Mysterious Canon EF 28-300 mm Lens Dipping with XL1S at DVinfo.net

Tristan Howard · January 13th, 2009, 12:55 AM

Hi everyone,

I have a 28-300 mm zoom lens that I’ve been successfully using with an EF adapter XL and my XL1S for about the last 3 years. Yet, within the last few months, even with my lens and camera well in place with a Manfrotto 503 head and Gitzo 1325 carbon fiber tripod, I’ve noticed unexplained shakes in my footage. Every few seconds at apparently random intervals, the image in the view finder appears to subtly dip down and then back up. The image also dips with playback on a TV screen, so I don’t think it’s due to view finder issues while recording.

When my 28-300 mm lens is set up with my Canon 20D still camera, there are no dips. With my 16x lens, there is no image dipping. There is also no dipping with my EF 100-400 mm lens hooked up to my XL1S via my XL adapter. I know EF lenses can act odd when the adapter battery is low. I replaced the battery with a fresh one and the lens dips persisted. I’ve thus determined the problem is likely solely based in my 28-300 mm lens. That’s disappointing because it’s my favorite lens. It’s great for wildlife and keeps moving objects in focus very well with sharp resolution.

My XL adapter’s casing is subtly diagonally cracked in a small area on the top of the adapter just to the right of the right hand corner of the top part of the removable battery cover. The crack isn’t more than about ¼” long. It’s been like that for the last few years. I’ve tripped in the rocks a couple times while carrying my whole tripod-clad setup. That’s how the adapter first got cracked. Anyhow, as far as I could tell, the adapter seemed to work fine since its appearance got damaged. Still, maybe the 28-300 mm lens is more sensitive to adapter trouble than my 100-400 mm lens and some sort of adapter problem has recently manifested. Anyhow, I’m guessing either something is loose in my lens (not sure how that would have happened because my lens worked well last fall and I don’t remember subjecting it to any traumatic activity) or my lens now doesn’t get along well with my adapter.

Should I have my lens checked out and maybe repaired by a Canon repair center? Do they even do that with their big lenses? I’ve had my 20D still camera repaired by Canon several times and they’ve always been easy to deal with. Roughly how much do you think a lens inspection/repair would cost? I guess my other main option would be to try my lens with a fresh adapter. Is there anything I can do for my lens without having it inspected by a repair place? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Tristan

Willard Hill · January 13th, 2009, 10:46 AM

Tristan,

Is there any chance it is caused by the IS being inadvertently turned on? My EF adapter is cracked in exactly the same place as yours and I have no problems, other than if I have the IS turned on without touching the tripod handle, the image will move.

I'm having focus mechanism issues with a Canon 500mmF4 L and I have visited their website. You click the link for support and you will find a procedure to follow to take you through the process of requesting a repair. It has drop down menus which leads you to your particular camera or lens. It actually sounds as though they will give you an estimate online. I haven't gone that far yet with the process as I was to the stage where they wanted the serial no. of the lens and I didn't have that info. handy at the time.

Here is the link Support - Canon USA Consumer Products

Hope this helps.

Tristan Howard · January 14th, 2009, 01:22 PM

Willard,

It's good to hear from you again. Thanks for the reply. It's weird that your adapter is cracked in the same place. Anyway, I checked out the switches on my lens and stabilization was turned on. I don't remember that being a problem in the past, but I did a test recording with and without stabilization. IS was definitely the problem. The image is steady as long as IS is turned off. Thanks for the info. You just saved me a lot of trouble. I actually did the online repair request procedure with my 20D, but I couldn't remember how many products Canon covered with their service. Anyhow, they did send me an estimate before they actually did repairs. I dealt with the Canon center in Irvine, CA and had a pretty good experience with them.

-Tristan

January 13th, 2009, 12:55 AM	#1
Tristan Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: McArthur, CA Posts: 119	Mysterious Canon EF 28-300 mm Lens Dipping with XL1S Hi everyone, I have a 28-300 mm zoom lens that I’ve been successfully using with an EF adapter XL and my XL1S for about the last 3 years. Yet, within the last few months, even with my lens and camera well in place with a Manfrotto 503 head and Gitzo 1325 carbon fiber tripod, I’ve noticed unexplained shakes in my footage. Every few seconds at apparently random intervals, the image in the view finder appears to subtly dip down and then back up. The image also dips with playback on a TV screen, so I don’t think it’s due to view finder issues while recording. When my 28-300 mm lens is set up with my Canon 20D still camera, there are no dips. With my 16x lens, there is no image dipping. There is also no dipping with my EF 100-400 mm lens hooked up to my XL1S via my XL adapter. I know EF lenses can act odd when the adapter battery is low. I replaced the battery with a fresh one and the lens dips persisted. I’ve thus determined the problem is likely solely based in my 28-300 mm lens. That’s disappointing because it’s my favorite lens. It’s great for wildlife and keeps moving objects in focus very well with sharp resolution. My XL adapter’s casing is subtly diagonally cracked in a small area on the top of the adapter just to the right of the right hand corner of the top part of the removable battery cover. The crack isn’t more than about ¼” long. It’s been like that for the last few years. I’ve tripped in the rocks a couple times while carrying my whole tripod-clad setup. That’s how the adapter first got cracked. Anyhow, as far as I could tell, the adapter seemed to work fine since its appearance got damaged. Still, maybe the 28-300 mm lens is more sensitive to adapter trouble than my 100-400 mm lens and some sort of adapter problem has recently manifested. Anyhow, I’m guessing either something is loose in my lens (not sure how that would have happened because my lens worked well last fall and I don’t remember subjecting it to any traumatic activity) or my lens now doesn’t get along well with my adapter. Should I have my lens checked out and maybe repaired by a Canon repair center? Do they even do that with their big lenses? I’ve had my 20D still camera repaired by Canon several times and they’ve always been easy to deal with. Roughly how much do you think a lens inspection/repair would cost? I guess my other main option would be to try my lens with a fresh adapter. Is there anything I can do for my lens without having it inspected by a repair place? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks. -Tristan __________________ www.tristanhowardproductions.com Presenting North American wildlife videos and Western landscape photos.

January 13th, 2009, 10:46 AM	#2
Willard Hill Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 191	Tristan, Is there any chance it is caused by the IS being inadvertently turned on? My EF adapter is cracked in exactly the same place as yours and I have no problems, other than if I have the IS turned on without touching the tripod handle, the image will move. I'm having focus mechanism issues with a Canon 500mmF4 L and I have visited their website. You click the link for support and you will find a procedure to follow to take you through the process of requesting a repair. It has drop down menus which leads you to your particular camera or lens. It actually sounds as though they will give you an estimate online. I haven't gone that far yet with the process as I was to the stage where they wanted the serial no. of the lens and I didn't have that info. handy at the time. Here is the link Support - Canon USA Consumer Products Hope this helps. __________________ Willard http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/

January 14th, 2009, 01:22 PM	#3
Tristan Howard Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: McArthur, CA Posts: 119	Willard, It's good to hear from you again. Thanks for the reply. It's weird that your adapter is cracked in the same place. Anyway, I checked out the switches on my lens and stabilization was turned on. I don't remember that being a problem in the past, but I did a test recording with and without stabilization. IS was definitely the problem. The image is steady as long as IS is turned off. Thanks for the info. You just saved me a lot of trouble. I actually did the online repair request procedure with my 20D, but I couldn't remember how many products Canon covered with their service. Anyhow, they did send me an estimate before they actually did repairs. I dealt with the Canon center in Irvine, CA and had a pretty good experience with them. -Tristan __________________ www.tristanhowardproductions.com Presenting North American wildlife videos and Western landscape photos.