topic Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair in EF & RF Lenses

18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:17:32 GMT

Recently I was changing the lens. When I removed the auto focus 18-55 zoom lens a part fell out of the lens. It is metal and has copper contacts on it. I'm not sure where it belongs or why it fell out. Anyone had a similar problem?

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

ebiggs1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:03:20 GMT

Little short on info there. Can you explain exactly what part 'fell' off with 'coppr contacts'? Perhaps a picture?

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:19:59 GMT

Will post photo later. I was just learning to post on the site.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

TCampbell — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 03:18:12 GMT

The skilled labor to repair a lens is fairly expensive ... so depending on the value of the lens, the labor cost can over-take the replacement cost.

This tends to happen with the lower cost lenses... e.g. the EF 50mm f/1.8 (which is only about $120 brand-new) or the EF-S 18-55 (roughly $200 brand new) where it doesn't take too many hours of labor before it's just not worth repairing.

If you have the non-STM version of the EF-S 18-55 then there are other motivating reasons where it's probably a better idea to "replace" rather than "repair".

The new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM has the new extremely quiet STM focusing motors... but it also has other advantages

Significantly quieter focusing (nearly silent)
Faster focusing
Front element doesn't rotate when focusing (a huge advantage when you use a polarizing filter)
Noticeably improved optics - sharper all the way around
Better aperture blades and 7 blades instead of 6
Shorter minimum-focus distance.
A better lens hood (petal style -- if you use a hood)
Supports full-time manual override during auto-focus (no risk of damage if you try to focus when camera tries to focus.)
And other advantages in terms of build quality, focus & zoom rings, etc.

The "STM" version is $50 more than the non-STM version... but the advantages are so numerous that it's worth every penny of the $50 additional cost.

OR... you could consider a completely different lens such as one of the 18-135mm versions, or 17-85mm ... or even the 17-55mm f/2.8 (VERY nice and collects considerably more light).

If budgets are tight... check to see if anything is available in Canon's "refurbished" section of their online store. Those tend to be the best prices you get and though they are technically refurbs... they're generally indistinguishable from "new" and they even come with the same warranty as a "new" lens.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 23:55:07 GMT

That is probably a better idea (replace instead of repair). Not happy that a part falls out when changing a lens.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:10:55 GMT

here is the part that fell out.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

ebiggs1 — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:55:30 GMT

Whatever it is, it looks important.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

RobertTheFat — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 16:11:45 GMT

ebiggs1 wrote:
Whatever it is, it looks important.

If it fell out of the lens, it must have left quite a hole. Can you tell how it was originally fastened? It looks as though it may have something to do with the electrical connection, in which case maybe it just needs a replacement screw or something.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Waddizzle — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 16:20:26 GMT

If something like that "fell out" of my 18-55mm lens, then yeah, it is time to buy a new lens. Judging from the looks of it, several more pieces probably "fell out" before that thing made its' appearance. It is amazing the lens is still "in one piece."

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

RobertTheFat — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 00:50:01 GMT

Waddizzle wrote:

If Waddizzle's guess is correct, it would be a good idea to try to verify that none of the pieces (and/or the screw(s) that once held them in) are lurking in the camera, waiting to do some sort of damage.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

lly3988 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 10:52:04 GMT

You must have opened up the lens to attempt repairing it. I recognize the part which is deep inside the lens barrel and there is no way that it will fall off the lens when you removed it from the camera. One has to open the lens entirely to see the part. It is underneath the PCB inside the barrel . It won't come out from the lens mount opening.

If you don't know how to put it back, there are a lot of tutorials on the YouTube.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

lly3988 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 10:41:24 GMT

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

RobertTheFat — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:08:05 GMT

lly3988 wrote:
You must have opened up the lens to attempt repairing it. I recognize the part which is deep inside the lens barrel and there is no way that it will fall off the lens when you removed it from the camera. One has to open the lens entirely to see the part. It is underneath the PCB inside the barrel . It won't come out from the lens mount opening.

If you don't know how to put it back, there are a lot of tutorials on the YouTube.

Which brings up the obvious point that if we'd been told the truth in the first place, we wouldn't have wasted our time guessing.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Waddizzle — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 14:47:22 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@lly3988 wrote:
You must have opened up the lens to attempt repairing it. I recognize the part which is deep inside the lens barrel and there is no way that it will fall off the lens when you removed it from the camera. One has to open the lens entirely to see the part. It is underneath the PCB inside the barrel . It won't come out from the lens mount opening.

If you don't know how to put it back, there are a lot of tutorials on the YouTube.

Which brings up the obvious point that if we'd been told the truth in the first place, we wouldn't have wasted our time guessing.

I figured it out from the start. I was just trying to be polite about it, by dropping some hints.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:36:49 GMT

I am not trying to waste anyone’s time. I’m sure you are all extremely busy and experts regarding this particular lens. However, I am not lying about what happened. I was sitting at my dining room table and removed the lens from the camera. When I separated the lens from the camera, the part fell on the table. I thought it came from the camera because I couldn’t see any thing inside the lens that appeared to be missing. I set it aside and was considering purchasing a new camera body, the canon 80D. As I was looking at the lenses to see if I wanted to add a new lens, I attached the 50mm lens to the camera and it worked fine. That’s when I took a closer look at the lens and realized that the part came from the lens. I reviewed YouTube videos to see where the part fits and how. I also decided to join this group. What an eye opener! Three of the esteemed members have accused me of lying. It seems that I am wasting my time trying to learn from the more experienced users. Thank you for enlightening me.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Waddizzle — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:19:39 GMT

@Jhstarkey1 wrote:
I am not trying to waste anyone’s time. I’m sure you are all extremely busy and experts regarding this particular lens. However, I am not lying about what happened. I was sitting at my dining room table and removed the lens from the camera. When I separated the lens from the camera, the part fell on the table. I thought it came from the camera because I couldn’t see any thing inside the lens that appeared to be missing. I set it aside and was considering purchasing a new camera body, the canon 80D. As I was looking at the lenses to see if I wanted to add a new lens, I attached the 50mm lens to the camera and it worked fine. That’s when I took a closer look at the lens and realized that the part came from the lens. I reviewed YouTube videos to see where the part fits and how. I also decided to join this group. What an eye opener! Three of the esteemed members have accused me of lying. It seems that I am wasting my time trying to learn from the more experienced users. Thank you for enlightening me.

No one is calling you a liar. Anything can happen, most especially when you least expect it. However, in my decades of experience, screws generally are not able to unscrew themselves. It takes help from an external force.

Where did the lens come from? As I observed earlier, more parts would have to come out before that thing comes out.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

lly3988 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 01:47:24 GMT

Nobody is accusing that you are lying. Take it easy. We are here to help finding out the possible causes of why this has come into being.

The part shown in the pics you posted definitely belongs to a lens (may not be yours and not necessarily Canon lenses) . It is connected to flex cables and the PCB to transmit data relating to the operation of the lens - the focal distance and aperture values etc) It could only come out when one removed the lens mount and the PCB and the focus motor assembly. One still has to get into the barrel to remove some other parts including some flex cables and the helicoid assembly to get the part out.

If your lens is intact and nothing came loose, then the only explanation is that the part doesn't belong to your 18 55 kit lens and it may be a part of another lens. It may have dropped out of the camera/lens packing box etc etc.

I have reviewed the following youtube again and the shape of the two comb-like parts seem similar but not exactly identical. But there are differnt versions of the lens and I have not had the opportunity to open up all of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEUsgNOCaUw

It is not worth the time and money to repair it. Buy a STM version from a dealer and you will have warranty and peace of mind.

Good luck and happy shooting.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 03:43:20 GMT

Mr. Honored Contibuter,

When someone writes “if we had been told the truth to begin with...”. Sounds like you are saying I lied.

The lens came with the camera. I appreciate your observation, but nothing came out except the part in the photo. There are no obvious ways to attach the piece. No holes. Thought maybe it was attached by an adhesive. I have tried to find an exploded drawing of the lens but haven’t had any luck. Anyway, it is probably not worth pursuing. I was just curious.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

ebiggs1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:17:32 GMT

"When someone writes “if we had been told the truth to begin with...”. Sounds like you are saying I lied ..."

I think you have a point. Having no idea what that part is except, "it looks important to me.", the best advice is to move on to a new, better, lens. Assuming yours is not the STM version. Even better idea is to go for the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens.

It is totally fantastic lens and why not now when you have a perfect "excuse".

You might want to take it with a grain of salt some folks even though they have decades of experience.

Re: 18-55 zoom lens repair

Jhstarkey1 — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:40:18 GMT

Thanks. Definitely purchasing a new lens and probably the Canon 80D body.