[EDIT] My 70-200mm IS lens is buggy

I bought a brand new 70-200 F/2.8 IS USM lens the lens cost about $1,500.00. I believe the IS unit is faulty. My camera locks up every time I am in low light situations when “IS” is on. I receive an err 01. After searching through different forums, this lens has been plagued with problems. Canon may make quality lens, but they have poor quality control.

Sorory to hear you're having a problem. I don't think the problem is chronic, however, and it may not be a quality issue as much as a design problem. (Is there really a difference?)

I was shooting my Mk II with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS a couple days ago and had a similar problem. I finally ended up removing and reinstalling the lens and the problem went away.....for now. It's the first problem I've had with the lens in almost a year.

Or is it the Mk II?

BTW, which body are you using? I'm wondering if there's a compatability issue between the lens and the DIGIC circuitry.

I just received my 20D yesterday, along with the 75-300 IS zoom lens, and the documentation says that in low light the IS won't work and it should be turned off.

I wonder if this is the problem you're having -- not a bad IS mechanism, just that it can't really lock on the image in low light.

Ummm... so what precisely is the point of IS then? I thought one of the big selling points was that it gave you "an extra couple of stops" to allow you to shoot hand held in lower light levels

I have the lens in question and have used it on my MKII and 10D without any errors. It is probably the sharpest lens in my bag and have used it in low light conditions. I've never really read the part in the manual where it says that the IS won't function in low light. I suppose that it depends on how low a lighting situation that you are working in. Are your expectations set too high for the lens. Perhaps you could explain the situation that you were shooting in a little more.

I do take exception to your shotgun approach to your subject line. It implies that Canon is lacking in quality across their general product lines. Yes I am a fan of Canon products. I own several of the L series lenses and a couple of very good bodies.

Yeah, JX, that probably is an overly-broad statement. The fact that you're having a problem does not mean the issue is widespread. It's unfortunate, especially for you, but is far from being justification for a 'Bash Canon' campaign.

I think the vast majority of Canon purchasers would tell you they think the quality control is just fine (if not excellent).

If I am shooting at f2.8 at 1/200 sec, and the camera metering system determines this is not a correct exposure it just won't take the picture. When "IS" is on under the same conditions the camera locks up. An “err 01� code is displayed. The Mark II will not function. The only way to clear the error is to shut the camera off and dismount the lens.

Since it took me six Digital Rebels to get a good one, I almost tend to agree with the subject of this thread. But, at the same time, I'm not sure I can blame that on Canon. It might have been Best Buy's fault.

FlipsidE

SIX!!!??!!! I would've switched to Nikon on the 3rd one!!!

Ro1

I have the 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS lens and have never had a problem using it on either my 1D MkII or 20D. I shoot low light a lot, and have had no problems at all.

Take the lens back to the store and get a new one.

roanjohn wrote:


SIX!!!??!!! I would've switched to Nikon on the 3rd one!!!

Ro1

- Well, I honestly wanted to stick with Canon if I could. I bought a Powershot S30 two years ago, and it's been working flawlessly. I knew Canon had it in 'em, so I stuck it out.

When I found out the fifth one was bad, I went to a different Best Buy store. That Best Buy had a much more friendly and helpful staff, and so far, this camera seems to be good.

FlipsidE

JX, that sounds more like a focus problem than metering system. I have never seen a metering system that wouldn't allow you to take a picture, even if the exposure was totally wrong. But if the camera / lens can't find a point to focus on, then it won't take the picture.

When you have the problem, does the focus indicator dot in the viewfinder blink, or is it solid? Solid means it found focus, blinking means it can't, in which case it won't take the picture. If you switch the lens to manual focus, or if you switch the camera to AI Servo mode, then the camera won't care if it is in focus anymore, and will let you take the shot pretty much no matter what.

As far as the ERR 01, I don't know what error that code is for. I have read about many people having error codes that went away after removing and remounting the lens, leading to the theory that if the contacts on the lens or camera aren't clean or lined up and making good contact, that it will cause an error code. Doesn't seem to matter who makes the lens, I have seen it happen with just about every brand out there. But I think that problem usually gives an ERR 99 (but maybe different bodies give different codes for the same error).

reply to ssim post

ssim wrote:

Da!!! That is my point.

ssim wrote

mattchase

Matt,

The err 01 code is a communication problem between the lens and the camera.

Ooooh. Cheap shot!

I don't think we've heard much about problems with the 20D since firmware v.1.05 was released. I'm not sure that really pertains to this discussion.