibility that may be explored. I did finally get a gentleman at Canon that is helping me. He is willing to take a look at these test shots and see the problem I am having. The issue is mostly front focusing...but problem is(even after the third trip back where most of the time it would focus ok) that its not consistent. Some images are severely front focused...others just a little bit. Towards the end of the test images a few are even in perfect focus. If its not consistent I can't fix it with MFA.

I made a brief comment on each photo to state what point was used and what was being focused on.

hhuy888 wrote in post #12469987
Not that i don't believe you, but we only hear the story from your side so far. Can you scan and post Canon comments on the lens when you received them back the last 4 times you sent to them?

anyone who has sent in an item to canon to fix know that they dont exactly write essays on what was discovered/fixed.

hhuy888 wrote in post #12469987
2. Shoot real photos (not test) and share the infos with us of how you shoot them.

I posted some real shots from this lens in the thread that I made, which is the same exact problem as Sdiver is having: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1041504

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12470535
3. That is a possibility that may be explored. I did finally get a gentleman at Canon that is helping me. He is willing to take a look at these test shots and see the problem I am having. The issue is mostly front focusing...but problem is(even after the third trip back where most of the time it would focus ok) that its not consistent. Some images are severely front focused...others just a little bit. Towards the end of the test images a few are even in perfect focus. If its not consistent I can't fix it with MFA.

Same here... you can't MFA a lens when it doesn't hit at a consistent point each time. In addition to extreme front-focusing, the lens simply smears detail at anything beyond mid-range.

I get mine back tomorrow, let's see if a different CSC fixed the issues.

I would just keep after it. I had a similar experience with a defective MacBook pro. Took me 6 months but I got a new one with a free upgrade.

I don't know if this is just a bad lens design. Mine seems very sharp to me. I have lots of shots with it on my flickr

40dbaby wrote in post #12471523
anyone who has sent in an item to canon to fix know that they dont exactly write essays on what was discovered/fixed.

Exactly...I roll my eyes now each time I read it...each message is some variation of this:

"Your camera was inspected and found that the AF was not working correctly. AF adjustments were made, CMOS reset, Firmware updated"

Amazing how each time I sent it in the AF wasn't working so they made adjustments...worthles​s description IMO.

Same problem with my two copies I tried (one used, one new) and my 7d. Fortunately I never sent my new one in so I sent it back to B&H; the used one I sold it for what I paid for it. Now I have the 35L and couldn't be happier...well I guess the weather sealing would be nice!

I say just keep sending it in! Maybe at some point they will lose it and have to get you a new one