Percentage of Canon lenses returned?

Hi Everyone,

I'm new on here and a complete novice dipping my toes into the world of DSLR.

I often hear people returning lenses due to not being 100% perfect. What sort of percentage would you say these lenses come to?
Also what actually happens to these lenses. Do they get put back on the shelf and sold onto the next customer hoping they don't notice.

Can anyone give me any tips on how to spot a defective lens?

Thanks in advance.

Assos

Check the EF LEns FAQ/Sticky thread for how to spot a backfocusing lens, and do a lens test.
As for your percentages, though you may get other answers, only Canon would know.
The likelihood of an online forum being an accurate source for that info is.. (insert your favorite politically incorrect insult here)

I've got over a dozen Canon lenses - both FD and EF, L and non-L. I've never sent one back yet.

YMMV...

About 60% of all new lenses get returned.
About 30% of all soft/missfocused/dusty copies get sold thru eBay and such.
About 79% of all Canon refurb lenses are soft.
About 98% of all used lenses offered for sale are substandard, that's why they are being sold.
The very sad bottom line is: the Canon Corporation, Canon retailers as well as Canon customers are the major concentrators of substandard lens copies.

I have had 1 of 11 Canon lenses that I sent back to Canon for sharpness issues and they recalibrated and improved it. Oh and I guess I should mention that I've had 2 of 2 Sigma's that were off when new. Probably no surprise that I'm done with Sigma.

Petkal wrote in post #2107433
About 60% of all new lenses get returned.
About 30% of all soft/missfocused/dusty copies get sold thru eBay and such.
About 79% of all Canon refurb lenses are soft.
About 98% of all used lenses offered for sale are substandard, that's why they are being sold.
The very sad bottom line is: the Canon Corporation, Canon retailers as well as Canon customers are the major concentrators of substandard lens copies.

did u just make all of this up?

98% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

"Lies, damned lies... And statistics."

Brodog2525 wrote in post #2107452
did u just make all of this up?

Statisticaly speaking... No...

I have a few canon lens and never sent any back yet.

Petkal wrote in post #2107433
About 60% of all new lenses get returned.
About 30% of all soft/missfocused/dusty copies get sold thru eBay and such.
About 79% of all Canon refurb lenses are soft.
About 98% of all used lenses offered for sale are substandard, that's why they are being sold.
The very sad bottom line is: the Canon Corporation, Canon retailers as well as Canon customers are the major concentrators of substandard lens copies.

Finally! A plausible explanation for my lousy photographs!

runninmann wrote in post #2107715
Finally! A plausible explanation for my lousy photographs!

But only 43.5% of the time.

Double Negative wrote in post #2107722
But only 43.5% of the time.

Good one!

never sent a Canon lens back but once had a Sigma and sent it back it was rubish then bought a Canon - i only buy Canon now.
Rob.

Petkal wrote in post #2107433
About 60% of all new lenses get returned.
About 30% of all soft/missfocused/dusty copies get sold thru eBay and such.
About 79% of all Canon refurb lenses are soft.
About 98% of all used lenses offered for sale are substandard, that's why they are being sold.
The very sad bottom line is: the Canon Corporation, Canon retailers as well as Canon customers are the major concentrators of substandard lens copies.

In Petkal's case, these stats are just from the lenses that he has owned. About 569 of them.