Will Canon charge me to calibrate my gear if I just bought a new 5d II?

I purchased a new 5D II and have a Canon 24-70 that is out of warranty. If I send both items into Canon, will they charge me to have my glass calibrated to my camera?

Why would you have the glass calibrated to your camera? Read your manual and look up the subject of "micro-adjustment".

There's no need to send it to Canon, you can do it yourself.

You need lenses calibrated for a certain camera?

I would say it's case by case.

I sent in my 200L a few months ago, still under warranty, along with out-of-warranty gear that included a 1DMKIII, 5D Classic, 1.4x TC and 2x TC and they calibrated/cleaned everything for free as a courtesy.

banxai75 wrote in post #7915101
I purchased a new 5D II and have a Canon 24-70 that is out of warranty. If I send both items into Canon, will they charge me to have my glass calibrated to my camera?

Kinky wrote in post #7915170
You need lenses calibrated for a certain camera?

No. if you send a body and lens they will check both and calibrate what needs calibrating.

Kinky wrote in post #7915170
You need lenses calibrated for a certain camera?

yep, canon actually asked me to send the body with the lens.

tharmsen wrote in post #7915129
Why would you have the glass calibrated to your camera? Read your manual and look up the subject of "micro-adjustment".

There's no need to send it to Canon, you can do it yourself.

+1 read the manual

jeromego wrote in post #7915860
yep, canon actually asked me to send the body with the lens.

They don't calibrate the camera to that lens. They calibrate them separately--the camera with a "tool" lens and the lens on a calibration bench. Both are first examined and then calibrated to within specifications...if necessary.

The reason they want both is to be sure they have the source of the problem in hand. If your equipment is within warranty, there won't be a cost. But if the equipment is actually already in spec, there won't be any additional calibration done, either.

They already-mentioned tip to do the micro-calibration yourself is the way to go.

I was aware of microadjustment but didn't know if Canon's calibration tools were different than the microadjust feature.

What problem do you have? Front/back focus issues? Is the lens a little soft on your body?

If so, it's probably something easily remedied by spending 20 minutes doing a focus test and calibrating your system using micro-adjustment. It's quite normal and certainly cheaper than shipping. You have a 5D Mark II, you might as well use its features to see if they resolve your problem before spending time and money sending it to Canon.

Even if you do send it to Canon, they can send it right back and say "it was within spec". I've heard many-many stories of this happening and you just wasted money on shipping for nothing. So, with that being said, see if micro-adjustment doesn't resolve whatever issue you're having before shipping it off.

wouldn't it make more sense to call canon customer service for the definite answer?

banxai75 wrote in post #7915101
I purchased a new 5D II and have a Canon 24-70 that is out of warranty. If I send both items into Canon, will they charge me to have my glass calibrated to my camera?

wow, wow
let's calm down.
First things first.
How bad is the lens on your new body? Please show us samples.

tsw910 wrote in post #7916865
wouldn't it make more sense to call canon customer service for the definite answer?

What do you expect Canon CS to say? I can tell you exactly what they'll say.

"Please send it to us", it's their canned response to all such questions.

That doesn't mean you have to send it to them to sort things out. Like I said, if it's a simple "soft" image issue - aka front/back focusing - the camera is equipped to adjust for this. It's why they added the feature to their upper end cameras. It's not voodoo, it's quite easy to use and very-very useful.

I've calibrated every one of my lenses... and they're razor sharp now. They weren't at first.

Just ask my buddy Alien Bob.

tharmsen wrote in post #7917123
What do you expect Canon CS to say? I can tell you exactly what they'll say.

"Please send it to us", it's their canned response to all such questions.

That doesn't mean you have to send it to them to sort things out. Like I said, if it's a simple "soft" image issue - aka front/back focusing - the camera is equipped to adjust for this. It's why they added the feature to their upper end cameras. It's not voodoo, it's quite easy to use and very-very useful.

I've calibrated every one of my lenses... and they're razor sharp now. They weren't at first.

Just ask my buddy Alien Bob.

did you use the focus test chart when you did the calibration with this feature or do you have other ways of doing it? or should i ask alien bob?

There are a number of methods for doing focus tests. I broke down and bought "Lens Align". This is one very handy tool. But I would check out a few of the free methods first and see how it goes. They will get you in the ball park.

The least reliable method is laying a ruler out on a table and trying to focus on it at a 45 degree angle, this I can say from personal experience. The best results have been had (according to others) with the flat target methods like the "Moire" tests.

http://www.komar.org/f​aq/camera/auto-focus-test/

There are some threads on POTN about various methods. I got frustrated with the 45 degree angle tests and bought the Lens Align. All I need is an excuse to spend money.