Oil inside brand new 200L? Is this normal?

I was just looking inside my new 200L yesterday, and I saw this liquid stuff on the sides of the barrel in various places. There are some that are close to front element and some more deep down closer to the rear element.

I always carefully inspect the lenses I buy with a flashlight when I first open the box and I am certain that I did not see this stuff before.

Also, some of it is a lot more than others, see the pictures below (it was not easy to take them, so I apologize for the quality). Click on the pictures to see the full size images

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/708/k283.jpg/

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/850/6j04.jpg/

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/17/mdgi.jpg/

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/27/yot0.jpg/

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/825/gyng.jpg/

IMAGE LINK: http://imageshack.us/f​/850/1ec6.jpg/

My 200/2 and 300/2.8 don't appear to have any but the 300/4 and 400/5.6 both exhibit the same thing and they're a few years old now. A bit of sealant that didn't get wiped off before drying is my guess.

Bob

Canon Bob wrote in post #16096380
My 200/2 and 300/2.8 don't appear to have any but the 300/4 and 400/5.6 both exhibit the same thing and they're a few years old now. A bit of sealant that didn't get wiped off before drying is my guess.

Bob

Thanks a lot for responding promptly.

My only concern is that this stuff was not there when I initially got the lens and I am 100% sure it happened after. I fear its something that happened after and somehow it got worse over the time (2 out of 6 areas total that exhibit this have a lot of oil compared to other 4). If it gets worse and worse, I may have to send this in for repair.

I have 1 week to return the lens, I'm not sure what to do.

No other lens I have has this.

Could it be that the lens got banged up bad in shipment and somehow the barrel moved a bit and now this lubricant is leaking?

My local camera store does not have 200L but has old and new 300 2.8 and new 400 and none of them have this.

I believe that is to secure the elements via the thread they are screwed in on once set. My 400 f/5.6 has it as well, and the one I had prior. Both in the same spots basically on each element.

If you watch the assembly of the 500 f/4 IS video on youtube, I believe they show them apply that sealant.

Invertalon wrote in post #16096504
I believe that is to secure the elements via the thread they are screwed in on once set. My 400 f/5.6 has it as well, and the one I had prior. Both in the same spots basically on each element.

If you watch the assembly of the 500 f/4 IS video on youtube, I believe they show them apply that sealant.

I watched the video now and I see what you are saying although to me that in the video looked like an adhesive that was placed on the exterior front element.

It also does not explain how this appeared after 2 weeks of usage.

I'll continue using the lens and see if the amount of leakage changes. I may also send an email to canon buy if I know them, they will ask for lens to be sent to them for inspection which costs a lot due to insurance.

It's actually thread lock to hold the locking ring in place, not sealant. It's more than likely been there all the time, but you didn't notice it. My 300mm f/4.0L IS has always had it so I wouldn't worry about it. If you want to make sure, get a toothpick and touch it, it should be solid.

Sir_Loin wrote in post #16097794
It's actually thread lock to hold the locking ring in place, not sealant. It's more than likely been there all the time, but you didn't notice it. My 300mm f/4.0L IS has always had it so I wouldn't worry about it. If you want to make sure, get a toothpick and touch it, it should be solid.

How can I touch this stuff, its inside the lens!

More worrisome is the apparent damage to the second-most-outer baffle ring, as seen in the first four images.

How did that happen? Or did the lens come to you in that condition?

TheLensGuy wrote in post #16098102
How can I touch this stuff, its inside the lens!

Ah, I didn't see that, I thought it was the locking ring on the front element. Still, it's nothing to worry about as I said its thread lock.

xhack wrote in post #16098141
More worrisome is the apparent damage to the second-most-outer baffle ring, as seen in the first four images.

How did that happen? Or did the lens come to you in that condition?

What damage?

If it is brand new, you should be able to exchange it.

In the third picture is that cracked or just more "fluid" their?

If any of it bothers you, exchange it. If that is cracked, I'd definitely exchange it.

Looks like the plastic black threading is cracked.

You say there is still time to return it? I wouldn't hesitate. I'd bring it back in a New York minute or the proverbial heartbeat.

MDJAK wrote in post #16098278
Looks like the plastic black threading is cracked.

You say there is still time to return it? I wouldn't hesitate. I'd bring it back in a New York minute or the proverbial heartbeat.

I'm still not seeing any damage or evidence it's cracked? All I can see is thread lock.

There is no crack, just more fluid. And the fluid is really weird, its not uniformly distributed. Also you cannot see from the pictures but with naked eye you can see that there are tiny drops of that fluid on those threads closer to the areas in question. There are also on other places on the threads. Not on the actual glass so far though or the aperture blades - thank god (or at least not that I can see).

I have been paying very close attention to the inside of the lenses when I buy one new. I am 100% certain this wasnt there. I even remember the location of tiny dust in one of the middle glass elements, so if this were there, I would have seen it.

My theory is whoever put together this lens used too much of this stuff and with hot weather somehow this stuff either leaked or changed form/vaporized and may/is continuing to do so.

The pictures are for the outer threads, I couldnt take the pictures of the inner barrels, those have actually 2x more. They are always on the same spot, right next to that U shaped lock thing.

I have no idea if this has any co-relation with a possible shipping damage or it's just manufacturer's defect. So far every person I spoke to who owns this lens or rented it (6 in total) said they never saw this on this particular lens. I am going to try out 2 more today, if none of them has this, then the lens is going back for a replacement. I am not going to take any chances.

Why don't you contact a Canon Service Center and email a photo or two to one of the technicians for evaluation? That might either ease your mind or confirm there is a problem and the lens should be returned.