50mm 1.4 focus fix.

[Nickcanada]

So I'm looking through the local classifieds and I see a post for a 50mm 1.4, The lady says she dropped it and the focus doesn't work anymore. So I do a quick search and apparently it's a common problem with the lens. So I buy it for 50 bucks thinking worst case I send it in to Canon and get them to fix it or if it's too costly I'd just post it back up for sale.

I get it home and ya it's not working but it feels like something is just off a bit... so I tare the mofo down. I took every screw out so that it was broken down into a mess of parts.

Sorry I didn't take many pictures.

This is what the focus motor assembly looks like.... http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8894.jpg

At first I though one of those gears must have jumped of busted but after 2 hours of examination I decided the problem must be somewhere else.

That's when I noticed this....

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8902-2.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8902.jpg

I straightened that sucker out and she's working... It's a little loud and a bit slow... but I'm comparing it to my other primes.... I'm going to have to go into a store to compare with a new lens to tell if it's "good as new".

You must be thinking I fudged up the calibration and it's going to need to be sent in eh? Well, you're wrong.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8911.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8911-2.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8912.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8912-2.jpg

[cdifoto]

Nice. :D

I don't really recall my 50 1.4 being all that quiet or fast though anyway...it's micro USM after all, not ring USM.

[faisal]

50 bucks....nice!!!

[droopy1592]

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8902.jpg

I straightened that sucker out and she's working... It's a little loud and a bit slow... but I'm comparing it to my other primes.... I'm going to have to go into a store to compare with a new lens to tell if it's "good as new".

You must be thinking I fudged up the calibration and it's going to need to be sent in eh? Well, you're wrong.

[

I nevered opened up a lens so i don't know what's wrong with that picture lol

Anyway, my 50mm f/1.4 is quick and silent but compared to my 85mm f/1.8 it's louder and slower, if that helps.

[Nickcanada]

Again sorry for the horrible pictures.... it was late. ;)


Okay so here is a picture of what it is suppose to look like. Notice the white block fitting snugly in the grove.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8907-Edit.jpg


Now when the lens was droped it must have stretched the metal a bit so when the lens would try to rotate to achieve focus it was binding in the grove.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/_MG_8902-Edit.jpg


The bend was so slight it took me hours of inspection to find it. When I was testing the lens with everything apart it would move well but when I locked everything down it would bind, but when everything was locked down I couldn't see that part of the lens! At first that little bend almost looked like it was suppose to be there. To fix it all I did was take a set of small Channel lock pliers and bent the metal back into shape.

[Nickcanada]

Okay I checked out a local shop and tried a new 50mm to compare. My copy is louder and a little slower by about 20% That's just a rough estimate and I didn't try them side by side. Still I'm happy for it only costing 50 bucks.

[24Peter]

Seems like a steal for $50... good one!

[zmikers]

Wow, nice work. I don't think I could have been asked! :p

[adam75south]

niiiiice

it's a good feeling. i had a strobe that wouldn't fire from the sync cord, only through the optical slave. so i took it apart and found a wire not connected and a loose part, put them back where they needed to be, soldered the wire back on, and now it's as good as that POS is gonna get.

[droopy1592]

Oh ok... saw the cracks in the paint there but wasn't sure. Wow, that was a steal!

[Gintaras]

Nick, sounds like you got a DEAL! this is what i call risk taking, you took the risk betting 50$ and you got fair reward. COOL

[michaelb]

Seems like a steal for $50... good one!

Agreed. Nice work Nick! My 17-40 and 85 1.8 are at Canon right now.

[Nickcanada]

What's up with your 85mm? that sucks!


It was a gamble, but even if I couldn't fix it I'm sure I could have resold it or sent it in to Canon. The word on the street is they charge 100 bucks to fix that problem.

[droopy1592]

Thinking of selling my ebay bought (through microsoft live) 85mm myself. That lens has wayy to much dang purple fringing. CA is one thing, but the purple fringing can get ridiculous. I got my eye on the 135L lol

[Nickcanada]

Thinking of selling my ebay bought (through microsoft live) 85mm myself. That lens has wayy to much dang purple fringing. CA is one thing, but the purple fringing can get ridiculous. I got my eye on the 135L lol

Really eh? I love the 85mm 1.8 Purple fringing isn't bad at 2.0-2.2. I'm planning on selling the 50. We'll see how much I like it first... :D

[droopy1592]

I love my 50, 85 too close for indoors in some cases, 135 more fun outdoors, less CA, no PF, more better buttery bokeh, etc etc.

Half of my shots the other day at f/2.2 or less with the 85mm had purple fringing in them if there was either a)sunlight on the subject with white or metallic material b) any metallic/shiny material. Just a guy catching a frisby was covered in purple fringing. That's a bit much.

[Rhys]

That sounds an excellent purchase and a clever fix.

[faisal]

Really eh? I love the 85mm 1.8 Purple fringing isn't bad at 2.0-2.2. I'm planning on selling the 50. We'll see how much I like it first... :D

hmm...I'll give you $51 for it :p

On a serious note...if you really don't like it....I'll be interested in getting it off you if a Canada to UAE sale is possible cause I am in the market for a 50mm upgrade...

[Nickcanada]

hmm...I'll give you $51 for it :p

On a serious note...if you really don't like it....I'll be interested in getting it off you if a Canada to UAE sale is possible cause I am in the market for a 50mm upgrade...

I'm going to put it through it's paces first. I want to make sure everything is working well and there aren't going to be any surprises.... but ya I'm interested in selling it.... for a bit more then 51 dollars though. ;)