Canon MP-E 65mm Durability

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18732861
Dropped the MPE off to Canon repair services in Elstree Thursday on the way to Whipsnade zoo.

Chap made lots of comments about it being a specialist lens and 19 years old (I think they are all that old, AFAIK there was only the one production run).

Also made comments about not sure if they had parts (hopefully this is just standard caveats).

So here is hoping they can find their parts and get it done.

Lester, I did wonder if the repair place used by Davholla above may have actually just replaced the ribbon cable instead of the whole assembly therefore not really requiring a spare part.

Brian V.

LordV wrote in post #18733240
Lester, I did wonder if the repair place used by Davholla above may have actually just replaced the ribbon cable instead of the whole assembly therefore not really requiring a spare part.

Brian V.

IIRC rightly he did and was very good, I would strongly recommend him.

Well Canon have it now, if spares are not available then that might be the best approach, in-fact I could probably do that myself.

TBH if Canon can't recourse pares then obsolescence is a significant problem.

Trying to remember when they changed the rules on lead solder, that is an issue for lots of older electronic bits.


Edit: On July 1, 2006 the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) came into effect.

So 12 years ago so less than the 19 years of the stated age....

If Canon don't have spares for the MP-E65 they should not be selling the lens which is still listed on their home page. Either that or sell the lens with a warning that it may not be repairable which would no doubt kill any potential sale.

Well I got the lens back tonight, £227 cost. They fixed the power iris (parts are under £24), but they have assembled the thing correctly.


1) The front element section of the lens rotates; this should not happen and as it makes it impossible to use a macro flash. The front element should not rotate.

2) The front element section of the lens can be rotated out on its helicoid independently by gripping and rotating. This is incorrect.

3) The focus ring only winds out the section of the lens next to the body. This is incorrect, both the near and far sections of the lens should wind out.

4) The two items above leave me concerned the internal floating element may not have been correctly reassembled either.

So I have written back to them suggesting their technician actually looks at the assembly diagram and will call them tomorrow.

Clearly this rather knocks my confidence in them as a competent repair centre..... <trying not to fume>

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18739366
Well I got the lens back tonight, £227 cost. They fixed the power iris (parts are under £24), but they have assembled the thing correctly.


1) The front element section of the lens rotates; this should not happen and as it makes it impossible to use a macro flash. The front element should not rotate.

2) The front element section of the lens can be rotated out on its helicoid independently by gripping and rotating. This is incorrect.

3) The focus ring only winds out the section of the lens next to the body. This is incorrect, both the near and far sections of the lens should wind out.

4) The two items above leave me concerned the internal floating element may not have been correctly reassembled either.

So I have written back to them suggesting their technician actually looks at the assembly diagram and will call them tomorrow.

Clearly this rather knocks my confidence in them as a competent repair centre..... <trying not to fume>

Hosted photo: posted by Lester Wareham in
./showthread.php?p=187​39366&i=i175576802
forum: Macro

Sorry to hear. It's definitely poor work! Tech either finished job and did not try twisting the focus ring or did but failed to realize the bleeding obvious.
I think it would be wise to make a quick video of how the barrels operate now. Clear evidence that may assist in 'negotiations' if required.

Choderboy wrote in post #18740624
Sorry to hear. It's definitely poor work! Tech either finished job and did not try twisting the focus ring or did but failed to realize the bleeding obvious.
I think it would be wise to make a quick video of how the barrels operate now. Clear evidence that may assist in 'negotiations' if required.

Well I have the stills but not video.

I called them yesterday, they were very apologetic and issued an RMA to send it back. Just got the first tracking update so it is on its way.

Currently I am not expecting an argument, but they will get one if they deny responsibility.

This thread, over 16000 views. That's a good start to unwanted bad publicity.

Stills should be good, those are two very unique photos of an MP-E 65!

MP-E is back, Canon turned it around in the day and of course no charge (waived shipping as goodwill also),

Mechanically seems ok now, says Repaired Helicoid unit, but I suspect not much was actually wrong.

I suspect YA2-2063-000 (COLLAR) were not fitted meaning the front barrel just rotated rather than being driven out on the helicoid.

Good to hear and at least you got some unique photos of the lens...

Seems to be OK, I did a quick handheld with HRH's hairline on a £10 (had to borrow from the wife).

Bellow 1:1 and 5:1 combined.

Ahh, what a difference a collar makes! Good to see it sorted Lester.

I've wondered if Canon is going to release an updated version of the MP-E but I haven't seen or heard of anything in the works. There was a rumor floating around over a year ago about something "new and revolutionary" coming from Canon concerning macro, but then they just released macro lenses that had built in ring LEDs -not very earth shattering...

Dalantech wrote in post #18778068
I've wondered if Canon is going to release an updated version of the MP-E but I haven't seen or heard of anything in the works. There was a rumor floating around over a year ago about something "new and revolutionary" coming from Canon concerning macro, but then they just released macro lenses that had built in ring LEDs -not very earth shattering...

If they do it will be 2 times the price considering the upgrade stratagy on other lenses.....

What would we hope for for an upgraded MP-E, I suspect the magnification range is too much to achieve an internal focus design?

For macro lenses up to life size a built in tilt capability is something I think Nikon have (but up to 0.5x), but I can’t say I keep abreast of Nikon.

Dalantech wrote in post #18778068
I've wondered if Canon is going to release an updated version of the MP-E but I haven't seen or heard of anything in the works. There was a rumor floating around over a year ago about something "new and revolutionary" coming from Canon concerning macro, but then they just released macro lenses that had built in ring LEDs -not very earth shattering...

Must always keep in mind that the brain trust at Canon considers EVERYTHING new and revolutionary much like Apple. Others could have had the capability for years but Canon finally decides to introduce it, it becomes new and revolutionary.