L lens quality issues.

[peekarwe]

This is just an experience to share with all about the famed Canon L lens quality...

I bought the 70-200 IS lens recently. I have been using non-IS lens mostly but I have a 18-55 IS kit lens lying around so I do use that ocassionally when I dun wanna lug the 17-40 or 10-22 around. The IS on that kit lens is tremendously quiet and you can hardly feel or hear it kick into action. Of course, the IS is not so aggresive in that lens and you can't actually observe the 'stabilisation' effect through the viewfinder.

Even when using my 135L without IS, I am happy without worrying too much about image bluring due to shake so I figured that I could hold a lens pretty steady. But when I was purchasing the 70-200, I had the chance to compare the IS and NON-IS version side by side using my own camera. Clearly, the IS version of the 70-200 is optically superior to the 70-200. Corner sharpness is the winner here. But then again, I am a bokeh lover so that doesn't mean too much to me. The main reason why the IS version won me over was the fact that the IS was so aggressive that the image in the viewfinder actually snapped into a STILL non-moving PIC. Did I actually tell the difference from the actual shots taken? Well, not really, unless I intentionally let my hands go soft. But really, to have a piece of such technology help out with the shooting, can only be good. So yep, I shelled out extra molah for the IS version.

Now, let's get to the point... One thing that actually almost stopped me, was the IS clicking and whirling noise. I was in a Camera Shop on a Saturday morning. As usual, crowded and salesman jostling for sales with the Angmoh, offering free 1 GB memory cards worth $99.90 (yah, of course). But above the din, I could actually HEAR and FEEL the IS kick in on the half shutter press. It was disturbing. I didn't bring my kit lens along to compare, but I NEVER felt it on my kit IS lens. It almost stopped me. Well, I just thought that with such noise and aggressive motor action going on itself... could it LAST? Scary though that a piece of L lens might not last as long as I want it to.

So, of course, being the Singaporean customer, I must choose from a few sets, and choose the set behind the first set on the shelf. :P so, I got another set to try. Ahhh... this time, the clicking is MUCH less pronounced. And even the salesman could agree to that! While boldly exclaiming 5 mins earlier that all the 70-200 IS lens are THAT loud. He couldn't help but agree that the second set was indeed quieter. But, as usual, things happen in a way to make decisions hard... This set had focusing issues. I tried to focus on my camera bag which was sitting on the floor. It hunted. 2 times, before locking on. I didn't think I grew shorter within 10 mins, causing problems focusing on less than 1.2m MFD. The previous set 1 of the lens I tried the same shot, and it focused and locked on perfectly. No hunting. The second set, hunted. I tried other scenes and shot at other things around the shop, it was fine. No hunting. I changed my direction, stepped to the other side of the bag, tried again, it hunted again. Hmmm...

So far, 2 issues liao. First, Louder IS (yes, I know IS on this lens is loud, but that first set almost felt unacceptably loud like one of the gear tooth was striped). Second issue, the second set had focusing issues. Now, I truly and sincerely hope that these issues were with myself than the L lens I was playing with. Probably easier to find an excuse for hunting focus since it does have a lot more variables. But the loud IS was clear, it was QC inconsistency.

Ok, I was gonna test the salesman's patience...sorry, do you have YET another set. He could have turned me down, since there wasn't another set on the shelf behind him. But kudos to Mr Wang, he went back to the 'store' and came out with a third set. Canon might not be doing their job but this shop sure is! I tried the third set, feeling a bit paiseh already but hey, I was offering them part of my pay cheque!

I thanked my ancestors there and then. No focus hunting. IS was similar to the second set, and one more thing I realised. The center sharpness was better??? Oh ****... something is really wrong... does that mean that the previous two sets' center sharpness was off? I shot at the poster at the door head on. And I realised that hey, really, the center sharpness was good! I scrolled back to the previous picture same scene, and realised that the center sharpness was indeed better on the third set.

I had to do the back/front focus test liao. Didn't have any charts, so I took lens 1 (which only has loud IS but no focus hunting) and lens 3 (which was the perfect set thus far). I stood at an angle from the poster, focused on the exact same spot [there was a no. 3 character in the poster]. Both lens. Lens 3 focus was spot on. Lens 1, back-focused... no wonder...

I fed all these back to the sales guy, which he said that it will be highlighted to Canon. At the end of the day, I was the happy owner of a set of Canon L lens, which had:

1. No focus hunting.
2. Reasonably acceptable levels of IS noise
3. No back/front focus.

Which leads one to wonder.... why did the other TWO lens have those issues?! L LENS?

[Kermitfm]

Just curious - was that a f/2.8 or f/4 lens you were testing? Read in some places that the f/2.8 is somewhat quirky.

[peekarwe]

It was the F4.0. On previous ocassions, I have tried the F2.8 and it's way too big and heavy for my purpose. I won't even end up using those lens. The F2.8 wasn't sharp at all wide open at F2.8. You'll probably end up shooting at F4 anyway... so...

[jimmy88]

I am surprised to hear of the IS making noise. Both my L lens 70-200 f4 IS and 24-105 f4 IS are equally quiet.

As for front and back focusing problems, its good that you tested it out before forking out your money. There is likely some quality control issues that Canon need to sought out.

Thanks for sharing with experience with us.

jimmy

[Kit]

Its a known fact that the IS module on the 70-200 f4 is one of the loudest.

[peekarwe]

Originally Posted by Kit Its a known fact that the IS module on the 70-200 f4 is one of the loudest.

They forgot sound proofing. :P

[Kit]

Originally Posted by peekarwe They forgot sound proofing. :P

Well, then get your own. Nothing a pair of ear plugs can't fix.....