EOS R7/ RF 100-500mm image stabilizers causing "double vision"

[ASharma]

I have had a bad experience recently with my R7 and RF 100-500mm, which I use mostly for birding. After 18 months, of flawless performance, about 2 months ago, they developed what I call "double vision" with general blurriness. But when pixel peeking, I can clearly see duplication of feather edges, fence posts, and reflected eye beams. When returned to Canon Canada, their computer diagnostics identified a failed image stabilizer chip, which required replacement of the R7 motherboard, a significant repair. Unfortunately, when my gear was returned, the problem was still present despite the new motherboard. This time, I found a fine printed grid to test the lens. It clearly shows splitting of horizontal but not vertical grid lines, with this pattern reversed when switching from landscape to portrait mode. This would suggest a problem with the "pitch-and-yaw" image stabilizers in the lens, or perhaps lens elements that are out of alignment. It may also be a miscommunication between the IS chip in the R7 and the lens optical IS, but I am able to duplicate the splitting with my lens on a friend's R10, which has no IS. Everything is being sent off to Canon Canada for reassessment today, but I find it hard to believe that I had a simultaneous problem in both the R7 motherboard AND the lens optical IS. Has anyone had similar issues?

[shadowsports]

You can use OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or Box drive.  Share it and post the link for us 🙂

[ASharma]

Thanks. That's easier. Here's the Google Drive link. You have to zoom in to see the splitting.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMFNqJfGlXh-h21h90ljt02bGtVE2kXN?usp=sharing

[ASharma]

If it's easier, I have also posted these 3 examples in the following DropBox folder. 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xdsd7bdjo0m87bes7kb3p/AO6pnclE4hLtgI8WEb6Tj24?rlkey=ivonpbzaymko61y4w...

[kvbarkley]

You can also post a detail, say 1/4 of the image here that shows the problem.

[ASharma]

As you suggested, here's a photo of the grid, zoomed in. The horizontal lines are split. They should look like the corresponding vertical lines. The crop loses the EXIF, but this photo was shot in landscape mode at 1/800s, 500 mm, IS on, shot on a tripod. In portrait mode, the splitting occurs in the vertical lines. 

[ctitanic]

Please post back when you receive back the Camera+lens.

[ASharma]

Thanks. Will do. They were just received by Canon Canada this morning. Given the promised turn-around through CES membership, it will likely be the first week of October. 

[ASharma]

Repair 1: Replacement of R7 main board for "failed image stabilizer chip"

Repair 2: Canon's 11-point lens tune-up e.g. cleaning of cable connectors, tightening of screws, firmware upgrade, etc

Close-up pre- and post- repair images of my test grid can be found at this DropBox link.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xdsd7bdjo0m87bes7kb3p/AO6pnclE4hLtgI8WEb6Tj24?rlkey=ivonpbzaymko61y4w...

In both images: 1/800s, F8, 500mm, tripod, no UV filter, no time delay on shutter release, distance to target ~ 20 feet.  Yesterday, I had a chance to test out the various bird-eye AF modes, and I was pleased with the results. Based on daily test shots of my grid for the past 5-6 days, I think the issue is resolved, which I thought I should report in case anyone else experiences similar difficulties.