Can lenses be repaired? EF 35mm f/2 (non-IS) focus not working

Hey, I have humble old equipment, but it still takes good photos for me. In addition to the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, and the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, I bought an EF 35mm f/2 (non-IS, older model) lens when I got my 350D camera years ago. I think the only reason I did was it is the equivalent of the old 50mm 'standard' lens I walked around with for decades on my film cameras. It was my tether to the past, I guess.

That 35mm will not auto-focus. In fact, when I mount it to the camera and depress the shutter release, none of the autofocus points even light up. It's just dead when I mount it, although the other two lenses work just fine. I don't know that it's useful enough to replace, but if I can get it repaired without breaking the bank I would do it. I'm thinking it might be a faulty AF/MF switch or internal connection. Is this worth sending for repair, and if so, where would I send it?

It's hard to get any useful info out of the Canon website for this and there may be non-Canon repair centers who do this kind of work, so I thought I'd ask you nice people before spending hours on web searches and holding on phone calls.

Thanks!

Ooops. Found this moments ago ...

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1351758

I'll check with canon. Thanks if you still want to post though.

-John

Sounds like the camera doesn't even know a lens is connected.

I'd start by cleaning the contacts.

From there, make sure the ribbon cable for the main contacts is connected inside the lens. If it's really old, the cable maybe soldered to the board, in which case my guess would be a torn cable. If it's not the older soldered type, then the cable may have just come out of the connector.

As for is it worth it to repair, I probably wouldn't have it professionally serviced (CRIS, etc), but I would try some DIY's.

Their estimate is $109. Could be more, I guess. Unlikel to be less, I suppose. I'll have to cogitate on how useful this really is, considering I love the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 'walk around' lens.

Now that I have my answer, thoughts on its usefulness are welcome.

KirkS518 wrote in post #16575787
Sounds like the camera doesn't even know a lens is connected.

I'd start by cleaning the contacts.

From there, make sure the ribbon cable for the main contacts is connected inside the lens. If it's really old, the cable maybe soldered to the board, in which case my guess would be a torn cable. If it's not the older soldered type, then the cable may have just come out of the connector.

As for is it worth it to repair, I probably wouldn't have it professionally serviced (CRIS, etc), but I would try some DIY's.

Thanks. I'm leaning toward not having it professionally repaired, as well. I'm not going to open it, though. Skeeerd.

yeah it cost me $120 to get mine fixed...in the grand scheme of things you can't really get a lens that good for that cheap...so yeah, it's bad that it broke, but just think of it as buying another 35f2 for $120

also if your lens is like mine you can't even MF it either, so it's either get it repaired for cheap, sell it for parts, or have an expensive paper weight...out of those options i think repair is the clear choice, or at least it was for me

Well, mine does, in fact, manually focus, I just checked. And I cleaned the contacts, and the other lenses still work fine, so it is definitely ****ockta on the inside somewhere.

I'm looking at this like an investment and trying not to succumb to behavioral biases. In other words, it does not matter what I paid for it originally ... or what it costs now new ... the right way to look at it is this: I do NOT have a 35mm f/2 lens. I do have $120. Do I want to spend $120 on a 35mm fixed-focus lense (non-IS)? Is it that useful to me?

My suspicion is no. KirkS518, you sound like an enterprising soul. You want to take a stab at a DIY fix? I'll send it to you on my dime and it's yours. Kind of a Pay It Forward, if you will. To me, it's a paper weight at this point. I'm just going to chuck it in the trash.

You have right of first refusal, if you don't want it, I'll send it to anyone else who wants to fiddle with it. It also has a sunshade. I'll send it to you on my dime, you get it working, use it in good health!

at least knock it around a bit before throwing it away(BTW you could probably sell it on ebay for $100)...there was someone not too long ago who's lens wasn't focusing, and they started tapping it against something, and all of a sudden it must've re-engaged something as it started to work...i'll see if i can find the thread

here it is:
https://photography-on-the.net …876&highlight=3​5mm+repair

I've seen postings where the 50 1.4 was fixed in the same way. Just beat on it a little. It's worth a try.

a month ago, I purchased a used copy of this lens for $200. it spent 8 hours mounted to my 5D on new year's eve as we shivered our way through Longwood Gardens (southeast PA). a very nice little lens. and the images are sweet.

it would be sad to trash a repairable lens that could put a smile on an aspiring photographer's face.

OK, I'll take the back ring off and look for that ribbon cable KirkS518 mentioned. If that's not it, I'll cogitate on repair a little longer. If I decide against it, I'll gift it to someone here.

Sending you a PM....

JohnCollins wrote in post #16576635
OK, I'll take the back ring off and look for that ribbon cable KirkS518 mentioned. If that's not it, I'll cogitate on repair a little longer. If I decide against it, I'll gift it to someone here.

Nice generous thought. You may also want to consider donating it to the photography/art department of a local school.

Since I don't need the lens, I offered to attempt to repair it for him, and send it back. I agree, if he doesn't want/need the lens, donating it to a school would be great.

Consider this thread done! Thanks, everyone.

Kirk is going to take a stab at this, no guarantees, but at least he has had some experience with this, and I've had none at all. If he gets it working, I'll hang onto it. If he cannot get it working, I will let him dispose of it as he sees fit.

Good luck, Kirk! And thanks everyone.

-John