I want to disassemble and adjust lenses myself. help!

All right, anyone know, or have any guides or heard of any books to open up lenses yourself and adjust focus?

Canon canada service really really sucks. I have had some obvious focusing issues which I get CPS canada to repair, and they always come back as 'no problems, all within spec', and they still focus incorrectly. argh!

I am not a rookie photographer, the lenses misfocus the same way on any of my bodies. Since canon can't seen to help me, and I'm a nerd who likes to take stuff apart, I figured, why not learn how to do it myself?

Anyone do this before? Or have resources to guide me?

The consensus is that we shouldn't be opening our lenses, but you can find service manuals at
http://www.craigscamer​a.com

#90296. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 14mm f/2.8L CANON ULTRASONIC CANON LENS, 1991 64pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90298. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 17-35mm f/2.8L CANON ULTRASONIC CANON LENS, 1996 90pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90297. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 20mm f/2.8 CANON ULTRASONIC CANON LENS, 1992 66pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90294. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 20-35mm f/3.5-f/4.5 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1993 74pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90384. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 22-55mm f/4.0-f/5.6 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1998 74pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90295. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 24mm f/1.4L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1997 80pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90285. CraigCamera Reprint: CANON TS-E LENSES; 24mm f/3.5L; 45mm f/2.8; 90mm f/2.8 (1991) 76pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on these three lenses. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90539. CraigCamera Reprint: CANON 24-85mm F/3.5-F/4.5 ULTRASONIC EF LENS, 1996 82pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. Includes both the standard and the MS lens. $20.00

#90292. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 28mm f/1.8 CANON ULTRASONIC CANON LENS, 1996 66pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90293. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 28-70mm f.2.8L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1993 90pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90299. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 28-105mm f/3.5-f/4.5 CANON ULTRASONIC CANON LENS, 1992 72pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90390. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 28-135mm f/3.5-f/5.6 CANON IS (ULTRASONIC) LENS, 1998 120pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90538. CraigCamera Reprint: CANON 35mm F/1.4L ULTRASONIC EF LENS, 1998 86pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90300. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 35-80mm POWER ZOOM/ 35-135mm f/4-f/5.6 CANON ULTRASONIC LENSES 106pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on these two lenses. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90291. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1992 64pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90302. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1993 98pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90303. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 50mm f/1.0L/ 85mm f/1.2L CANON ULTRASONIC LENSES, 1989 46pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on these lenses. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $15.00

#90301. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 70-200mm f/2.8L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1995 86pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90312. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 75-300mm f/4.0-f/5.6 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1992 78pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90310. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 75-300mm f/4.0-f/5.6 IS CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1995 142pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90315. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 80-200mm f/2.8L; 20-35mm f/2.8L CANON ZOOM LENSES, 1989 80pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on these lenses. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90304. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 80-200mm f/4.5-f/5.6 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1992 64pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90305. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 85mm f/1.8 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1992 60pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90306. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 100mm f/2 CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1991 60pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90314. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 100mm f/2.8 MACRO CANON LENS (and others), 1990 Also covers the EF 70-210mm f/3.5-f/4.5; and EF 100-300mm f/4.5-f/5.6 Ultrasonic lenses. 88pp, fully illus.; reprint of the original manual from Canon on these lenses. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90537. CraigCamera Reprint: CANON 100-400mm F/4.5-F/5.6L IS USM EF LENS, 1998 120pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90307. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 135mm f/2L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1996 60pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90313. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 180mm f/3.5L MACRO CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1996 72pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90308. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 200mm f/2.8L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1991 64pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90309. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 300mm f/4 L CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1991 64pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

#90311. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 300mm f/4 L-IS CANON ULTRASONIC LENS, 1997 118pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $25.00

#90316. CraigCamera Reprint: EF 500mm f/4.5L CANON LENS, 1992 60pp, fully illustrated. Reprint of the original service manual from Canon on this lens. Complete exploded views, parts listing, full disassembly, repair and service, and reassembly information. $20.00

If I was desparate (and you seem to be - I too have heard not good things about Canon's shop in Calgary - that's why I had the local repair shop replace my 30D sensor filter), I would very slowly take the least expensive one apart, documenting everything with pics. Perhaps when you get into the lens, there will be some indication of what to adjust.

Another option is to go to a few camera shops, and ask questions - if you're in or near Calgary or Edmonton.

The manuals listed in the previous post could be a very good investment. I've done some web searching, but didn't come up with anything.

other than the 75-300 I would not think about opening up your other lenses

but if you do post some pics I would be interested in seeing them as I am sure others would be

Also include some before and after pictures taken with the lens.

Lloyd, would you consider using the New Jersey Canon site, They have been great with my experiences, fast service and responsive. I am not sure about their interaction with Canada but you are a professional member. Jim

wow, awesome list 90c4!! But, the lens I want to rip apart is the 24-70 and it's not in the list! This stupid brick is the bane of my existence. 5 of the 6 I've had is bad, and I stupidly sold the only one that treated me well.

Glenn NK wrote in post #4618644
If I was desparate (and you seem to be - I too have heard not good things about Canon's shop in Calgary - that's why I had the local repair shop replace my 30D sensor filter),

Yes, the Calgary centre really sucks. I send all my stuff there. They usually can't handle it so they send it to Toronto. Then toronto sends it back to me untouched and unfixed. I want to rip someone's head off!!!

jcpoulin wrote in post #4619414
Lloyd, would you consider using the New Jersey Canon site, They have been great with my experiences, fast service and responsive. I am not sure about their interaction with Canada but you are a professional member. Jim

I have thought about that, but heard that they don't accept repairs from out of the country. Do you think they would?

I have worked on a huge number of lenses and often encourage others to do it themselves .However......
The lenses you are planning on playing with are very expensive,difficult to work on and *most important of all* you can't do anything about the front/back focus issues anyway -because it's an electronics calibration problem ,NOT a mechanical or optical problem.

Find a decent repair center with a good reputation and send them there.As you've found out already ,some places just don't seem to have a clue !
I was going to take a front focusing lens to a local repair shop (with a very good reputation) until i phoned the main guy and asked .He had never heard of front/rear focus !!!

Papaw wrote in post #4619353
Also include some before and after pictures taken with the lens.

I want the macro shot of the leftover parts.

Llyod, you are an e-mail away from knowing. Again, you are a pro member, fully explain your lack of confidence in the Canada set-up.

jcpoulin wrote in post #4620703
Llyod, you are an e-mail away from knowing. Again, you are a pro member, fully explain your lack of confidence in the Canada set-up.

I've called numerous times. The CPS service reps never seem to answer their phones or return messages. I'm just frustrated with the entire process; it's like nobody at all at canon canada wants to help me.

picturecrazy wrote in post #4621633
I've called numerous times. The CPS service reps never seem to answer their phones or return messages. I'm just frustrated with the entire process; it's like nobody at all at canon canada wants to help me.

When I scratched my sensor filter (non-warranty), the comments from at least a half dozen Albertans online swayed me to use a local firm with a good reputation to replace it (they apparently are also a Canon warranty service depot). They had my camera for less than 24 hours, and it's a five minute drive for me to their shop.

Well, what is the problem with the lens ?

Maybe buy some cheap old lenses on EBAY first and tinker with them? You can get FD lenses for about $15. Now they surely are not the same identical mechanisms, but you will doubtless develop some skills at the task.

Apply for a job at the Canon Repair Center. Maybe they will train you how to repair lenses. (Assuming they know how.) Or, get a good email sequence going with one of the repair techs. Find out their full name. Look it up in the phonebook (they can't live too far away.) Contact them on the side about lessons.