5D MK IV service question/opinion

[cityjack]

Afternoon all,

First time here and just looking for some opinions maybe a shoulder to cry on.
I just bought my wife her dream camera a few weeks back. Basically, while in the living room, she just took it in and out of the camera bag I bought her and snapped some pics inside the house and basically just read the manual.
While on vacation down to Georgia last week and as mentioned after only using it briefly in the house, one night while downloading some pics in the hotel, she noticed some dark/black specs (3 of them) through the viewfinder. The camera as I said is brand new and the lens had never been off. None of the three specs could be seen on any photo taken after downloaded to her pc. I then figured since the spots could not be seen on the photos, the sensor was clean. I could not find a camera cleaning kit anywhere while on vacation, so I bought one of those little "booger suckers" from the infant section at Target to get me by.
First I took the lens off, cleaned the rear with the "Target tool" and visually inspected front and back. Reassembled, and specks were still there. I took the lens back off and while holding the body down opening towards the floor, tried the air tool again. Reassembled, and still, the specs you could see clearly in the same exact spots through the viewfinder. I also used air at the eyecup on the back of the camera, still no results.
I called Canon on a Saturday night and made plans to send it back to Newport News VA for service. I paid 67 dollars for their "Sensor cleaning maintenance" option. Clean mirror, verify firmware, clean body, clean external LCD surface, clean external viewfinder, clean focus screen, and clean image sensor.
I paid the 67 bucks for maintenance, 95 bucks for shipping insurance, and another 15 bucks for shipping.
I sent the camera, a copy of the original receipt, and a decent typed letter of exactly what I'm saying here to Canon. They told me on the phone if the could not get the specks to disappear with the 67 dollar cleaning maintenance option, they may have to disassemble the camera further to get to the prism and/or the inside of the viewfinder. If this was the case, this would be covered under warranty. I said fantastic and thanked the man for his help.
I received an email from Canon once they received my camera and it described the service process and how they'd keep me informed during the complete process up to the point of shipping. They even included a little youtube video of some Canon guy telling me all the nice things they were going to do for my camera and how it goes from their expert qualified technicians then over to their quality dept. for reinspection of the work completed.
I received the camera back just this past Friday. The camera still has three specks in the veiw-finder, although, now they are in different spots. Yes, I drew pictures for my reference. Not only this, there is now a slight off color circular smudge smack in the middle of the black lined framed viewfinder.
How does this get past not one service team but a quality dept. as well. I am more times than not a patient person and I know stuff gets missed, but two separate teams for something so obvious. Especially with me laying out exactly what I see and discussing with Canon before I even send the camera.
I know some of you are probably saying, "Its only a few specs. It doesn't affect your photos". I paid nearly 4K for this camera/lens combo. I want perfect. I do not think thats unreasonable to ask. Especially since I have never taken the camera apart and its basically 3 weeks old.
I plan on calling Canon first thing tomorrow morning to get their remedy.
I'm curious to know your guys' thoughts please. I apologize for the novel but wanted you all to have all info.

Have a good night.

Sid

[jrhoffman75]

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@cityjack wrote:
Good morning,

Just sneaking in from work. With my 20D 50mm lens, whats the difference to my newer 5D lens? I mean one is a full frame and the older one not. Do the electronic interface pins all match up?
If my newer lens, the 24 - 105 F4 lens is a fixed F4 aperature, when I change Fstop on the camera, the lens remains stuck at F4? Does the camera have an aperature of its own that I am changing? I am confused.

Thanks

Sid

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None of this is getting to the issue of the "blob".

But, the 24-105 lens does not have a "fixed" f/4 aperture - it has a maximum aperture of f/4.

The 50mm lens would have a maximum aperture of f/1.8.

Both are EF lens, which means they can be used on a full frame camera without vignetting.

Both lens will stop down as necessary for correct exposure when the shutter is depressed to take an image.

Neither lens will change aperture when you change the f/stop on the camera - only when you depress shutter fully or press the DoF preview button.

[jrhoffman75]

See here:

Canon U.S.A., Inc. | EOS 5D Mark IV Tutorials

[ebiggs1]

"So my lens being an F4, does that mean my aperture is variable or no?"

Your aperture is variable in that it can be changed to effect exposure.  It is not a variable aperture lens like the ef-s 18-55mm kit lens is.

It varies aperture according to FL. Simplistic but basically that is the difference. Both can vary aperture for exposure just your lens doesn't vary it by FL.

So if I am changing aperture on the camera, what am I changing if the F$ is remaining the same?

You changed a setting.  That setting does not go into effect until you press the shutter button all the way down and take the shot.  It is really no different than changing any setting.  They don't do anything until you take the shot. Right?  Same, same.

[cityjack]

Sir, I understand for the time being NOT to clean the lens, but are you saying ever? Is there a better way to clean the optics?

It is only seen looking right up atthe blue sky.  You cannot find it while looking at clouds or its VERY hard to see against some white background.  I will have to look better at a photo once I download.

Thank you again sir.

Sid

[cityjack]

Thank you for this tutorial link Mr. Hoffman

[cityjack]

I will check with the 50mm, look at the lens at an angle as Mr. Hoffman suggested and also take a couple pics at the sky and download.

I'll report back tonight.

Thank you again and have a great afternoon.

Sid

[jrhoffman75]

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@cityjack wrote:

Evening guys,

Well, I just recieved my camera back from Canon, Newport News, after they cleaned out all the black specks in the view finder, cleaned the entire mirror box, and replaced my focus screen to remedy the blurr or smudge I was seeing in the middle of the view finder.

The view finder is now perfect EXCEPT for the slight discoloration/smudge or ghostly small blur that is still in the middle of the viewfinder.  You can only see it when you look at a clear blue sky.  Looking at clouds or anything else, even white paper, its not seen.

I took the lens (24 - 105 IS L) off the camera, cleaned with a ZEISS lens towelette front and back, reassembled, and still the ghostly discoloration is still there.  I began to think maybe its normal.  When you move the camera around while looking at the sky, the mark does not move.  Its always in the exact same spot in the viewfinder.

I thought surely if it was in the camera body, Canon would have caught it with either of the return trips back to them.  Thats what made me think maybe its something with the lens.  So I researched today, Flare, ghosting, abberations, and other lens issues.  I do not think what I'm seeing is any of these things.  I need a more experienced eye.

I called the store where I bought it and told him what I was seeing and what I thought and how its beenback to canon twice in the last month.  He told me to remove the lens and look through the camera again while looking at the sky.  BAM!  The spot/discoloration/smudge was gone.  I put the lens back on to double check.  The spot returns.  Take the lens back off for the 2nd time, the spot disappears.  Some thing is going on with the lens or the lens is making the camera show a spot.

Any idea what this could be?  This is the only lens I own so I cannot try another.  Although I DO have a 50mm Canon lens off my 20D.  Not sure if I could try that.

I am at a loss.  Oh, I only sent the camera body to Canon, so they've never seen this lens yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sid

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Have you tried using LiveView to see if you see it on the LCD?

[ebiggs1]

" I understand for the time being NOT to clean the lens, but are you saying ever?"

My best advice is to use protecto filters and to clean them. Never to very rarely clean the lens if possible. Use the rear lens cap when the lens is not in use, too. The best advice is to take some, general, shots and give them a critical look over.  If it does not effect the photo, you are golden. Do nothing and stop looking!  I have lenses, actually most of them, that have never been "cleaned". We are talking years of service.

[cityjack]

You guys are awesome. I've never tried "Live View". I am assuming that is what I see through the viewfinder is displayed also on the LCD?

Sid

[cityjack]

Understood. I will do this when I get home.

Sid