17-40L - R.I.P.?

[bradgillette]

The past few days my apartment has served as a makeshift studio while helping

Ashley out with a video presentation for her Oceanography course.

 

<br><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2044327080_505a79d814.jpg"><br>

 

As we were finishing up filming, I grabbed my XTi with the 17-40L and took a few

shots of the set..you know, for giggles. Judging by the direction of the lights

and being in the safety of my apartment, I figured I could go without putting on

the lens hood. This turned out to be a fatal mistake.

 

While taking the stills, we discovered we had neglected to shoot one of the

scenes for the video. I set my camera down on the counter and fired up the Canon

XH-A1. Wanting to compress the shot a bit more, I began to pull the tripod back

with the intention of zooming in a bit more. That's when it happened. The neck

strap of my XTi had somehow become entangled with the tripod and my camera went

crashing to the ground, landing directly on the lens. While normally the lens

hood would absorb the impact, I had decided not to use it just this once. Ouch.

The casing of the lens broke around the filter ring and the front retaining ring

which seals the lens popped out.

 

<br><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2044260152_62aa24dcc7.jpg"><br>

 

I'm normally a pretty laid back guy, and I've become used to my bad luck, so I

didn't let it phase me and went on with the shoot.

 

The next morning is when the salt gets rubbed viciously into the wound.

 

As I am sitting at my desk in my room editing the footage, I had my camera case

next to me on the ground. I just finished pouring a refreshing glass of grape

Kool-Aide (which I made with extra sugar...I like it thick). Ashley got out of

bed to grab the ashtray sitting on my desk when disaster struck. In her morning

drowsiness, she managed to knock over the glass. Out of some sick twist of fate,

the broken lens in my case was perfectly aligned with the spilling Kool-Aide,

and it was as if a bartender was pouring a drink from one glass into another.

I'm not even sure if Canon can fix this. And I know I can't afford it.

 

So my question is - do you think this can be fixed?

 

Anyways, for those of you who are interested, the video can be found here: <a

href="

link</a>.

[savas_kyprianides]

You should direct this post and your inquiry to Canon.

 

Unless you are looking for some shoulders to cry on with resulting "i feel your pain"

responses.

[PuppyDigs]

Well it is a weather sealed lens. Not sure if Kool Aide qualifies as weather or not. However

you need a UV to complete the seal...

[bradgillette]

Canon will tell me whether or not they will be able to fix it.

 

Other users of this board may have had similar experiences, and may be able to give input as to how good the repair was, what the timeline for the repair was, or even give alternative ideas as to how I may be able to fix it enough myself so I will be able to continue to use the lens between now and when I can afford a repair.

 

As sick as it may be, I usually find interest in reading stories similar to mine, and I assumed others may too.

[PuppyDigs]

Yep, I hate neck straps. Always in the way when I use a tripod. Long ago my dog ran by the

kitchen table and snagged my old FM. Amazingly not a mark on the rig. But I stick to the E-1

hand strap.

[zigzag]

We have a few sourpusses on here. Canon is your answer (and I would suggest looking into getting a more photogenic model to sit on the stool next time - though I do like the colour co-ordinated orange -)

[bueh]

I have "learned"/"developed" a couple of compulsions when it comes to my photo gear:

 

<ul>

<li>

Always put/hang the neck strap so it cannot be caught by something. Never let it dangle for a (table's, chair's...) edge.

</li>

<li>

Always put a glass/cup/mug (empty or full) just out of reach where it cannot be knocked over accidently -- and never put it in front of the keyboard, not even for just a second.

</li>

<li>

Never let the camera + strap dangle from one shoulder, always wear it across.

</li>

<li>

And always wear it with the shoulder strap, never just hold it in your hand. This also applies if I give the camera to someone else, regardless of briefly it will be, always put the strap across the shoulders.

</li>

<li>

Always check if there is a battery and card in the camera before taking it out for a shooting.

</li>

<li>

When changing lenses, first always attach the lens firmly to the body, then screw the rear cap to the other lens.

</li>

</ul><p>

It all sounds pretty obvious, but I learned the hard way that these rules need to be follow instinctively and without thought. Regardless of how distracted I am, or lazy, or sure of myself, I do my best to

not forget them. The last one is my personal favorite, I have had some nasty surprises when quickly grabbing a camera with the lens not mounted, because I first wanted to secure the removed lens to put it away as fast as possible. Add a little distraction and you can easily forget that the new lens is not yet locked to the body, which is a definitive lens killer moment when the lens falls crashing down in full swing.

[bradgillette]

@Butch B.:

 

I've also learned to never keep a Pocket Wizard attached to the camera at any time. The shoe mount is made of very brittle plastic that only gets worse over time, and it is so tall that it has more than enough leverage to break it off. This is the very reason I'm using a non-wireless Nikon AS-15 in order to have PC-Sync on my camera.

 

I really need to start taking as much care of my 35mm gear as I do my Hassleblad. Getting this repair done is going to set back my acquisition of a Zeiss 80/2.8 CF T* by at least six months.

[matthias_meixner2]

> Always put a glass/cup/mug (empty or full) just out of reach where it > cannot be knocked over accidently -- and never put it in front of the > keyboard, not even for just a second.

 

Cola is very reliable in killing your keyboard (and probably other electronic devices). Our students have killed quite some Sun keyboards this way, and guess these cost quite some more than standard PC keyboards ..

[bob_osullivan]

Brad:

 

First thing I'd do is call canon, insist on talking to a technician not a customer service rep, and get an estimate.

 

Have you tried using it in it's current condition? The broken plastic looks like it could have been crazy glued back in place. I think the koolaid is your bigger problem now. Worse yet, the impact may have dislodged or missaligned some elements.

 

Try it out as is. If it appears to focus ok and you can get decent shots, I'd try to clean out the coolaid. All that sugar in there will act like sandpaper. So, you'll have to rinse it out of there. Not with water though. I'd try pouring an ounce of denatured alcohol into the lens to rinse that stuff out. Of course there is probably some lithium grease in there that the alcohol will displace. So this could be risky eaither way. After that dries crazy glue the palstic back on, affix a UV and try it out. Maybe you'd get lucky.

 

But I suspect Canon could fix it for less than the cost of a used on on ebay. So again, call them first.

[macleanj]

I agree with Beuh's points. And after breaking a 28-70 2.8L in half and damaging a new 10d at the time.

 

- Always lay your camera down on the ground. Hard for things to fall off the ground.

 

- Make sure you have a separate insurance ryder that covers these mishaps. When you have expensive gear it it worth it, if for nothing more than piece of mind.

 

I would call canon, they will most likely tell you to send it in. Send it in and see what it costs. As for cleaning, if it is dried on I would leave it for canon to clean/fix, last thing you want to do is potentially cause more damage.

 

Good Luck!

[keith_lubow]

I don't know if it was a fatal mistake. I just slammed a 50 1.2 in a car door the other day, and the front retaining ring snapped off, exposing the ball bearings and all. This would not have happened if the lens hood had not been on, as the door barely caught it. I don't think your hood would have helped a whole lot.

 

Canon repair is a nightmare. You can't just tell them the problem and get an estimate. You have to bring (or send) the camera in. One of their phone operators hung up on me when I asked to speak to a supervisor. I finally smoothed one operator into telling me (still may be b.s.) that they have no "parts" and "labor" prices, but three tiers of repair cost that include parts and labor for each lens or body. One tier for minor issues, one for intermediate, and one for major ones.

 

I know exactly the part I need to order, and I just need to order it and have them install it. They can't make it that simple, however.

 

Keith

[alan_myers]

Prior to the Kool-Aid spill, I suspect the lens would have been repairable. That is, so long as there were no significant scratches on the front element, groups and elements weren't misaligned or damaged, the lens mount wasn't twisted and the focusing & zooming rings still moved freely and smoothly.

 

In fact, before the Kool-Aid, it could probably have been tried out on a camera. If it seemed okay, I would think the two missing pieces are largely just finishing trim, not really effecting any significant function of the lens, and fairly easily/inexpensively replaced.

 

Sent in for service, first they would probably have put the lens on a collimator or other optical test equipment, to make sure no elements were loose or mis-aligned. Then if it passed the test and all other functions still worked, they'd have replaced the front barrel section with the chunk broken out of it, and replaced or reglued the name-ring in place.

 

However....

 

Now that the lens has been soaked in Kool-Aid, I would NOT install it on a camera and try it. There's just too much danger of damaging the camera too, if there is an electrical short inside the lens.

 

And, having been soaked, it's likely the lens will need complete disassembly to try to save it, with no guarantees until it's been tried. If the sticky stuff has gotten into the aperture blades or mechanisms, they may need replacement. Not sure if sugar or Kool-Aid poses any danger to lens elements and their coatings. Certainly moisture and water are likely to corrode metals and damage electronic circuitry.

 

Yes, call or email Canon Service to see what they say. Also, a local service technician might be able to tell you something, if there is someone in your area.

[marknagel]

Call canon, get an estimate, if its too much, try it yourself. You don't have anything to lose at that point and you may get to learn the inner workings of the lens. (soap water and duck tape)

 

m

[DickArnold]

All I can say is I ruined a 2000 dollar Sony VAIO portable with a spilled glass of water. Like Bill Clinton, I feel your pain.

[keith_lubow]

You can't just call Canon and get an estimate. That would make too much sense.

 

Keith

[colin carron]

I broke a 70-200 f4 L lens and had it repaired by a Canon authorised repairer. Part of the cost was borne by my household insurance. Check out any insurances you might have as that might reduce the pain. best of luck.

[DickArnold]

By the way I have full coverage in the form of a personal effects floater,with USAA on my stuff. They have an up-to-date inventory. I learned this the hard way.

[dogbert]

Sell Ashley. Put the money towards a new lens.

[jason_hall4]

Something to think about for all of us. My insurance company (with whom I have policys for three cars, my house, and a life insurance policy on my wife) will insure my photo equipment from anything for $10 on the $1000 for the year. So I insure my camera bag and what is in it for $50 a year. That is $5000 worth of coverage. That is replacement cost I might add, not current value that constantly goes down. And there is no deductable what so ever. It will cover anything that happens, even if it is my fault. If I drop it, run over it, it is stolen, what ever.

 

Reading this reminds me to get my inventory list up todate and in order.

 

Jason

[jason_hall4]

I completely understand why you can not get an estimate over the phone. I can only image on of my customers calling me up and saying, "hey, my engine is a knockn', what will it cost for ya'll to fix it". That could be any where from $200 to $10,000 dallors. And it is never, I mean never a good idea to quote some thing based on a customers diagnosis. You always assume the customer knows nothing. Yet some how they are always right. Go figure.

 

Jason

[keith_lubow]

Jason,

 

What if someone called you up and said: "I want you to order such and such a part and install it for me. I know what the problem is, I know what part I need, and I don't need a diagnostic. All I need is fr you to put it on."

 

Keith