HELP !! -- NEED NON CANON LENS REPAIR, EF 180 f/1.8 is dead!

HELP HELP HELP!!

Well in finally happened. My wonderful EF 200 f/1.8 L is dead. Went to do some Christmas portraits and much to my chagrin no focus, either manual or auto. The focus ring just spins with nothing happening. When I depress the shutter button I can barely hear things moving around inside the lens.

Needless to say I am somewhat distraught! Understatement, I am devastated!. If I can't get it fixed I will now have a very expensive paperweight.

I did a search on the internet for independent lens repair shops [non Canon, as Canon no longer services) and didn't come up with much. Thus, I would put it out on POTN.

If you know of anyone, an old school tech perhaps, please post name, address is available, email and/or phone number. Thanks!

That's rough... I just finally sold mine a few weeks ago because I was starting to worry about just this. Its focus by wire, so manual focus won't work either if the focus motor is dead. Here a couple of places I saw recommended on FM... (I've not used either):

http://www.midstatecam​erarepair.com
http://www.tempecamera​.biz/REPAIR_DEPARTMENT​_s/17.htm

Even if its not repairable, it will still have some value for parts. Good luck with the repair and let us know how it works out.

I bought my first digital camera from Best Buy when they were having a sale. I bought their extended warranty too and these are the folks they used. When my shutter mechanism failed, they replaced it and did an admirable job. I had no other issues with the camera and sold it a little over a year ago.

http://www.precisionca​mera.com/

convergent wrote in post #15406866
That's rough... I just finally sold mine a few weeks ago because I was starting to worry about just this. Its focus by wire, so manual focus won't work either if the focus motor is dead. Here a couple of places I saw recommended on FM... (I've not used either):

http://www.midstatecam​erarepair.com
http://www.tempecamera​.biz/REPAIR_DEPARTMENT​_s/17.htm

Even if its not repairable, it will still have some value for parts. Good luck with the repair and let us know how it works out.

That's incredible. I spend half my time in Tempe when I'm not in Alaska. Tempe Camera is about 2 miles from my condo there. I trust it all works out. I'll update the thread as soon as I talk to them after the first of the year as I am in Alaska at the moment.

Canon has told me KEH is a good place to go withCanon lenses they no longer suport but I have always gone with with Phototronics in Seattle, they have done good by me.

Thanks for those additional contacts. I now have 4. Hopefully the folks in Tempe can help as they are somewhat local for me. Keeping my fingers crossed.

The issue is going to be parts. The lens has been out of service for a long time.

This makes me think...I have an old 20-35L. The focus and zoom rings are done for, and I think it needs a major cleaning. I was considering sending it to Canon for cleaning, but after reading this, I thought they may not service it. Are the places mentioned above good for cleaning? I live in North Carolina.

aduda wrote in post #15407710
This makes me think...I have an old 20-35L. The focus and zoom rings are done for, and I think it needs a major cleaning. I was considering sending it to Canon for cleaning, but after reading this, I thought they may not service it. Are the places mentioned above good for cleaning? I live in North Carolina.

Any third party repair shop should be able to clean an out of service lens. As I said before, the lack of parts availability is the big issue with these old lenses. For most parts, the only source is used parts from junked lenses. That means that parts which most often fail will be the toughest to find.

IT LIVES!!!!

Ok, so now the rest of the story. As I live part time in Alaska and part time in Tempe, Arizona, i was informed through the listserve that Tempe Camera Repair might be able to fix my venerable 200 f/1.8. I drop if off cross my fingers and pray that I don't have a really expensive paperweight.

I get a call about a week later, I am informed that "Canon does not service this lens anymore" I tell them " Yes I know this, thats why you guys have it. You come highly recomended so see what you can do". They basically tear the lens apart, exclaim that they can't fix it, to bad to sad. So, the lens is put back togeather and lo and behold the tech tries it out and it works perfectly. Probably cleaned it, wiggled a few things inside, tightened the whole thing up, and magic! So they give me a call and explain the deal and I am needless to say, extremely overjoyed. I get it home, put in on a funky Rebel body, and start firing away. It does indeed work perfectly. In fact I think it focuses a little faster but that might be just me being very happy that this beast continues to live.

BTW, Tempe Camera Repair, in Tempe Arizona on University, is a first rate outfit. Worderful repair facility and if your looking for retail items they have a great shop upstairs with just about anything you could possibly want. They charged me $140.00 for the experience which I gladly paid. A very happy camper here!

Glad for you, mate !