24-70 f/2.8 L II front coating peeling off?

[dgatwood]

Was yours one of the first off a new production line, by any chance? I ask because it looks like there are air bubbles between the lens and the coating, like perhaps they didn't allow the cleaning solution to fully evaporate from the glass before depositing the coating or something.

 

[shhooter]

Was yours one of the first off a new production line, by any chance? I ask because it looks like there are air bubbles between the lens and the coating, like perhaps they didn't allow the cleaning solution to fully evaporate from the glass before depositing the coating or something.

My serial number is 235, one of the first batches made probably. Just sent off to Canon Service in NJ.

 

[TexPhoto]

Was yours one of the first off a new production line, by any chance? I ask because it looks like there are air bubbles between the lens and the coating, like perhaps they didn't allow the cleaning solution to fully evaporate from the glass before depositing the coating or something.

My serial number is 235, one of the first batches made probably. Just sent off to Canon Service in NJ.

Wow. I am getting more and paranoid about begin a Canon early adopter. My OMG I have to have that new lens/camera experience have been bad (mostly), and then to hear this...

 

[tron]

I wonder if I have to worry. I just got this lens with no chance to use it yet.

Up to now users of this lens have reported the following:

1. Bubbles in the glass.
2. Clicking when zooming
3. Marks from filters that come in contact with lens (albeit Roger from Lens Rentals reported the problem happening only with no-name cheap filters but still...)
4. Damage in coating.

Mine does not have bubbles, and does not click when zooming. Plus, it seems that the Hoya HD2 does not come into contact with the front element.

So I will just have to worry for coating in a few months... ;D

 

[Rienzphotoz]

This is what my lens looks like:

Yikes ... not a nice thing to happen to an expensive lens like that ... I can somewhat understand the pain, coz mine was stolen along time ago :'(

 

[J.R.]

I wonder if I have to worry. I just got this lens with no chance to use it yet.

Up to now users of this lens have reported the following:

1. Bubbles in the glass.
2. Clicking when zooming
3. Marks from filters that come in contact with lens (albeit Roger from Lens Rentals reported the problem happening only with no-name cheap filters but still...)
4. Damage in coating.

Mine does not have bubbles, and does not click when zooming. Plus, it seems that the Hoya HD2 does not come into contact with the front element.

So I will just have to worry for coating in a few months... ;D

I'm pretty much wondering the same as well. I hope using the lens at 40C+ temperatures won't have an effect on this lens which is almost always on one of my cameras :-\

 

[Rienzphotoz]

I wonder if I have to worry. I just got this lens with no chance to use it yet.

Up to now users of this lens have reported the following:

1. Bubbles in the glass.
2. Clicking when zooming
3. Marks from filters that come in contact with lens (albeit Roger from Lens Rentals reported the problem happening only with no-name cheap filters but still...)
4. Damage in coating.

Mine does not have bubbles, and does not click when zooming. Plus, it seems that the Hoya HD2 does not come into contact with the front element.

So I will just have to worry for coating in a few months... ;D

I'm pretty much wondering the same as well. I hope using the lens at 40C+ temperatures won't have an effect on this lens which is almost always on one of my cameras :-\

For about 8 months of the year, I routinely use my lenses (Canon, Nikon, Tamron & Sigma lenses) in temperatures ranging between 40°C to 55°C (104°F to 131°F) in very dusty desert conditions, and during 2 of those months, (August & September), extreme humidity is also added to the high temperatures ... but so far nothing like this has ever happened to any of my lenses ... of course, all my lenses (with the exception of EF 40mm pancake) have B+W filters on them for protection.

 

[J.R.]

I wonder if I have to worry. I just got this lens with no chance to use it yet.

Up to now users of this lens have reported the following:

1. Bubbles in the glass.
2. Clicking when zooming
3. Marks from filters that come in contact with lens (albeit Roger from Lens Rentals reported the problem happening only with no-name cheap filters but still...)
4. Damage in coating.

Mine does not have bubbles, and does not click when zooming. Plus, it seems that the Hoya HD2 does not come into contact with the front element.

So I will just have to worry for coating in a few months... ;D

I'm pretty much wondering the same as well. I hope using the lens at 40C+ temperatures won't have an effect on this lens which is almost always on one of my cameras :-\

For about 8 months of the year, I routinely use my lenses (Canon, Nikon, Tamron & Sigma lenses) in temperatures ranging between 40°C to 55°C (104°F to 131°F) in very dusty desert conditions, and during 2 of those months, (August & September), extreme humidity is also added to the high temperatures ... but so far nothing like this has ever happened to any of my lenses ... of course, all my lenses (with the exception of EF 40mm pancake) have B+W filters on them for protection.

That's comforting ... though 40C+ temperatures won't be. with all the problems cited for the 24-70II, I feel lucky I don't have one and I' sure hope it stays that way!~

 

[Invertalon]

Terrible to hear so much wrong lately with this lens. I got mine right when released and has been fantastic all around. Perfectly sharp edge to edge at 24mm and 70mm, not the faintest sound of clicking or coating issues. I did exchange my first copy due to slight decentering, but after that no issues!

Canon really should start doing some better QC checks though, especially on the L glass we pay good money for.

 

[traveller]

I'm sad to hear that this issue has raised its ugly head again; I sympathise with your situation shhooter.

You'll notice from my earlier posts that Canon (like JustMeOregon) accused him of over cleaning. I would suggest sticking to your guns over this; whilst it is impossible to tell the condition of your lens from the photo you posted, unless it is a total knacker, I think that the onus is on Canon to prove misuse. Whilst I wouldn't want to be the one to have to issue a court summons against a global corporation, I think the law (in Britain, at least) would be sympathetic. In the UK, under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, "goods must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose". Canon's UK website states:

"The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is robust enough for daily professional use. Weather sealing protects against dust and moisture, while a fluorine-coated front and rear elements are easy to clean."

I would argue that the front coating peeling off a lens that is otherwise in good condition and under two years old (release date: February 2012), doesn't fit within that description.

 

[shhooter]

I got a repair estimate of $555 today ($269 out of warranty labor charge, $254 for a new front element, $14 shipping, $18 tax). Ouch. Not what I was hoping for, especially since I don't believe it's something i've done to cause the coating to begin to disintegrate. The rest of the lens is in pristine condition and it's only 16 months old. The repair description says "front element scratched".

I called the repair center and asked to speak to the technician who inspected the lens and was told the techs don't speak directly to customers, but they can e-mail me a picture and detailed description of what they found in 1-2 business days, which I requested. We'll see what they have to say, but i'm not sure where to go from there since the lens is out of warranty. Disappointed in Canon right now, i'd at least like someone to tell me what it is they think happened to the thing before i'm into it for $2855...

 

[JustMeOregon]

Ouch is right! I wish you the best of luck, but unfortunately "they" hold all the cards... You mentioned earlier that you sometimes used a LensPen on the front element. Do you think that it could be a contributing factor? I believe that LensPens contain an ultra-fine graphite abrasive don't they? I have never used one so I really don't know for sure...

 

[privatebydesign]

No don't try to speak to a tech, they have no say in anything. Speak to a manager, then go above them, keep getting names of people higher, even the basic telephone agent has a 10% discretionary discount, managers have more.

But I would very heavily point out that they have sent it to Japan for evaluation, they would not do that unless they believed it was a serious issue, they deal with scratches every single day and none of them get sent anywhere.

 

[shhooter]

No don't try to speak to a tech, they have no say in anything. Speak to a manager, then go above them, keep getting names of people higher, even the basic telephone agent has a 10% discretionary discount, managers have more.

This will be my next step after I get the email from the tech with more information about what they believe is wrong with it. "front element scratched" is vague.

RE LensPens: i've used them on all my lenses for years without issue. It's possible to scratch a lens with anything (cloth, lenspen, lens tissue) while cleaning, but i honestly don't suspect this is what caused the problem with the coating on my lens.

 

[Calypso Poet]

Had to register to say I've got the same problem with my 24-70 II lens. I first noticed it about a month ago and was completely puzzled. I've never had this happen with any other of the dozens of lenses I've had over the years, always cleaned them the same way (and most have been cleaned a lot more than this lens). I have not had the lens in extreme cold, though it has been in high heat/humidity.

Now at least I know others have had the same issue with the 24-70 II. After reading this thread, I feel pretty confident this is not user error. It's likely a manufacturing defect, probably/hopefully limited to a small batch.

My lens was ordered in March of 2013, so it's coming up on a year old. I hate to send it back now because I really need it over the next two months. But I may not have a choice. And if I get a $500+ bill, I'm not going to be happy. Will keep you updated.

 

[Marsu42]

remembering the s***storm over the Internet after a front element in one 24-70vc dropped off...

It wasn't just one (and it was the second element), and Roger provided a good reason for its occurrence.

Two and counting ... though I wish the owner a speedy replacement, no doubt it won't be a problem via cps.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Without starting a holy war about "using or not using filters", I am glad that none of my lenses ever experienced anything like this, despite using them in very dusty and hot conditions ... but I always have a B+W filters for all of my lenses ... if I'm not wrong, many of the reviews I've read at TDP say that even the weather sealed lenses need a UV/clear to "complete" the weather sealing.

 

[dgatwood]

So if I'm reading this correctly, there are three people on this board with this same lens failure, one of whom got a free in-warranty repair, one of whom didn't notice it until outside the warranty period and got bent over a barrel, and one of whom hasn't sent it off yet.

Almost every electronics manufacturer in the world would have done a silent recall for this sort of failure, and would have done the repair for free, even outside the warranty period. It's a bit scary that Canon doesn't do that. Not doing so significantly tarnishes my opinion of Canon as a brand.

I'll remember this thread next time I'm deciding whether to buy a Canon lens or a third-party lens. Just saying.

 

[Marsu42]

It's a bit scary that Canon doesn't do that. Not doing so significantly tarnishes my opinion of Canon as a brand.

I guess Canon recons that people using such an expensive lens are either a) insured for damaged gear, b) rich and don't care anyway, c) pros with cps who will get it fixed for free no matter the warranty.

Indeed Canon (at least to my knowledge) isn't a "caring" company. They want to make profit and have a good service for cps/pros, but the rest is simply expected to pay a lot of $$$ for service or buy an upgrade once the warranty is over - see firmware policy for everything else than their flagship camera bodies... as the market leader there is no need for them to behave otherwise.

 

[YuengLinger]

"pros with cps who will get it fixed for free no matter the warranty."

What? A discount--but "free"?