Potential issue with a lens I purchased here

I bought a 50mm 1.4 from a member here that I won't name for the time being. I received the lens on Friday, April 6th. I took 3 or 4 photos to make sure it was working okay, and then put it back in my camera bag. On Saturday, I went to snap some photos of my daughter hunting Easter eggs in the backyard. I put the lens on my camera, and it wouldn't move on AF. I flipped it to MF and it wouldn't move either. I put in on a different Canon body, and same story. I took the lens back off, tossed on my 17-40 and shot some photos of my daughter. Came in, contacted the seller, and then put the lens back on. It magically started focusing again. At this point, the seller doesn't want to give me a refund. The seller also hasn't been active since I followed up with him saying he wouldn't give me a refund. I'm worried that the lens is going to fail again. Just wanted some input from others on the matter. Sorry if it is posted in the wrong forum.

I would say they owe you a refund with it acting up only a day after you received it. Not sure what the signs are, but from what I've heard, it's common for the focus motors to die on the 50mm 1.4 (assuming its the canon version?). Maybe try filing a claim on paypal.

luvallpups wrote in post #14235870
I would say they owe you a refund with it acting up only a day after you received it. Not sure what the signs are, but from what I've heard, it's common for the focus motors to die on the 50mm 1.4 (assuming its the canon version?). Maybe try filing a claim on paypal.

It is a Canon version. I've told him I would file a claim if needed. He made it sound like I didn't know what I was doing. I've only been a member here for a week or so, but I've owned a Canon DSLR of some sort for 5+ years. I've never once had a lens lock up like that.

It's a common problem with the 50 1.4. The AF motor in mine suddenly stopped working altogether. It had worked fine for years, and one day I put it on my camera, and the AF motor was dead. However, MF still worked, and I've used it as a MF lens since then. It's possible that when the seller shipped it, it was working fine, and in transit, it took a bump that caused the AF motor to fail. Just to give the seller the benefit of the doubt and suggest another possibility.

sdipirro wrote in post #14235914
It's a common problem with the 50 1.4. The AF motor in mine suddenly stopped working altogether. It had worked fine for years, and one day I put it on my camera, and the AF motor was dead. However, MF still worked, and I've used it as a MF lens since then. It's possible that when the seller shipped it, it was working fine, and in transit, it took a bump that caused the AF motor to fail. Just to give the seller the benefit of the doubt and suggest another possibility.

The lens was wrapped tighter than Fort Knox when it arrived. It had a ton of bubble wrap and packing peanuts, and the box arrived in good shape. The seller stated it was in perfect working order when he sent it, and that very well may be the case. For whatever reason though, it completely locked up and wouldn't MF or AF. The focus ring would turn, but it wouldn't adjust the focus.

Broken carrier inside the lens barrel, probably. Common with the 1.4.

It can happen slowly over time or all at once by jarring the front element. No way to be sure that it was something the seller knew about.

They're generally not too bad to fix, but Canon will charge an arm and a leg if you aren't willing to do the repairs yourself.

Do you have the lens hood for that 50/1.4?

The OEM fitted hood (and similar, cheaper 3rd party clones) provides some significant protection for the lens, covering the barrel when it protrudes while shooting, and covering up the focus ring when the hood is reversed on the lens for storage.

These situations are hard to resolve or lay blame.... The lens could have been damaged in shipping. Or it might have been damaged from a hard bump in your camera bag, since you recieved it. The fact that it's working again is interesting. It might never have another issue. (I'd clean the electronic contacts, that might help... just use a couple drops of isopropyl/rubbing alcohol to dampen a clean cloth and then carefully wipe the contacts with that, both on the lens and on your camera.)

I had a control dial on a camera "stick" one time after shooting on a beach. I used a vacuum cleaner to clean up the camera and it must have been a grain of sand under the dial... the vacuum got it out and the camera still work fine, has never given a hint of trouble again.

OTOH, it could be the first sign of more trouble to come. It's hard to say, but I understand why you are concerned.

The 50/1.4's AF system seems a little more prone to damage than most of the Canon lenses... Though - knock on wood - mine has been working just fine for going on ten years. It's always been used with a hood, which might help protect it.

If it were me, I'd shoot a lot more with the lens right away and see if it locks up again. If it does, I'd push the seller harder for a refund. But it's still going to be questionable, if the fault was there before he sold it to you, or if somehow it's gotten damaged since it left his hands.

Virto wrote in post #14235997
Broken carrier inside the lens barrel, probably. Common with the 1.4.

It can happen slowly over time or all at once by jarring the front element. No way to be sure that it was something the seller knew about.

They're generally not too bad to fix, but Canon will charge an arm and a leg if you aren't willing to do the repairs yourself.

If you aren't willing to tackle it yourself.... A local camera repair shop might be more reasonable than Canon (Canon still sells spare parts to independent repair shops... unlike Nikon who are now refusing to do that).

whmeltonjr wrote in post #14235948
The lens was wrapped tighter than Fort Knox when it arrived. It had a ton of bubble wrap and packing peanuts, and the box arrived in good shape. The seller stated it was in perfect working order when he sent it, and that very well may be the case. For whatever reason though, it completely locked up and wouldn't MF or AF. The focus ring would turn, but it wouldn't adjust the focus.

I sent one in for something similar. Canon charged me $50 (CPS gold). And in my case problem started when it's sitting in its box so it's quite possible seller is telling you the truth.

whmeltonjr wrote in post #14235948
For whatever reason though, it completely locked up and wouldn't MF or AF. The focus ring would turn, but it wouldn't adjust the focus.

That sounds like a mechanical issue not an electrical problem. It is pretty common with this lens. Many people who send it in to Canon only pay about $100 to get it repaired. I think it must be almost like a "Secret Warranty" because tha price seems lower than most Canon repairs.

Here is how you can fix it yourself: http://www.fotomozaic.​ro/artikel.php?idstory​=225&s=1

amfoto1 wrote in post #14236013
Do you have the lens hood for that 50/1.4?

The OEM fitted hood (and similar, cheaper 3rd party clones) provides some significant protection for the lens, covering the barrel when it protrudes while shooting, and covering up the focus ring when the hood is reversed on the lens for storage.

These situations are hard to resolve or lay blame.... The lens could have been damaged in shipping. Or it might have been damaged from a hard bump in your camera bag, since you recieved it. The fact that it's working again is interesting. It might never have another issue. (I'd clean the electronic contacts, that might help... just use a couple drops of isopropyl/rubbing alcohol to dampen a clean cloth and then carefully wipe the contacts with that, both on the lens and on your camera.)

I had a control dial on a camera "stick" one time after shooting on a beach. I used a vacuum cleaner to clean up the camera and it must have been a grain of sand under the dial... the vacuum got it out and the camera still work fine, has never given a hint of trouble again.

OTOH, it could be the first sign of more trouble to come. It's hard to say, but I understand why you are concerned.

The 50/1.4's AF system seems a little more prone to damage than most of the Canon lenses... Though - knock on wood - mine has been working just fine for going on ten years. It's always been used with a hood, which might help protect it.

If it were me, I'd shoot a lot more with the lens right away and see if it locks up again. If it does, I'd push the seller harder for a refund. But it's still going to be questionable, if the fault was there before he sold it to you, or if somehow it's gotten damaged since it left his hands.

It never moved from my camera bag to where it could've been jarred. It was completely stationary for 24 hours, then it quick working.

As far as repairing it as other have suggested, for what it would cost to repair it I could get a new one with the price I paid for this plus the repair cost.