Canon 28-70mm f/2 smudge issue

[fahadyunus]

Dear Canon Support Community,

I am writing to seek urgent assistance regarding an issue I have encountered with my Canon 28-70mm f/2 lens. In August of 2021, I noticed the presence of small smudge prints on the front element of the lens. It is important to note that the lens was in perfect condition the previous night, and I discovered the smudge prints when I woke up for a shoot. The smudges did not initially affect the images captured. However, this lens is crucial to my work as it serves as my primary lens for all my wedding shoots and personal projects.

Concerned about the smudges, I promptly took the lens to the Canon India Service center. Unfortunately, they immediately blamed me for scratching the lens surface, even though the lens was still under warranty at the time. Despite my insistence, they refused to accept the lens for further inspection to determine the cause of the issue. Their suggestion was to continue using the lens as it was not visibly affecting the images.

Now, fast forward to the present, the smudges on the lens have significantly increased in size and quantity. As a result, the quality of the images captured is visibly affected. I have attached pictures for your reference.

To my dismay, I have discovered that I am not the only person facing this issue. A quick search on various forums, including Reddit, reveals that at least five other individuals have experienced the exact same problem with the Canon 28-70mm f/2 lens. What is even more concerning is that none of the Canon Service team members have provided a definitive cause for this issue.

As a professional photographer and a loyal Canon customer for over a decade, I believe it is crucial to understand the root cause of the problem in order to prevent future occurrences and maintain trust in Canon's products and services. Has anyone in the community faced this issue? August 2021June 2023

[ebiggs1]

A couple points.........

"If people of average intelligence are using these improper methods to clean their lens then would it not be the case that ALL the lens or at least other lenses ..."

I know that most of the folks us photo 'enthusiasts' know and run around with usually have several lenses. However, the vast majority of people have only one lens or perhaps two.

Two, no one knows all the details of how you or any of use treated our gear. If it is used who knows what it lived through. People don't tend to incriminate themselves. Not saying this is you but put yourself in Canon's place or us. 

I have heard of this issue several times. There maybe a problem, I don't know but a single copy or even a dozen doesn't prove a problem with the whole run or line.

I know if I had dropped the dime for an expensive lens like this one there would have been a high quality protecto filter on it as it came out of the Canon package.

"Something is clearly wrong if only the 28-70 suffers this fate"

No, not really if someone saw a problem with how they cleaned this lens I would hope they stopped doing it on the others they own. But you are right you never know about folks and that in itself is the problem.

I sincerely hope you get yours fixed to your satisfaction. I don't know what Canon's decision is or will be but just be glad it isn't one of the other photography companies you are working with.

[Sannystac07]

This is a known issue for this lens and Canon blames the consumer. I just had to pay nearly $700 for an entire element replacement over a tiny place in the middle of my lens that was causing a hazy look. They also said it needed recalibrated but it was focusing fine. It should be a recall and they won’t acknowledge it. I was cleaning my lens with lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth and the coating came off!

[ebiggs1]

"... entire element replacement over a tiny place in the middle of my lens ..."

Unfortunately replace is the only solution if the lens coating is damaged. It can not be reapplied. It does seem that this coating seems more fragile than some other lenses but I suspect it is the same lens coating that is used on several lenses in the "L" line which don't have any issues.

If I owned this lens I would never, "...cleaning my lens with lens cleaner and a microfiber ...". I would have a B+W protecto filter on it from out of the box. But I do that for all my "L" series lenses so it's not out of line for me. Most have never been touched or cleaned.

I am truly sorry for you having to shell out the $700 bucks but I imagine Canon saw something. It has been my experience that Canon will tend to be more lenient towards the customer even if they were the cause. But Canon is a for profit company and that only goes so far. I don't know how you handled your lens. How it lived. How you cleaned the front element. How you used it, but change something.

Buy a B+W protecto filter and stop cleaning the front element.