How can we prevent dust getting into Canon 17-55 f/2.8

Here's the simple answer...

1) disregard the dust until ou actually start to notice it in your final images

and/or

2) Spend less than 5 minutes and clean it yourself by removing the front element.

If you can install a light bulb, you can remove the front element on the 17-55. It literally takes no more than 5 minutes start to finish.

Take your lens out in a clean room, put it into a container and remove all of the air from the container and seal it completely.

There you go.

A little dust isn't going to hurt your lens.

I bought my 17-55 new in 2010. Two and a half years later it had 5 specks of dust under the front element. No filter used. I didn't use the lens that much - only for a handful of car shows.

gjl711 wrote in post #15855225
Your examples are not what I would consider an upgrade to an existing product but a fix of a defect, no different than a product recall. Your firmware upgrade may come closer to a product re-design mid-cycle but those are available to all, not just those who purchased a new camera.

I think the point is that you can't look at a canon product and tell if it is a revised model or not since they refine them during production without changing differentiations. Thus possibly explaining why some 17-55s don't exhibit the dust issues, but difficult to say...

It suprises me that the is no provision in the design of zoom lenses to allow for the volume change. You would think they would have a small vent with a cleanable filter near the mount.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15857732
I think the point is that you can't look at a canon product and tell if it is a revised model or not since they refine them during production without changing differentiations. Thus possibly explaining why some 17-55s don't exhibit the dust issues, but difficult to say...

Exactly .
On a side note , I am sure there is a joke somewhere here about an elucidate camera company :P

I had mine for almost 5 years, i got it the year it came out and never used a filter, and dust was never a problem. I had maybe 3 or 4 small specks in it when I sold it.
I don't think I've ever seen photos taken with a 17-55 where dust has been visible, or spoiled the shot.

I know what to do about lens dust.

First, create a new forum for all dust-related posts.

Second, shadow ban anyone who posts in it.

Langin wrote in post #15854518
Sirs,
1. Anyone could tell me how to prevent dust go get into our Canon 17-55mm f/2.8.[/U]
2. Besides using filter to protect, can we use some kind of soft rubber or any other substance to seal on the side where the dust can get into it while zooming.
3. Or, is there any product to help solve this problem on the market ?
4. Pls advise. Really appreciate your advice - Thank you very much.

You do now understand that sealing would mean you could not zoom, right?

I've been dealing with this for years at Lensrentals and we've been through about 250 copies. There definitely are some that almost never get dust, others that seem to attract it more and we end up cleaning every 3 months or so (which takes 5 minutes).

Blocking the entry slots under the makeup ring shifts the dust collection to under the rear element, which is actually harder to clean a bit.

Changing out the front makeup ring doesn't make a difference either.

Canon (and everyone else) does make part changes in different production lines. We love to call them 'silent upgrades' but I think any manufacturer would just call them subassembly changes or part-supplier changes. However, having taken 17-55s apart since they were first released, I'm comfortable there have been no major changes with that lens since release.

Just read this thread as i've been having problems with my 17-55 also. photo's seem to be very soft etc.

Have done a few tests using a line of batteries at 45deg and taking shots at various settings etc. It doesn't appear to be miss focusing, have used the + symbol on the batteries as focal point and that is what is focussed on when viewing the image.

Also, after following the link that was posted above about cleaning the lens (this one http://www.pbase.com/r​cicala/1755_is_surgery ) I've just dismantled mine and gave it a good clean It was pretty yucky on the internal front element, and looks considerably cleaner now

As to whether it will affect IQ, i'll do some more testing later.

cheers
Gary

throttle426 wrote in post #15858888
It suprises me that the is no provision in the design of zoom lenses to allow for the volume change. You would think they would have a small vent with a cleanable filter near the mount.

Probably not worth the effort.

Consider: you put a filter in there fine enough to keep dust out, you'll have to constantly service that filter. You would also have to make the lens housing very air tight and that has to hold up over the life of the lens. Both of these would really raise the price initially and when the lens was serviced.

I have owned a 17-55/2.8 IS since it was first released. Never had a dust problem that I could actually see in images --- even when trying really hard like taking off the hood and going for maximum flare.

The 17-55 already cost a lot when it first came out. Don't want to see that price increase any further on this issue.

Take it easy wen zooming in, air will enter the lens with less force and drag less dust in on it's way in. Does that make sence?