who has experienced sending a lens to Canon for calibration

When my 24-70L was within warranty CANON gladly shipped it back cleaned and deemed "within spec". The shipped it back!!!!!

Interesting how my f/2.8 aperture was crap. I tolerated the lens until I spent money $$$ and as a cps member they gladly took my money (pay for calibration) and suddenly my "brick" became a great copy.

I just cant wait till I pony $$ up for the 24-70Lmk2. My perfect 24-70L is my most hated lens at the moment. I keep it around for small aperture studio work but otherwise its a decent/adequate lens for available light shooting or workhorse for bounced flash indoor events.

Sent my 100-400 in to them and it came back roughly the same as when it left; in a final attempt, I sent in my body for an inspection/adjustment and everything was rosy after that.

AlanU wrote in post #14987234
When my 24-70L was within warranty CANON gladly shipped it back cleaned and deemed "within spec". The shipped it back!!!!!

Interesting how my f/2.8 aperture was crap. I tolerated the lens until I spent money $$$ and as a cps member they gladly took my money (pay for calibration) and suddenly my "brick" became a great copy.

I just cant wait till I pony $$ up for the 24-70Lmk2. My perfect 24-70L is my most hated lens at the moment. I keep it around for small aperture studio work but otherwise its a decent/adequate lens for available light shooting or workhorse for bounced flash indoor events.

I'm not sure I follow you. So you sent it to them when the lens was under warranty, and all they did was clean it and send it back to you, noting that it was within spec? And later, when you became a CPS member, you sent it in again and the lens was calibrated properly?

In any case, if the lens is perfect now, why is it your most hated lens?

chuckmiller wrote in post #14984072
Enough is enough, my 5 month old 24-70 mk1 is about impossible to MFA well. Just at 70mm, one day the number is +5 and the next week it's -4. Every focal length floats and jumps throughout the month. On the advice of Chuck Westfall I have sent it to Canon.

From your experience what can I expect the outcome to be?

A few months ago I sent my 24-70 MkI to Canon NJ as a lot of my images were somewhat soft. When it came back it was super tack sharp, like it was a totally different lens. Turn around was quick, about a week, cost was about $150 I seem to recall.

frugivore wrote in post #14987304
I'm not sure I follow you. So you sent it to them when the lens was under warranty, and all they did was clean it and send it back to you, noting that it was within spec? And later, when you became a CPS member, you sent it in again and the lens was calibrated properly?

In any case, if the lens is perfect now, why is it your most hated lens?

Yes, the idiots shipped it back even though it was back focusing. I should have pursued it more back then but I was at the tail end of the year. I resorted to shooting f/3.5 all of the time to make it sharper.

Years later I spent a decent penny to get the lens calibrated. Now the lens is sharp at f/2.8.

I dont find the 24-70L mk1 to be anything spectacular due to comparing other zoom lenses. My previous 17-40L (Friend of mine now purchased it from me) produced much better IQ than my "brick". Also the 16-35Lmk2 produces better contrast and colour rendition in my RAW files. Even my old sigma 18-50 f/2.8 macro on my crops was easily on par with my 24-70L w/ crop bodies.

The 24-70L is a keeper since I love the versatility shooting small apertures in studio scenarios. Also the IQ is "good" when shooting events using bounced flash. Available light shooting the "brick" is not a strong point but I do find it handy due to the zoom range on a full frame. The bokeh is excellent. Put the images on print the files work well.

A friend of mine has used the 24-70Lmk2 (pre release) for a couple weddings. His personal views is that its remarkable compared to his personal 24-70Lmk1. He did mention its ridiculously sharp across the board. The comparison between a 70-200 f/2.8IS mk2 sounds to be an accurate comparison.

My 100-400L is an extremely sharp copy but I also dont really care for it. Colours sooc is really showing its ancient age. My 24-70L is much better (great performer in perfect studio lighting)but still lags behind in satisfying my IQ rating when used in available light shooting. Out of all of my lenses I dislike the 100-400 and 24-70L due to lack of IQ when put in demanding situations.

One reply from Canon so far. It says "the lens is not focusing properly and the work will be done free of charge".

Timely thread.
Ive got two brand new copies of the 17-55IS sitting here waiting to go back to Amazon, but im thinking about sending one back and one to Canon to fix.
Both are decentered and a little soft wide open (compared to my old copy). The softness i can sort of live with but not the softness down one side.
Its not huge but is noticeable, my worry is that Canon might say its in spec and ill be stuck with it.

I sent in a 24-105 once that was really off. Although the calibration and cleaning cost me a couple of hundred...what I get back was a terrific, right-on lens. For me, it was worth the risk.

chuckmiller wrote in post #14998271
One reply from Canon so far. It says "the lens is not focusing properly and the work will be done free of charge".

Sounds like a promising email.

When you get it back try to use the lens alot at 24mm wideopen. Alot of people dont realize that lens seems to backfocus randomly depending on camera body. I've noticed it alot on my 5dc. If you dig around the internet its documented by quite a few observant photogs.

My 70-300 just wasn't sharp. So I sent it in under warranty. They adjusted it and sent it back worse than when it went in. So I sent it in a second time but with my 7D body. After adjustment it came back better but still soft. Finally I talked to a service rep who said they do not need the body to get the lens right to send it in again (3rd time). He said to tell them to adjust the elements and he would also make a note of this. The lens came back tack sharp. I can now take a readable picture of a "End School Zone" sign 3/4 miles away hand held. This lens has become my lens of choice for outdoor carry around.

Mike

AlanU wrote in post #14998319
Sounds like a promising email.

When you get it back try to use the lens alot at 24mm wideopen. Alot of people dont realize that lens seems to backfocus randomly depending on camera body. I've noticed it alot on my 5dc. If you dig around the internet its documented by quite a few observant photogs.

If 24mm is the only spot I have trouble with I will be PLEASED and call it good.

bobbyz wrote in post #14985238
I sent my 400mm f5.6 as it wasn't as good. Came back same with little note saying "within calibration spec". Wish I sent my body with it. This was 6-7 yrs ago.

Same here, a few years back I sent my 100-400 F5.6L to Canon and I received the same note. I tested it some more and it hadn't changed so it turned into a early xmas gift to my sister...