topic Re: Lens problems! in EF & RF Lenses

Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 13:06:13 GMT

Last Saturday, I took several photos of two grandkids at their riding lessons. When I got home, I started to wipe the lens, 18-55mm Macro. I thought the lens had crud on it but it looks like bubbles that you get when clear tape isn't applied smoothly. How did this happen? Had the lens for about three years and it didn't show up. Photos don't show any "hiccups" on viewing them on my laptop. Thinking about contacting Canon for service.Thanks for your time and advice.

Re: Lens problems!

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 13:17:26 GMT

Can you post a photo of what you are describing? Are you sure they are new, or did you perhaps not notice before?

Unless they are really severe, items inside lens don't necessarily impact photo quality (as you have seen).

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 17:17:49 GMT

Not sure if the glitches will show up but will try. These seem to be on the surface of the lens.

Re: Lens problems!

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:42:43 GMT

If they are on the surface maybe they are water drops then. Go to the camera store and get some lens cleaner fluid and tissues to clean the surface.

Re: Lens problems!

Tronhard — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 22:31:20 GMT

What were the conditions under which you took the photos, weather wise? The main thing you want to make sure is that there is no moisture inside the lens, otherwise it will likely encourage fungus. If in doubt place it in a warm (not hot) dry place for a day or two.

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:04:11 GMT

Photos were shot under a covered arena with dry conditions. I have cleaned the lens numerous times and never noticed the "bubbles." The camera, lenses, etc. are kept in my office which is dry; central heat & air.

Re: Lens problems!

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:12:46 GMT

Then my recommendation is to go to a camera store and see what they say.

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 22:18:02 GMT

No camera shops around here. There were two in Chattanooga but they folded. Will try the ol' Google system.

Re: Lens problems!

jrhoffman75 — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 22:55:01 GMT

See if there is a local camera club near you.

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:01:09 GMT

I belong to a camera club but their meetings aren't convenient for my schedule. Will try to get there this month as they have a fellow who cleans and repairs cameras.

Re: Lens problems!

ebiggs1 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:07:55 GMT

"I have cleaned the lens numerous times and never noticed the "bubbles.""

This could be the problem. Lenses do not need to have their front element, the glass, cleaned very often. It is possible to contaminate or destroy the lens coating. If that is the case, it is permanent damage and can't be repaired. That is why, I and others recommend a protecto filter be used so you never have to clean the front element.

A front element can have pretty severe damage or dirt and not affect the photos from it. At this point I would forget it and just use the lens as is. At least until it becomes a problem.

"... lens cleaner fluid and tissues ..."

I am not a big fan of the so-called lens cleaning tissues. I prefer the lens cloths like you get form the eye doctor.

Re: Lens problems!

ebiggs1 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:16:04 GMT

"... 18-55mm Macro."

What lens is this? The standard kit lens? The EF-S 18-55mm IS II kit lens?

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 18:48:17 GMT

EB, yes to your question.

I emailed the president of the photo club to get the name of the repair/cleaning guy. Asked if he will be at the next meeting this month. Haven't heard yet.

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:21:25 GMT

Closest camera repair/shop is over 100 miles away! We had two in Chattanooga but they went OOB years ago. Will see about a Canon service center.

Re: Lens problems!

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 18:20:55 GMT

My recommendation is don’t send it away until you can sit with someone knowledgeable in person for a diagnosis. Google for wedding or portrait photographers near you. Maybe they would be willing to give you a few minutes.

Re: Lens problems!

Tronhard — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:50:17 GMT

To follow up on your answer to Ernie's very valid question... the 18-55 is a cheap kit lens, and there are lots of them out there. It hardly worth sending for repair: it will be much cheaper and effective to get a replacement 18-55 IS STM model which is virtually silent, faster focusing and can be focused manually without switching off the AF button.

Far better still, get the EF-S 18-135 IS STM or USM models - they offer a much greater range - and are thus much more versatile, and are great lenses. These are also kit lenses and you should be able to pick up either one of these refurbished or like new second-hand, as they come with lots of DSLRs and many people dispose of them barely or unused as they have other lenses that do the job - I ended up with three of them!

Some photos taken with the EF-S 18-135 lenses, hand-held in available light.
Canon EOS 80D, EF-S 18-135 IS USM @ 135mm f/8, 1/2000sec, ISO-200Canon 80D, EF-S 18-135@135mm USM, f/8, 1/2000sec, ISO-200

Canon EOS 60D EF-S 18-135 IS STM @ 50mm f/14, 1/800sec, ISO-3200

Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 18-135 IS STM @ 100mm, f/8, 1/800sec, ISO-320

Canon EOS 80D, EF-S 18-135 IS STM @ 72mm, f/8, 1/100sec, ISO-200

I hope this range covers the kinds of images you want to take.

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 13:00:25 GMT

Trevor, many thanks for your reply but the budget doesn't allow for additional purchases at this time. I'll be sending queries to several publications so that income might allow the purchase of the EF-S 18-135 IS STM. Only thing is waiting to get paid which can be weeks away for publication and payment.

Re: Lens problems!

ebiggs1 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 14:53:14 GMT

John said,

"My recommendation is don’t send it away until you can sit with someone knowledgeable in person for a diagnosis."

You must do this first. If you destroyed or damaged the coating on the front element it can not be repaired or fixed.

Trevor said,

"It hardly worth sending for repair: it will be much cheaper and effective to get a replacement 18-55 IS STM..."

You said,

"... the budget doesn't allow for additional purchases at this time."

I am saying,

That is why you need to do your research before you consider a repair or course of action. The bottom line is a working used undamaged kit lens may be, probably is, cheaper than repairing yours. The other bottom line is, what you are seeing may have none, to very little if any, effect on your photos. Things on the front element are generally OOF and don't necessarily have an impact on the pictures.

If you do see some small or any small aberration and you are shooting Raw like I have suggested many times and you have PSE, you may be able to correct that flaw in post. That doesn't cost anything!

Re: Lens problems!

Tintype_18 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:35:11 GMT

Here is a poor photo of the spots on the lens. Not sure where the other spots are from. Shot with a cheap Nikon P&S. The photo club president has passed this along to a pro photographer.Spots at 2 a nd 11 o'clock

Re: Lens problems!

ebiggs1 — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:14:32 GMT

I can't tell from that shot what those spots might be. However you have a lens that doesn't leave much room for repair moneywise. Even a C&C is probably out of the question moneywise. And like I have already explained if it is the lens coating that got damaged it is not repairable at all.

The latest most up-to-date kit lens the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens is around $200 bucks. If you have to ship it and insure it both ways plus the cost of any possible repair you might quickly add up to the replacement price. And you will still have an older used lens! I have seen good used working kit lenses sell for less that $100, too. You just don't have much working room there, my friend.

If I were you and the spots didn't affect my photos I would use it as is and forget about it.