topic Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem in EF & RF Lenses

canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

Terryrebelt2i — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:58:41 GMT

Hello

I have been working with Canon EF-S 18-55 NON IS lenes and have found a problem I can't seen to solve. The problem is that I do get auto focus but at certain points it will not focus. I have changed the board with a known good one, The motor assembly, The contacts with good looking ones from working units but not the contact strip as they look good.

The assembly moves freely with little resistance. I have also seen this problem on IS versions too but mainly on the non IS versions.

I'm looking for any other suggestion that might solve the problem.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 15:08:34 GMT

Does this indicate you disassembled the lens?

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

Terryrebelt2i — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 16:06:35 GMT

Yes I do and have had very good success in repairing them but I have a few that just defy me and have this problem.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:53:05 GMT

Man I don't know. It could be anything if you got inside. You are braver, than I.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

Terryrebelt2i — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:29:02 GMT

Well I finaly figured out what the problem was and fixed 3 lenes.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

RobertTheFat — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:37:52 GMT

@Terryrebelt2i wrote:
Well I finaly figured out what the problem was and fixed 3 lenes.

And what did you find the problem was?

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

Terryrebelt2i — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 02:32:06 GMT

The problem is with the focus flex cable. Right at the mounting point of the flex cable the constant flexing has cause a micro fracture of the copper traces that allowed intermittent disconnection. You could not see the problem unless you removed the flex cable and then examined it under a 200x power scope. Replacing the flex cable solved the problem.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kathiemo — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 06:58:42 GMT

Terry..

I am having this intermittent auto focus problem with my 17 – 55mm F2.8 with Image Stabilization. It will focus at the full zoom and as you zoom in the focus will blur out..I can hear the motor attempting to focus and then it won’t. It is unusable at this point and obviously needs repair. I really hope I can afford to fix it, I shoot as a volunteer for a small public high school. This is a great go to lens for shooting with available light . Do you think I will need to mention this as the possible problem? I don’t want to offend anyone.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

RobertTheFat — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 14:30:59 GMT

@kathiemo wrote:
Terry..
I am having this intermittent auto focus problem with my 17 – 55mm F2.8 with Image Stabilization. It will focus at the full zoom and as you zoom in the focus will blur out..I can hear the motor attempting to focus and then it won’t. It is unusable at this point and obviously needs repair. I really hope I can afford to fix it, I shoot as a volunteer for a small public high school. This is a great go to lens for shooting with available light . Do you think I will need to mention this as the possible problem? I don’t want to offend anyone.

A similkar (but I think not identical) problem with the 17-55 has been reported in this forum within the past few months. It must be fairly rare; both my wife and I have had 17-55's for several years and have not experienced it. But it could be what's happening to you. If you decide you want to mention the problem when you send the lens in for repair, you could go through the lens threads for the past three or four months and see exactly what was said.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 17:01:53 GMT

Bob from Boston,

True I have no first hand knowledge with the EF-S 18-55 but I will guess it is nearly a throw away lens. At $200 bucks for a new version II, I mean. Yes, no?

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kathiemo — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 18:46:01 GMT

Thanks Bob for your quick response and help.. I was looking at some certified refurbished and they are selling for over $500.,which is just a bit more than what my deductible would be. I would think it would cost less to fix. This is actually my third of this lens. The first one was damaged because I dropped my bag after slipping on a wet floor at a school.. That could have gone really bad. The second one just stopped focusing in the middle of a shoot but was under warrantee. Now this.. lol It must be me. I still like the lens. I have had this one for several years and have shot season after season of basketball, I also use it as my wide angle second camera for every other season and just about everything I do. Basically I have used the heck out of it. I recently read that it should always be transported while switched to manual. I have never done this but It makes since and I will start do this with all of my lenses.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

RobertTheFat — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 19:18:01 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Bob from Boston,
True I have no first hand knowledge with the EF-S 18-55 but I will guess it is nearly a throw away lens. At $200 bucks for a new version II, I mean. Yes, no?

I have no first-hand knowledge of that lens either, and have no reason to doubt your assessment (though I have heard that some of the more recent versions are much better than the original). But this thread was recently re-opened on a discussion of a similar problem with an entirely different lens: the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, which both you and I have owned and liked. It was in that context that I said what I did.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 23:15:25 GMT

Kathi,

Is this the lens you have? Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens. If it is I think you are better served buying a new one. They are $200 bucks and if you had the older model this one is better.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kathiemo — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:40:45 GMT

No, but the confusion is my fault. I have the EF-S 15-55mm F/2.8 IS USM..I didn't mean to confuse the topic but this was the only thread that I found that had any discussion on this problem. I apologize.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

RobertTheFat — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 01:38:51 GMT

@kathiemo wrote:
No, but the confusion is my fault. I have the EF-S 15-55mm F/2.8 IS USM..I didn't mean to confuse the topic but this was the only thread that I found that had any discussion on this problem. I apologize.

OK, now I'm confused. Assuming that Kathie's last post (the one to which I'm responding) doesn't contain a typo, that's a lens that I've never heard of. And I don't find it on the Canon site. I had understood her to say that her lens was a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. Ernie once owned that lens, and my wife and I still do. (I used mine at a photo shoot as recently as March 1. Actually, come to think of it, I didn't. I was using my 24-105 and my 16-35 f/4. Maybe we all need more sleep.)

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kathiemo — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 01:41:57 GMT

lol.. your right more sleep.. 17 not 15.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:11:42 GMT

OK I am thinking you have the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens. It is worth inquiring about a repair. Call Canon Support today.

Let me say one thing, you didn't get it wet did you? Water and lenses don't do well together. You can expect the repair to be in the $200+ range as an approx. guess.

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kvbarkley — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:52:51 GMT

Funny, Last year I was taking some pictures in a tide pool as the tide came in. My T3i and 17-85 got splashed. The T3i died, but the lens is fine. 8^)

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

ebiggs1 — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:23:22 GMT

It may have taken the salt water this long to corrode some electrical gizmo's inside. Call Canon Support. You may not get good news. The lens and/or the camera is not sealed against splashing or getting wet. Sorry!

Re: canon EF-S 18-55 random auto focus problem

kvbarkley — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 15:32:50 GMT

I was just sharing the story. I have moved on with a new T6S and 18-135. I am using the 17-85 on my XS as a spare until it dies (or not!). Thanks for the sympathy, though!