Special handling precautions for the 85L

Read in one of Canons little leaflets (those that kick around inside lens cases) a while back that "with certain lenses, like the 85L, it is recommended to always manually focus the lens to infinity before transporting the lens to protect it from vibration damage/knocks".

Thats quite a handling precaution - I mean, its a great piece of kit so if I ever get my hands on one I'll probably follow the advice - but are there many 85L owners out there who actually do this? Or have any experiences from NOT doing it?

I do that for any of the lenses I've owned which extend when focusing closer. Better the outer lens barrel getting knocked about rather than the inner cams...

I just keep the hood on always, problem solved.

I actually do keep the hood on so not really and issue.....yet strangely I do tend to move this lens to infinity before storage.

Another similar lens (in that the inner tube extends upon focussing) that I own is the 50/1.4, and I actually am careful to retract this lens when finished as it has a reputation for killing the finicky AF motor clutch when extended and taking a bump.

Thing is with that lens is the camera needs to be turned on to do so.

malla1962 wrote in post #6954096
Thing is with that lens is the camera needs to be turned on to do so.

You can't manually focus that lens...?

nuffi wrote in post #6954380
You can't manually focus that lens...?

nope. the lens needs the camera to be on in order to focus so if the camera is off, you can not focus the lens.

I think the thing is that if you need it to be as compact as possible when you put it in the case then you need to do this while the camera is switched on. Once it's off then moving the focus has no effect at all on the lens. You soon get used to this though.

Blonde: What? You make no sense. Manually focusing would do the same thing, wouldnt it? You focus the lens, not the camera.
Explain

fr0natz wrote in post #6954601
Blonde: What? You make no sense. Manually focusing would do the same thing, wouldnt it? You focus the lens, not the camera.
Explain

The 85L is focus by wire. Turning the focus ring only sends commands to adjust focus via the AF motor. If the camera is off or sleeping then turning the ring does nothing at all.

Are all lenses like this? Is there any place I could find out how each lens should be properly stored?

I do focus my 85L to infinity when storing. Yes, it's a pain, especially if I've already turned off the camera.

I never knew the 85L was focus by wire. Makes sense though with all that glass.

Does that make other lenses rack and pinion focus?

gary88 wrote in post #6954711
I never knew the 85L was focus by wire. Makes sense though with all that glass.

Does that make other lenses rack and pinion focus?

Some of the older supertelephoto primes are also focus by wire. Check the Canon camera museum to see which.

I think the EF 85/1.2 L II is the only current model with focus by wire.

IMO focus by wire sucks, but the 85L is good enough in other areas that I put up with it.

i don't usually do it, but every once in a while.