My own personal curse of the EF 200mm f1.8

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Five years ago I found a good deal on a 200mm f1.8 lens, and despite still being expensive, I decided to go for it. It showed up from Japan in a frighteningly undersized box. And sure enough, the front flange of the lens got impacted and bent in during shipping. So I had to send it back.

Fast forward to today, I finally saw another one pop up within my price range, and I jumped on it. The lens arrived safely, cosmetically it looks great, better than most of these lenses do at this age. Buuuuut, the photos it takes are just no good. Here's a comparison of this lens with my EF 70-200 f2.8 II. Both photos at 2.8. Unfortunately it's clear that something is really, really wrong with this lens.

I am very close to Midwest Camera Repair. What are the chances this is fixable? Or, should I play it safe and just send the lens back. These things are so rare and so expensive, it seems that I'm cursed to never actually be able to get one to keep, despite my best attempts.

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

You know what, forget it. I'm just returning it. I want one of these lenses very much, and it really sucks to now have another one slip out of my grasp, but I don't want to open this can of worms to figure out whether or not this is fixable.

 

[AlanF]

Five years ago I found a good deal on a 200mm f1.8 lens, and despite still being expensive, I decided to go for it. It showed up from Japan in a frighteningly undersized box. And sure enough, the front flange of the lens got impacted and bent in during shipping. So I had to send it back.

Fast forward to today, I finally saw another one pop up within my price range, and I jumped on it. The lens arrived safely, cosmetically it looks great, better than most of these lenses do at this age. Buuuuut, the photos it takes are just no good. Here's a comparison of this lens with my EF 70-200 f2.8 II. Both photos at 2.8. Unfortunately it's clear that something is really, really wrong with this lens.

I am very close to Midwest Camera Repair. What are the chances this is fixable? Or, should I play it safe and just send the lens back. These things are so rare and so expensive, it seems that I'm cursed to never actually be able to get one to keep, despite my best attempts.

Have you checked its AFMA? It might just need a serious + or - that will correct it?

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Have you checked its AFMA? It might just need a serious + or - that will correct it?

I thought that, but fist off I'm using an R5, so no AFMA available. And second, even manually focusing, I can't find a sharp point. It just goes from really blurry to kinda blurry, then back to really blurry.

 

[neuroanatomist]

…I finally saw another one pop up within my price range…
These things are so rare and so expensive, it seems that I'm cursed to never actually be able to get one to keep, despite my best attempts.

Apologies for the cynicism, but I suppose you’ve considered the possibility that the few lenses in your price range are there for a reason.

 

[AUGS]

Before you send this back, and I'm sure you would have considered it, but are you working inside the minimum focus distance in those test shots?
From TDP: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-200mm-f-1.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
"Obviously, 2.5m (8.2') is this lens' MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) - a rather long distance for this focal length. MM (Maximum Magnification) is therefore low."

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Apologies for the cynicism, but I suppose you’ve considered the possibility that the few lenses in your price range are there for a reason.

It had just come up for sale, so I figured it might have been a legitimate deal. The one I got five years ago was, it just arrived damaged.

 

[Kit Lens Jockey]

Before you send this back, and I'm sure you would have considered it, but are you working inside the minimum focus distance in those test shots?
From TDP: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-200mm-f-1.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
"Obviously, 2.5m (8.2') is this lens' MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) - a rather long distance for this focal length. MM (Maximum Magnification) is therefore low."

Naw, it takes the same kind of soft photos at any distance. Besides, the camera should have said that it couldn't find focus if it was shorter than the MFD, not locked on focus the way it did.