My Brand New 70-200 2.8 IS has a speck of dust inside it. Should I send it back? Help

I got home tonight and unwrapped my brand new 70-200 2.8 IS and started inspecting it to make sure it was 100% fine before I even took a picture with it.

To my dismay, I noticed a speck of white dust inside the lense very noticible from the front. I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked closer to make sure it was under the glass and not on top but it looks to be inside the glass by the inside threads.

Should I immediatly send the lense back to BH and ask for a new one.
I am really disspapointed in Canon's qaulity control for a $1700 lense. I was already to test it out, but I haven't even mounted it on my 20D yet.

has anyone every had this problem?

It looks there is no alternative but to send it back.

Do you have any other suggestions?

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

MIME changed to 'text/html' | Content warning: script

I'm no pro but I doubt the speck will affect the performance any. Trouble is you always will know it's there and that will bug the heck out of you (it would me anyway). And, if you ever sold it, you'd have to mention that in your description which would surely devalue it some. For $1700, I'd get a clean one although it would be tough to wait for the replacement to come. What a bummer! Sorry you had this trouble.

Send it back if you think it will get to you, since you never used it and what not.

They've all got specs of dust inside, its more a matter of if you can see them.

If it was a big speck wedged onto the glass I'd be tempted to say yes as it may occasionally cause flare that wouldn't have been present otherwise. Where that spec is though it will have absolutely no affect on your photos.

Oh yeah, and congrats on the new lens. Have fun.

You sure it's a speck? It looks like a white dot in the pics to me... anyone else?

He wouldn't have taken the picture of he didn't see the speck to begin with, Sicily.

Congrats on the new lense. Even though it didn't come perfect.

$1,700 for a "new" lens. No question. I'd send it back. If I am spending that kinda money on something that is near the top of the Canon lens food chain and it's not perfect, "see ya". I'd rather wait a week to switch lens's and be happy about what I bought than to look at that lens every time I shot and said darn, wish I would've.

I bought a Canon lens with something similar to that speck about a year ago. Try this... With the camera mount pointing down and the lens at the highest zoom(200mm in your case), quickly twist the barrel back to 70mm a few times and hopefully the light impact will dislodge that little bugger. If that doesn't work just send it back.

My 70-200 f4 has just arrived this morning and it has no such marks.

Like everyone else I doubt it will affect the images, but it is going to annoy the hell out of you. I know it would me.

You'll never feel 100% happy with it, so bight the bullet and send it back.

As also stated, it could affect any future re-sale value.

I guess my question is, will the dirt/ speck show up on all images I take?

I don't want to have to edit every dang picture for a blurry spot.


If i look straight into the lens from the wide end. The spot looks to be inbetween the first two pieces of UD glass (seen in green in the illustration below). Or right after the 2nd peiace of glass and third piece. It is hard to tell. But the speck is not sitting on the side completely, it is on the glass. It is hard to tell from the angle of the shots above.

If you can stand the wait, send it back. For $1700 I would expect it to be perfect.

Well heres the thing that concerns me from reading this, it is my understanding that the White L Glass, as supposed to be weather sealed, especially when placed on the right body (1D, etc) , so things like dust, rain, sand, etc are not supposed to even make it inside the lens, unless of course you leave the back cap off and let things creep up inside the back. But it's been my experience that every zoom will get something inside of them just a matter of time, but for one of the L Glass thats supposibly weather sealed, I would think even brand new shouldnt have a thing in there. Its quite possible due to the bright white of the speck that it was maybe peice off an antistatic cloth or something else, when being assembled. But ya if B&H will take it back by all means, but if not I wouldnt be raising all hell about it, especially if its a loose peice it'll probally change position to a hidden portion of the lens.

Dust specks seldom have any visible effect in images. A speck that far out from the center of the glass is not going to be a problem. Nevertheless, I would probably send it back.

I had a similar problem with my first 70-200, sent it straight back & got a replacement.

It should be in a box on the way to UPS right now!