Problem with two different Canon 85mm f/1.8 Lenses

[shawnhopkins]

A while back I was having intermittent problems just on a Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. All my other lenses work fine. Sporadically I would get, "Communications between the camera and lens is faulty. Clean the contacts". It seemed humidity played a part but I could never consistently reproduce the problem. I wound up buying a second 85mm brand new. Now, as of today, this lens is having the same problem, but all the time. My F-stop is 00 so I know there's something not right. The contacts look clean. Like I said it's only on these 85mm lenses. I did try using a soft cloth to wipe the contacts, nothing abrasive, but no luck. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Waddizzle]

If you are getting an aperture setting of F00, then the lens is not communicating with the camera body.  Wherever you bought the lens, they seem to have a bad batch of the lenses.  Get a refund, and buy the lens elsewhere.

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

"I wound up buying a second 85mm brand new."

Call Canon 1 (800) 652-2666.  If it is brand new and it is from a real Canon USA dealer, Canon will get it right. If you are buying grey .......... well you'er on your own.

BTW, it is unlikely the contacts (other lenses work OK) but if you must clean them use a q-tip and denatured alcohol. Nothing else!

[runngun]

This is so timely as I am having the same issue with this lens, when shooting sports with focus set to auto servo, case 1, shutter speed "high". When moving camera to lock on subjects near and far, I can replicate the "err 01" after about 30-40 shots. I take a 4-5 frame burst, then move camera to another subject and repeat. I have cleaned contacts with denatured alcohol and microfiber lens cloth. As stated in other responses, none of my other lenses cause this occurence. Thanks for posting_ brothers in arms_ will send off to Canon and see if they will repair under warranty, given the obvious history, as the lens is two years old.

[shawnhopkins]

I'm a Canon CPS member so I e-mailed them stating that the issue has occured with two of the same lens purchased at different times. I asked if they would replace both lenses at no cost. I've had similar experiences in the computer world with defective mainboards after warranty has expired. "Defective" is defective and they should have made the lens the right way in the first place. 

I compared the lense Ihad that has the issue some of the time to the lense that's having the problem full time. Nothing appears to be wrong with the contacts. One lens fires just fine and the other not at all. Yet both lenses experience the same issue.

I have four other Canon-brand lenses that don't have the problem.

[ebiggs1]

"Nothing appears to be wrong with the contacts."

It rarely, very rarely, is!  Please let us know how it turns out.

[runngun]

It would seem to me that Canon would have data base of serial numbers corresponding to this issue with error message regarding cleaning contacts. I have read about this issue in other forums, so it is not a unknown or infrequent occurence. I'm sure Canon will not share what they know about any manufacturing defect, but I intend to press this issue when I talk to them on Monday. I will go in with positive vibes, and they may just be resigned to replacing this lens at no charge. I have been a Canon user for many, many years, and have had only "tune-up" maintenance done with some gear, in which I have had complete satisfaction with their costs and prompt return of my gear. I'll follow-up here with the results of my negotiations.  Currently, it has "cost" me $149 on my credit card to request and send in for service. Hope to get that refunded.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"I wound up buying a second 85mm brand new."

Call Canon 1 (800) 652-2666.  If it is brand new and it is from a real Canon USA dealer, Canon will get it right. If you are buying grey .......... well you'er on your own.

BTW, it is unlikely the contacts (other lenses work OK) but if you must clean them use a q-tip and denatured alcohol. Nothing else!

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Someone with more knowledge of chemistry than I have may want to weigh in on this, but I'd be inclined to prefer isopropyl alcohol over denatured alcohol, precisely because it's already poisonous and therefore doesn't need to be "denatured" (in order to prevent it from turning up in untaxed liquor). The whole point of using alcohol to clean contacts is that in its pure form it doesn't leave a residue. By definition, denatured alcohol contains an adulterant; and depending on what that adulterant is, it might conceivably leave a residue.

[ebiggs1]

Ethyl Alcohol vs Isopropyl Alcohol.

[CaliforniaDream]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"I wound up buying a second 85mm brand new."

Call Canon 1 (800) 652-2666.  If it is brand new and it is from a real Canon USA dealer, Canon will get it right. If you are buying grey .......... well you'er on your own.

BTW, it is unlikely the contacts (other lenses work OK) but if you must clean them use a q-tip and denatured alcohol. Nothing else!

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Someone with more knowledge of chemistry than I have may want to weigh in on this, but I'd be inclined to prefer isopropyl alcohol over denatured alcohol, precisely because it's already poisonous and therefore doesn't need to be "denatured" (in order to prevent it from turning up in untaxed liquor). The whole point of using alcohol to clean contacts is that in its pure form it doesn't leave a residue. By definition, denatured alcohol contains an adulterant; and depending on what that adulterant is, it might conceivably leave a residue.

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Denatured alcohol is "denatured" usually by adding methanol to ethyl alcohol making it poisonous but having minor alteration on its prosperities.