70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? at DVinfo.net

Jeffrey Butler · June 13th, 2014, 05:02 PM

My 70-200mm 2.8L IS works great on the 5D. Having just acquired the C100 DAF I was excited to try the lens. Turns out it's possessed. Sometimes it will work a bit, but eventually the iris locks at "f1" and the zoom mm designation is nuts, too (like 9mm) and then the iris periodically flashes like mad. See below.

The contacts seem fine (?). I've barely used the lens, actually, and as i mentioned, it seems to work fine on my 5D...Is this a C100 compatibility thing? I just updated the firmware...no lens firmware that I can find.

Kathy Smith · June 13th, 2014, 07:41 PM

I have the same lens and camera and once something similar happened but not as drastic as on your video. I had a little flicker as if aperture changed within one f-stop. I turned the camera off and back on and it went away. This happened once on a year and a half I've owned this equipment.

Bob Drummond · June 14th, 2014, 01:46 PM

Is this the original or the "II" version of the 70-200?

I use the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens all the time on my C100s, and I've never had any problems.

Either ways, something is wrong. I'd contact Canon service. You're talking about $7K in gear (or more). It should work properly when you need it to.

Jeffrey Butler · June 16th, 2014, 04:19 PM

Lens is v1, and I've sent it in for a check up. I put this video together to show them, but they didn't need it. I don't think I've discovered anything new and unique - it's a very popular lens + camera combo. I'm not ahead of the curve, here, so I'm going with lens first. Maybe it's both, but only together? Ah well, not ready to send in the camera. I have a hard time believing it's the C100, auto + new firmware issue...but I've been wrong about bigger things.

Kathy, thanks.

I'll report back with the update on the lens...just odd the way it ramps up to total freakage. A lens issue "feels" like it should be on/off. A camera issue, same kind of thing. Oh well, we shall see!

Jeffrey Butler · June 24th, 2014, 10:12 AM

Waiting for FedEx to deliver the "fixed" lens...it seems if they can't find you on a Saturday, they wait 3 more days to punish you.

Jeffrey Butler · June 24th, 2014, 12:08 PM

Well, that didn't fix the issue. Despite being certain that it just *had to be the 70-200mm, it isn't. They're escalating this to some ENGs to see what they think before we ship everything (as in lens + brand new C100) back...

Paul Joy · June 25th, 2014, 04:27 AM

I'm not sure if it helps at all but I have the same lens and it works well with my C300 after the DPAF update. I haven't had my C100 updated so I can't test that I'm afraid.

Jeffrey Butler · June 25th, 2014, 07:54 AM

Thanks for chiming in, Paul.

I haven't been able to find anyone else who *does have the issue. I'd love to co-miserate but apparently I am the chosen one.

Nicholas de Kock · June 26th, 2014, 02:44 PM

Jeff I'm sure this isn't related not your F-Stop issue but I've seen on my IS lenses that when I work close to powerful radio transmitters the IS screws up completely. Another thing to add to our list.

Daniel Epstein · June 27th, 2014, 09:51 AM

Kind of acts like a low power feed to the lens. Certainly the camera is giving you incorrect readings. Does it also happen on AC Power? Always difficult to trouble shoot something like this without eliminating the camera side of the equation as well. Can you borrow another lens locally to see if you can duplicate the issue?

Jeffrey Butler · July 10th, 2014, 06:13 PM

I borrowed another 70-200 to test - worked fine...don't know what that means!

Daniel Epstein · July 15th, 2014, 11:51 AM

More likely this lens doesn't like your C100 for some reason.

Marius Pavel · July 19th, 2014, 10:06 AM

Without a second thought this is the lens to have. A must have for any professional photographer looking to max out his or her arsenal. A key piece of glass that will not only expand your skills but increases your overall performance as a photographer. Great in low light, ideal for concert photographers, incredible bokeh. Grab this lens ASAP.

Jeffrey Butler · August 11th, 2014, 09:53 AM

Well, it's finally back! The lens seems to be in good working order with my C100 now. 37 days, counting weekends may be normal - but it felt like forever! Oh yeah, that's not even counting the first "repair" of just the lens.

No reason given as to what was wrong, but whatever it was, they found it. ... It's been set up by my desk for a while now and it seems stable. I'll give it a harder workout later...

tl;dr A 70-200mm lens was whacked out of it's mind on a new DPAF C100 but functioned fine on a 5D Mark II. It also apparently worked fine on other C100s and other 70-200s worked fine on this C100. Bad Mojo purged by Canon.

June 13th, 2014, 05:02 PM	#1
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? My 70-200mm 2.8L IS works great on the 5D. Having just acquired the C100 DAF I was excited to try the lens. Turns out it's possessed. Sometimes it will work a bit, but eventually the iris locks at "f1" and the zoom mm designation is nuts, too (like 9mm) and then the iris periodically flashes like mad. See below. The contacts seem fine (?). I've barely used the lens, actually, and as i mentioned, it seems to work fine on my 5D...Is this a C100 compatibility thing? I just updated the firmware...no lens firmware that I can find. Lens possession on Vimeo __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

June 13th, 2014, 07:41 PM	#2
Kathy Smith Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NY, NY USA Posts: 519	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? I have the same lens and camera and once something similar happened but not as drastic as on your video. I had a little flicker as if aperture changed within one f-stop. I turned the camera off and back on and it went away. This happened once on a year and a half I've owned this equipment.

June 14th, 2014, 01:46 PM	#3
Bob Drummond Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 161	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Is this the original or the "II" version of the 70-200? I use the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens all the time on my C100s, and I've never had any problems. Either ways, something is wrong. I'd contact Canon service. You're talking about $7K in gear (or more). It should work properly when you need it to.

June 16th, 2014, 04:19 PM	#4
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Lens is v1, and I've sent it in for a check up. I put this video together to show them, but they didn't need it. I don't think I've discovered anything new and unique - it's a very popular lens + camera combo. I'm not ahead of the curve, here, so I'm going with lens first. Maybe it's both, but only together? Ah well, not ready to send in the camera. I have a hard time believing it's the C100, auto + new firmware issue...but I've been wrong about bigger things. 70-200mm on Vimeo Kathy, thanks. I'll report back with the update on the lens...just odd the way it ramps up to total freakage. A lens issue "feels" like it should be on/off. A camera issue, same kind of thing. Oh well, we shall see! __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

June 24th, 2014, 10:12 AM	#5
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Waiting for FedEx to deliver the "fixed" lens...it seems if they can't find you on a Saturday, they wait 3 more days to punish you. __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

June 24th, 2014, 12:08 PM	#6
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Well, that didn't fix the issue. Despite being certain that it just had to be the 70-200mm, it isn't. They're escalating this to some ENGs to see what they think before we ship everything (as in lens + brand new C100) back... __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films Last edited by Jeffrey Butler; June 25th, 2014 at 07:55 AM.*

June 25th, 2014, 04:27 AM	#7
Paul Joy Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 627	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? I'm not sure if it helps at all but I have the same lens and it works well with my C300 after the DPAF update. I haven't had my C100 updated so I can't test that I'm afraid. __________________ Blog: www.pauljoy.com Company: www.videotrader.co.uk

June 25th, 2014, 07:54 AM	#8
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Thanks for chiming in, Paul. I haven't been able to find anyone else who *does have the issue. I'd love to co-miserate but apparently I am the chosen one. __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

June 26th, 2014, 02:44 PM	#9
Nicholas de Kock Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 983	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Jeff I'm sure this isn't related not your F-Stop issue but I've seen on my IS lenses that when I work close to powerful radio transmitters the IS screws up completely. Another thing to add to our list.

June 27th, 2014, 09:51 AM	#10
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Kind of acts like a low power feed to the lens. Certainly the camera is giving you incorrect readings. Does it also happen on AC Power? Always difficult to trouble shoot something like this without eliminating the camera side of the equation as well. Can you borrow another lens locally to see if you can duplicate the issue?

July 10th, 2014, 06:13 PM	#11
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? I borrowed another 70-200 to test - worked fine...don't know what that means! __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

July 15th, 2014, 11:51 AM	#12
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? More likely this lens doesn't like your C100 for some reason.

July 19th, 2014, 10:06 AM	#13
Marius Pavel New Boot Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Romania Posts: 11	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Without a second thought this is the lens to have. A must have for any professional photographer looking to max out his or her arsenal. A key piece of glass that will not only expand your skills but increases your overall performance as a photographer. Great in low light, ideal for concert photographers, incredible bokeh. Grab this lens ASAP. __________________ Canon 5D Mark IV \| EF 35 1.4 L II \| EF 85 1.4 L IS Fotograf Brasov \| Albume nunta botez

August 11th, 2014, 09:53 AM	#14
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Re: 70-200mm 2.8L IS + C100??? Well, it's finally back! The lens seems to be in good working order with my C100 now. 37 days, counting weekends may be normal - but it felt like forever! Oh yeah, that's not even counting the first "repair" of just the lens. No reason given as to what was wrong, but whatever it was, they found it. ... It's been set up by my desk for a while now and it seems stable. I'll give it a harder workout later... tl;dr A 70-200mm lens was whacked out of it's mind on a new DPAF C100 but functioned fine on a 5D Mark II. It also apparently worked fine on other C100s and other 70-200s worked fine on this C100. Bad Mojo purged by Canon. __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films