2006 Canon Service Notice: 70-300IS

There's no reason to think that way.
Just buy one with the later serial number.

No reason to think that way? Seems like the 20D grip would be one reason. Personally, I'd just like to wait to see if they actually fix the problem. I've read enough reports of "fixed" 20D grips still having flex issues to be cautious.

I just bought a brand new grip and I can tell you they definitely fixed that problem, I was a little concerned but mine is absolutely perfect.

Does anyone know if the DO lens in this focal length is affected?

thanks
mark

This Canon notice pertains only to the non-DO 70-300 IS lens. I have only heard of one person say his DO lens had the same problem, and this was on another forum a few months back. AFAIK, the vertical orientation problem is only with the non-DO version.

Thank you. I haven't used it in a while, but didn't recall any problems with it, other than the lock button breaking. The warranty had about two weeks left. Good thing. I mailed it in and they returned it about two weeks later good as new.

mark

can someone confirm which serial number you are checking for? Is it the 'lens number'?

If so, there are two numbers - one above and one below the bar code. which do I check?

eg 0345xxxx(AA) is at the top, and (xx) 1300xxxx is at the bottom


and I want to claim a rebate - will that affect my ability to return it for checking (even though my copy seems good so far)?

You want the SN#, which is the "1300xxxx" number. It is a little hard to see on this lens; it is located near the rear, etched into the black finish. As for the rebate, this is not a problem for you. You can send in the rebate, no problem. Your copy, according to Canon, would have the problem, as the 3rd digit is a "0".

I have the same problem with my barrel when pointing the camera face down... I'd be very curious also to hear from someone with a good copy...

Other than it having a loose barrel and being in the defective serial number range, it is a nice lens..I hope to get it all worked out..

Hmmm! I hadn't considered a connection between "excessive" zoom creep and the soft portrait issue. My first inclination was to speculate that the two conditions are unrelated. However, after thinking about it, I suppose it is possible that the loose barrel could cause some misalignment of the elements that might lead to softness. Maybe more pronounced in portrait orientation because its along the longer axis of the sensor.

My copy's serial number is in the affected range and it doesn't suffer from zoom "creep", I'd call it zoom flop .

runninmann wrote:
Hmmm! I hadn't considered a connection between "excessive" zoom creep and the soft portrait issue. My first inclination was to speculate that the two conditions are unrelated. However, after thinking about it, I suppose it is possible that the loose barrel could cause some misalignment of the elements that might lead to softness. Maybe more pronounced in portrait orientation because its along the longer axis of the sensor.

My copy's serial number is in the affected range and it doesn't suffer from zoom "creep", I'd call it zoom flop .

That’s what I'm talkin about!!! We would love to hear from someone with a unit NOT affected by the recall. To me if the brand new units don’t have the zoom flop problem then that’s probably how ours will be after Canon fixes them. I love this lens but I hate having to keep a rubber band around it to keep it in when the lock isn’t on. It's kind of embarrassing with my Nikon friends around.

I hope the new units are trouble-free and that Canon quickly fixes those with problems. It would be a great sign of their willingness to stand behind their products.

As for me, I just ordered a 70-200 f/4. I own other lenses with build quality issues, and I don't plan to go down that road again.

runninmann wrote:
My copy's serial number is in the affected range and it doesn't suffer from zoom "creep", I'd call it zoom flop .

Mine also has the zoom "flop". I think it's a nice feature.
When shooting soccer it comes in handy when I quickly have to zoom out from 300 to 70 mm.
All I have to do is tilt the camera slightly and flop, done.
Who needs the zoom ring?

Seriously, I think you are tight in your assumption that the two problems are related.

I've noticed that most if not all suppliers are currently out of stock on this lens. I don't believe the corrected lens has actually started production. If It had then why would Canon not be offering to exchange lens rather than money back? It would be cost effective for them to do so. I have yet to hear from anyone on any forum that has stated they have a lens with a 2 or higher in the serial number at the 3rd digit location.

I think I commented elsewhere that the replacement lens Canon sent me when I shipped my original 70-300 IS lens in for service does seem to have a tighter feeling zoom. And the new lens SN is 17200003 (the original was 09009733). My replacement was received in mid-May.