lens error... why?

I put my like new drain pipe on my 1d2 today and got an error. It looked like the camera wouldn't recognize the lens. It feels a bit loose in the mount. So I took it off and reseated it. Still a bit loose. It feels like it moves and can twist in the mount a couple millimeters. And at the far end of its movement it stops being recognized by the camera. I don't have this problem with any other lens on this body and this lens is great on my other two bodies. What can I do to fix this?

Get Canon to adjust it?

I see by your profile that you also have a Canon 17-40 f/4L. Mount that on your camera, verify proper operation and if you get proper operation make note of where some common mark lines up; maybe the red dot on the lens against a reference point on the body. Then mount the "drainpipe" and see if it rotates to the same position.

I had that to happen on my 24-105 L kit lens, come to find out the lens was bad, I had to get it replaced.

Canon won't adjust the drain pipe. Way past its end of life. I shot a fashion show with the 17-40 the other day and had no issues.

N2bnfunn don't tell me that! I paid a fortune for this lens! It's practically new old stock! And Canon won't replace it. The lens is working fine on my t4i and 1ds. I'll try cleaning the contacts. Well alcohol work ok or should I use some specialty cleaner?

Actually alcohol works well, just don't do any major rubbing as he contacts have a very thin gold coating, hence one reason why a rubber pencil eraser is not the best thing. Move all the switches (IS, M/F, etc.) back and forth as well and make sure they are fully set in one of the detent positions.

Thank you John. I'll try that. If this lens is going bad, I may just have a nervous breakdown. I bought it knowing Canon no longer supports it. It's been used a handful of times by the PO then sat in a nice dry basement for years before being sold to me. It looks like I could have taken it out of its packaging yesterday. And I love the pictures it produces!

Oh well...

bugler wrote in post #16282220
Thank you John. I'll try that. If this lens is going bad, I may just have a nervous breakdown. I bought it knowing Canon no longer supports it. It's been used a handful of times by the PO then sat in a nice dry basement for years before being sold to me. It looks like I could have taken it out of its packaging yesterday. And I love the pictures it produces!

Just because Canon no longer supports it, doesn't mean all is lost if there is something wrong with the lens. Look for some independent Canon lens repairers. I know there are some out there, just don't have one to recommend or provide a link for.

Canon factory service centers is like most factory repair shops (not just for camera gear, either)... They just replace parts. So when the supplies of spare parts runs out, they will no longer work on a lens.

Good independent camera repair techs in many instances can actually repair parts, rather than replace. An example is the common problem with the 20D through 50D shutter release button getting "sticky" from build up of dirt and finger oils, over time and with use. If you send the camera to Canon, they'll just put a new shutter release button sub-assembly in there, charging you for the parts and the labor. If instead you take it to a local tech or send it to an independent, there's a good chance they'll simply remove the shutter release sub-assmbly, give it a proper cleaning, then reinstall it. A lot of things are repairable or adjustable. So all is not necessarily lost, just because Canon says they no longer support a particular item.

I agree, try the alcohol cleaning. Plain old "rubbing alcohol" works fine. Just use it sparingly... Use a few drops to moisten a clean cloth, then wipe the contacts carefully with that, keeping off the optics and the mirror in the camera.

I also don't like cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser (even though Canon does and I've seen them suggest it several places)... Besides the risk of damaging the gold plating, there's also risk of "crumbs" from the eraser getting inside the camera. Plus often the problem is oils on the contacts interrupting the low voltages used for lens to camera communications.... Oils from handling or lubrication inside the camera.... And pencil erasers are made from vegetable oil. Seems kind of counter-productive to me.

However, if the lens rotates too freely, it also might be that it's rotating enough that the contacts are no longer lining up correctly. It might be that the latching mechanism has some wear, can be adjusted or just needs tightening.

I wasn't aware the latching mechanism could be adjusted. I assume this isn't a DIY type job. Is it possible it could latch the other lenses securely but just doesn't like the 80-200? It is the heaviest lens I own.