135mm f2L rattling noise

<p>My 135mm F2L has developed an annoying rattling noise (after perhaps rough handling during plane trip). It seems to be coming from the auto-focus mechanism. The lens is performing fine aside from the annoying noise, but I wonder if I should still get it fixed if it isn't too expensive.<br>

Appreciate comments,<br>

Geoff</p>

<p>If I were you, Geoff, I wouldn't hesitate to send it in to have the problem diagnosed. You could be doing more damage by continuing to use it. Once you have received a repair estimate, you can decide then whether it's worth it.</p>

<p>No rattles of any kind on mine. I agree with Mark, get it looked at before the problem becomes worse. It is very unlikely to be beyond economic repair. I would be surprised if repair cost exceeded 20% of street price, and may well be less. You just have to accept that high-end photographic kit does occasionally need a bit of TLC that does not come cheap. </p>

<p>Was the lens bag placed in the cargo hold during your plane trip- or in the overhead compartment inside the plane itself(where passengers sit)? What type of bag was it stored in?</p>

<p>I'd never let those gorillas handle my camera gear! I remember once seeing a bunch of bag handlers watch an electric guitar in a flimsy case roll off the end of a conveyor belt and fall onto its neck, after which another couple of bags fell ontop of it. The guy standing at the end of the conveyor belt, watching this slowly happen, could have very, very easily prevented it if he had cared only a little bit. In fact he could have simply pressed the "stop" button on the conveyor belt if he needed a break that badly.</p>

<p>I'd also never check anything moisture-sensitive in the cargo hold. I have an acquaintance who is a high-end piano builder in Australia. He once flew one of his pianos to the US for a conference, and the condensation in the cargo hold caused enormous damage to the piano. It gets coooold in those cargo holds. A friend of a friend had to explain to William Shatner why his two prize dobermans froze solid in transit!</p>

<p>And then there's cargo theft. It's happened to me.</p>

<p>If my camera gear can't fly with me inside the plane, then I don't fly. I've locked horns with flight personnel over this issue a few times, but I've always prevailed -- so far. I don't know what will happen when we have to saddle up in these new 23" sardine seats. Then again, I wouldn't fly in one of those things anyway.</p>

<p>Anyway, what others said. You don't want loose parts rattling around inside your lens. Besides being annoying, there's potential for further internal damage.</p>

<p>Yeah I've never heard any noises like that from a 135L. KEH charges $45 for a basic checkup and will deduct that from the cost of the repair if parts end up being over $45ish; that is, if you don't want to wait 6-8 weeks for Canon. (Not affiliated with KEH - just a satisfied customer)<br>

On the plane note - I bought a Pelican 1510 carry-on roll case just so I could take all of me photo gear with me on the plane. I've never even allowed it to be gate checked, much less checked at the ticket counter. Handlers don't usually make more than a buck over minimum wage, if that... There's no real incentive to do a good job for the large majority (not all) of handlers.<br>

I think some parts of the cargo hold are pressurized and climate controlled on most aircraft though - whomever loaded Shatner's dogs must have put them in the wrong area.</p>

<p>A follow-up note to both Robert and the OP: Sometimes the FAA approved carry-on luggage can't fit in any of the appropriate carry-on areas of the plane -- on little commuter planes and such. That's usually where horn-locking begins. I've learned to check which sorts of planes I'll be flying on and ask for the size limitations of THOSE specific planes.</p>

<p>Good point, Sarah, but such issues are not limited to small planes. The amount of luggage space available to each passenger on a 747 varies quite a bit depending on where you are sitting, and it pays to get to know the layout and book your seat in advance. It's also a good idea to be early onto the plane, so that you have a clear run at the available space. You also need to be aware of your carrier's weight and size limits. Most of my recent long-haul flights have been with British Airways, and they allow one standard-size bag weight-limited only by your ability to lift it into an overhead locker (for me, that's a Pro Roller 1 stuffed to the gills!), and one briefcase or laptop case.</p>