DOF at long ranges ??

You got one of the sharpest zooms Canon makes and it's clearly not even close to what it can do. This is an obvious case of busted lens.

When you'll get it back, prepare to be floored!

You might want to shoot through a frosted glass window for a while so the sharpness doesn't scar your eyes immediately

int2str wrote in post #10222092
You got one of the sharpest zooms Canon makes and it's clearly not even close to what it can do. This is an obvious case of busted lens.

When you'll get it back, prepare to be floored!

You might want to shoot through a frosted glass window for a while so the sharpness doesn't scar your eyes immediately

Stop teasing, please.

Dereksalem wrote in post #10221592
Either way, Canon will fix it up nicely. I know people that have had to send in things for repair and they're nice and quick and do a great job.

Lenses sent to Canon for repair have been known to come back working BETTER (both in terms of IQ and AF accuracy) than brand-new/straight-off-the-shelf copies.

Of course, in the case of the 70-200/4s, most copies are already shipped in near-perfect condition, so yours may come back simply "at par".

Anyway, can't wait to hear what the problem is, but also to see some much improved photos when it is returned to you.

Delivered. Exactly one week after I dropped it off at the post office the lens has arrived. Now all I have to do is get through 4 more hours of desk work and my son's baseball practice and I get to have it in my hands again.

As soon as I can I will test it out thoroughly and post the results and (hopefully) the explanation from Canon as to what happened to the lens.

coeng wrote in post #10243330
Delivered. Exactly one week after I dropped it off at the post office the lens has arrived. Now all I have to do is get through 4 more hours of desk work and my son's baseball practice and I get to have it in my hands again.

As soon as I can I will test it out thoroughly and post the results and (hopefully) the explanation from Canon as to what happened to the lens.

That was exactly how long Canon NJ took to get my 580EXII back to me

Anyway you can snag the lens BEFORE your son's baseball practice?

coeng wrote in post #10243330
and post the results and (hopefully) the explanation from Canon as to what happened to the lens.

The explanation from Canon is useless.
They used canned responses to all their repairs that barely relate to the actual problem.

It's always something like "electonic adjustments to the auto focus" bla bla bla.

Forget about explanations - we want to see pictures
And remember, your eyes may sting and/or bleed a bit the first few times you'll see the pictures at 200mm+f/4.... It's normal

int2str wrote in post #10244434
The explanation from Canon is useless.
They used canned responses to all their repairs that barely relate to the actual problem.

It's always something like "electonic adjustments to the auto focus" bla bla bla.

Isn't that border-line illegal? If I pay for a repair I expect to know the exact source of the problem.

don't really see why it'd be illegal...i'm sure you could call and get a more detailed explanation...but as far as what they send you...it's going to be something like "focus assy calibrated'...don't expect a paragraph or anything...it'll be short, and sweet...but it'll work much much better...

From my hands to the Post Office, to Canon, back to me in exactly one week. These guys rock.

I had a minute or two to test it out this evening. I was losing light quickly as the sun was setting so all I could do was take a few shots of the chimney cap of my house at f4 200mm ISO 100. I could actually make out the texture of the bricks. That's about the time when my eyes started to bleed

Will get a chance to try it out more tomorrow and post some shots.

Canon's response (canned or not?)
Your product has been examined and it was found that the adjustment of the part was incorrect causing the auto focus to operate improperly. The collar was replaced and product functions were confirmed. Checked all, adjusted center/tilt/front, back focus & cleaned all factory specs.

Congrats

Yeaahh!!!!

Hmmm...I wouldn't say it's a canned response. Sounds like they are saying they made an adjustment to the servos and cleaned all the elements? And replaced the collar? That's what I make from it. Oh and back focus adjustment.

You could always call and ask what they did (and have them tell you, rather than just read the same notes). Sounds pretty good to me though.

It's as canned as they come. Read it again - it's completely abstract and meaningless.
I sent a lens in twice for different issues and got the same (nonsensical) response twice.

The technicians don't take the time to write any meaningful explanations. Which is fine I guess, but why bother with spewing nonsense?

Hey, the technicians are too busy fixing your stuff to write out a decent response. I'm sure you'd much rather have it back a day sooner!

coeng wrote in post #10246279
Canon's response (canned or not?)
Your product has been examined and it was found that the adjustment of the part was incorrect causing the auto focus to operate improperly. The collar was replaced and product functions were confirmed. Checked all, adjusted center/tilt/front, back focus & cleaned all factory specs.

Sounded like it was translated from a foreign language....

This may sound out-of-left field (sorry that pun was too easy), but was the lens's focus limiter set to 1.2m-infinity instead of 3m-infinity? The reason this can be relevant is because if its set to 1.2m-infinity it has a longer range of travel to lock focus and for AI Focus that can cause much longer focus lock time.

As for the Canon UV filter, the Canon filters are rebadged Tiffens (or worse) and are just junk. Take that thing and toss it IMMEDIATELY.