85mm f1.2L MkII owners - your help is needed

I recently sold a mint condition (as new basically) 85/1.2K MkII. The buyer has received it and is claiming the lens is faulty because:

1) The focus ring is loose
2) There's a slight click when it turns

I've owned 2 85/1.2's and both have been exactly the same - it's my understanding that this is to do with the design and/or the electronic focus. I don't believe that the lens I sold is faulty.

Can owners please give their thoughts?

The focus ring is like that on all of them - it's a different system than other Canon lenses. Mine doesn't click when it turns.

I'm not even convinced it's a click - I recall it having a very slight feel to assist with manual focussing. This may seem like a click to those new to the lens. Again, this was the same with both I owned.

The buyer is claiming there is a bearing issue (is there even a bearing in there?). It was also incredibly securely packed so I doubt there's been damage in transit.

His words - " The problem is that the focusing ring is very loose and actually clicks when it is turned. There is too much sideways slack/movement suggesting there might be a problem with the
bearings. I dont know if something as gone wrong in the post"

He probably has never used this lens before. Instead of mechanically moving the innerds, it uses a "wire system" that is electronic and feels much different and looser - like turning the volume control on a radio compared to turning a door handle.
If you can just get him to use it I think he will be convinced.
Have you missed it yet? I find it hard to force myself to take the lens off my MK II.

He's added this " I actually owned a 85mm f/1.2 mk2 which i sold on ebay about 3-4 months ago - (big mistake) and my copy wasnt slack and didnt have the clicking/bearing problem."

The fact they are all 'loose' leads me to wonder if he did own one before now.

The lens is not faulty. The manual focus ring does not have the dampers like other canon lenses, it focuses the lens electronically, it feels much looser than all my other lenses, I think it does explain this in the leaflet. I also think I know what the clicking noise is he is referring to, if you move the focus ring extremely slowly, the electronic motor moves in very small increments, it's not a click but you could say it sounds like one, move it faster and it's gone.

peatoire wrote in post #4766251
The lens is not faulty. The manual focus ring does not have the dampers like other canon lenses, it focuses the lens electronically, it feels much looser than all my other lenses, I think it does explain this in the leaflet. I also think I know what the clicking noise is he is referring to, if you move the focus ring extremely slowly, the electronic motor moves in very small increments, it's not a click but you could say it sounds like one, move it faster and it's gone.

This is exactly what I think - I'll bet if he took it into a Canon dealer who knew the lens he'd be told the same.

Advise him to take it in to a store that has one in stock & compare, if he's not happy take it back. I'll wager he won't find one any different

The focus on the 85mm L feels different to any lens that I've ever used. There's virtually no resistance at all when manually focussing, and of course it only focuses with the camera switched on.

Virtually guaranteed that it's a case of the new owner not being used to it.

It's normal, like you said and we said. Feels very loose. Point him to this thread.

normal on mine.

Take it back on the [normal for online transactions] condition that he has to pay for return shipping and original shipping charges are non-refundable. Sell it to someone intelligent. Unless, of course, he's had it more than a week from the delivery date. In which case he would have had more than enough time to test it out and alert you of any problems and destroy it in the meantime.

radiohead wrote in post #4766145
I'm not even convinced it's a click - I recall it having a very slight feel to assist with manual focussing. This may seem like a click to those new to the lens. Again, this was the same with both I owned.

The buyer is claiming there is a bearing issue (is there even a bearing in there?). It was also incredibly securely packed so I doubt there's been damage in transit.

His words - " The problem is that the focusing ring is very loose and actually clicks when it is turned. There is too much sideways slack/movement suggesting there might be a problem with the
bearings. I dont know if something as gone wrong in the post"

It is pretty loose as I recall

Tell him to compare it to one in the shops


If it's been damaged in transit then claim from the delivery dudes' (or dudettes') insurance

Send him to this thread.

I freaked about AF as well when I first got the lens, that turning the focusing ring was so easy and unnatural. If there is any lens that has a learning curve than this might be it.