----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Hancock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 10:18 AM
Subject: EOS 300 f2.8 servicing
Malcolm wrote:
I put my 300 f2.8L in for service recently and I was told
that it was too old to be serviced.
Whoa! You own what is pretty much THE signature lens from the company
that has pretensions to being number 1 in the world and they can't
service it?!! How old is it? If I owned a lens like that I'd expect it
to last pretty much my photographic lifetime. Are they assuming they're
selling to professionals who write them down after a few years? How
long, does anyone know?
Peter
Hi Peter,
Canon UK only hold parts for 10 years, I believe, after that < part > (not
lens) was finally produced. So you may have a lens which went out of
production within the last 10 years, but one of the key parts needing to be
replaced is no longer available. This happened to a friend of mine with the
EF 24 f2.8. Lens part diagrams, on the internet, list the various part
numbers where changes have been made.
In my case, my battered old 300 f2.8 is probably one of the first batch,
and the IS version has now been around for some time. (Of course that's why
I could just about afford it!) I took it in as it was front focusing, (was
fine when purchased s/h), following being transported to and from site, a
few times, in my granny trolley, along with my heavy Benbo tripod and
Manfrotto #393 gimbal head - too much HF vibration? (The RSPB reserve at
Welches Dam (Ouse Washes) has some very trolley unfriendly surfaces to
negotiate to the nearest hides, and I'm not risking ruining my shoulder
again.)
I took my lens to a top London based independent repairer already knowing
Canon UK's policy. I suspect the repairer did service the lens but then
found that that they couldn't calibrate it, as the critical circuit board
was no longer replaceable or interfacing with their automatic test
equipment. Anyway, I've taken some crackingly sharp snaps since getting it
returned. "Repair cost", quoted at £135, was £11.75 - the return carriage.
I'm seriously relieved, but still yearn for the current model or a 500 f4L.
Malcolm
Milton Keynes, UK
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