And this photo illustrates why (plus a fun fact for photo gearheads).
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been noticing that my photos aren’t as sharp as they should be and the problem is becoming increasingly apparent. My photos vary from being slightly soft to very soft, with none of them being truly sharp like most of them used to be.
As you can imagine it’s been driving me bonkers.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Here’s one example of many from the last few weeks. Eight days ago I took 283 photos of this Virginia Rail at Farmington Bay WMA and not a single one of them was truly sharp. A couple were sharp enough to look fairly good at the small size I post to my blog but many looked like this one and most were even worse.
To some viewers this photo, at this small size, may look acceptably sharp but believe me, it isn’t. About the only thing it’s good for is documenting a soft photo.
So yesterday I shipped my primary birding lens, my beloved Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, off to Canon’s facility in Costa Mesa, CA for adjustment/repair. I belong to Canon Professional Services (CPS, Gold Level) which theoretically at least gives me “expedited service” among other benefits but it’s still going to be a while before I get my lens back. My (wild) guess is roughly ten days but who knows.
In the meantime Feathered Photography will be taking a break, at least on most days. Occasionally I may post an older photo and it’s possible that I’ll even get lucky with some new photos I like taken with my much smaller “baby lens”. But mostly my blog will likely be down and out for the duration.
Not posting to my blog every day is going to make me feel like the proverbial duck out of water, especially in the early mornings when I usually compose the text of my posts and then later interact with my viewers in the comments.
I’ll get through it but it’s going to seem very, very strange.
Ron
Fun fact for photo gearheads:
Most photographers know that digital cameras keep track of shutter counts. But did you know that Canon lenses (I don’t know about other brands) also keep track of the number of times the diaphragm in the lens has been activated? In other words it keeps track of the number of times the lens has been focused on something, whether a photo was taken or not.
I didn’t know it, not until yesterday when I talked to the CPS representative on the phone. I’d sent this same lens to Canon for repair only six months ago so the Canon rep perused the old records of that service. She told me that when the technician first examined my lens he recorded in his preliminary exam notes that the diaphragm count on my lens was 3,990,000.
In other words in the eight years I’d had that lens I’d focused on something nearly 4 million times. In the six months since then I’m sure I’ve gone over 4 million. Makes my shutter finger sore just to think about it.
I have only had good experiences with Canon service in Canada anyway. My 2006 EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.7 L came back better than new; similar experience with my 5D4. A few days ago, I sent my EF 17-40 f/4 that became soft on 7D2, 5D4 and EOS R, and I can’t wait to get it back. The odds are your lens will come back in great shape.
Great site 🙂
Thanks for the positive report, Jacques. It improved my attitude.
UPS tracking says my lens should be delivered to Canon tomorrow. I hope to hear from them soon after that.
I look forward to your daily posting and will miss them until you are back again. In the last few years I have really enjoyed your photos and have learned so much from you. Thank you.
Thanks very much, Laurie.
My 800 5.6 quit autofocusing last year. I tried it on several bodies and it absolutely refused. So, I sent it to CPS where they disassembled the lens and found nothing wrong whatsoever. (Of course.) The lens was returned to me and I’ve never experienced the issue again which includes use on my R5. I’m of the opinion they inadvertently ‘fixed’ something during the disassembly/reassembly process. Regardless, I’ve nothing but good to say about CPS. They’ve been terrific.
Thomas, camera gear can be fickle and temperamental, no question. And I agree about CPS (even though they “lost” my lens for two days the last time I sent it in).
fingers crossed for a quick (and inexpensive); you and the other bloggers we love (looking at you EC and Mia!) add an incredible richness to our lives, for which there is an incalculable value….
With gratitude!
Much appreciated, Nicole.
I’ll be driving VERY close to your lens on my way to rehearsal on Monday. I’ll definitely send some “fix it quickly and correctly!” vibes in the direction of the Canon Factory Service Center — both coming and going!
Now THAT would be appreciated, Marty. Send them some subliminal “cheap” while you’re at it.
I think I remember Everett Sanborn saying that he used to drive by the Service Center every day while driving to and from work.
Will add “cheap” to the mantra! 😉
You’re a good kid!
I will miss you and your blog. I hope your lens comes home soon healthy and ready for action. Meantime, perhaps a quick trip to visit your daughter is in order! Sending you many warm thoughts for your mini-vacation. Please don’t get too comfortable without us.
Thanks for the thoughtful words, Melanie. Actually Shannon and her husband are going to be coming to Salt Lake in a few weeks so I’ve got a lot to do before they get here.
Getting comfortable without my readers is pretty much a contradiction in terms…
I love that your daughter and her husband are coming to visit! Hopefully you will be back out in the field with your repaired lens and treating them to fun excursions along the Great Salt Lake, to Farmington Bay, into the Wasatch Mountains, and some of your other favorite locales. Perhaps someone will take a few photos of the three of you on an adventure and you will share them with us.
Ron, you deserve a relaxing break, even if you don’t really want one. My fear is that when you sleep in and don’t have the pressure of gathering your thoughts, photos and information, you might decide you enjoy being really retired! I sure hope not.
I don’t think that’ll happen, Nancy. Blogging is one of the reasons I enjoy being retired and I’ve been an early bird all my life.
So relieved it’s gear problems but NOT the photorapher!!! 🙏👍👏…hope you get our gear back…and in good order, soon….looking orward to a”oldies” ..always enjoy them…
Thanks, Patty. At my age my fondness for oldies is growing… 🙂
Oh dear, I’m sorry for your pain but glad it’s not a physical ailment because body parts are (generally speaking) harder to repair or replace than camera parts. So, while the foregone new photos you might have taken will be missed, your “golden oldies” are more than welcome. And that baby lens can surely handle some duties!
“body parts are harder to repair or replace than camera parts”
That’s for sure, Chris. Generally more expensive too.
If I can get close enough my baby lens does a pretty good job. We’ll see.
You will be sorely missed, but hopefully it will be back in your anxious hands SOON.
Thank you, EC.
You gotta do what you gotta do!!
However, what you have done is make me question the two lenses, that I use. I have been wondering if it is me.
Many thanks, and I wish you luck in getting your lens back in ten days.
Dick, it sure wouldn’t hurt to have your two lenses checked. They do go out of whack.
I’m sure this is frustrating, given that you just had the same lens serviced 6 mos ago. Hang in there. We’ll be here rooting for you and the lens. 🤠
Yup, it is frustrating Kathryn. Partly for the reason you mention.
Sigh of relief! When I read the title of today’s blog, I feared that something bad had happened to you physically. I am so relieved to hear that you are ok!
If you get bored waiting for your lens, perhaps you could peruse your old files and post a couple golden oldies for us.
Sorry your lens is on the fritz, but glad that you are ok.
Karen, I’ve actually been posting quite a few ‘golden oldies’ lately, mostly because of the problems I’ve been having with my lens.
Break in daily routine is always good for the soul. And good for you clearing out stuff as you put your house back together – also good for the soul. We will all be here when you return Ron 🙂
Then hopefully my soul will be in good shape soon. Given its present condition that would be an accomplishment.
Hi,
May your lens repair be rapid and return to you better than ever!
Take Care and enjoy (?) putting your house back together, as you like it.
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
Juliet might not have said “Parting is such sweet sorrow” if she had a camera and blog. Probably more like “This is a bunch of B.S.” Anyway, I’ll take them as they come. The photos and posts, that is.
Hope the lens is a simple fix.
Thanks, Lyle. Yeah, I think she’d have said something different too.
Whata PITA! 🙁 I was not aware that any camera company could tell how may times the diaphragm had been activated. Guess it’s logical for “wear and tear”. Having anything we consider “essential” to our lives off for repairs IS distressing. Hopefully it’s a quick fix.
Got a “sprinkle” of rain this morning………sighhhhhhh
PITA is exactly right, Judy. You can’t imagine how much work and time was involved before I was even able to ship my lens to Canon.
We’re supposed to get some rain throughout most of the day today. We’ll see how that plays out…
I can just see you pacing your house, going nuts ! Maybe you could spend
some downtime getting together a presentation ( for a wildlife refuge audience
or the natural history museum ? ) on ETHICS IN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
–lord knows that you’ve got visual material to draw on !
Kris, believe me I’ve still got plenty to do.
I still don’t have my house ‘put back together’ after having nearly all of my floors replaced. Since almost everything, large or small, had to be moved I decided to really go through it all and throw away what needed to be thrown away – in other words I’m culling “stuff” rather than photos. I’ve still got quite a ways to go on that little project.
Holy focal facts bird man, you must have a Hulk-like shutter finger!! (Yes, I grew up on Adam West as Batman)
I hope your lens is home soon, shaper than ever. I know most of your readers enjoy your prose as much as your photos, so a few text only blog posts would be thoroughly enjoyed, I’m sure. Although, do what’s best for you, not us. 😀
Actually, it just dawned on me, that was always Robin’s shtick.
Mark, thanks for your confidence in my prose but I think my posts would look almost naked without at least one photo. We’ll just have to see how all this plays out I guess.
Here is hoping for a quick, and effective, turnaround time!
Had to send my main lens in two years ago. Felt like a child had run away from home and I didn’t know what to do with myself. Used the old lens but it wasn’t the same.
Just keep repeating: “It isn’t the tool that matters, it is the artist.”
Didn’t help me one bit but perhaps it will for you.
Ha, I doubt it’ll help me either, Wally. It hasn’t in the past.
I keep looking up on the shelf where I usually keep that lens but it’s just a big empty cavity. It gives me kind of the same feeling as when my pickup is at Ford overnight for service and I don’t have a vehicle at my disposal. I hate that feeling.
It would sure be nice if Canon were to make their diagnostic tools available to regular Canon owners…just wishing out loud.
Rick, that’s been a major gripe of mine about Canon for years. For example it’s quick and easy for Nikon camera owners to get a shutter count for their camera but it’s like pulling teeth for Canon camera owners.
Wow, never heard of “shutter count” for lenses, but it makes sense. Thanks for this info! I guess it is a good ROI to pay for CPS.
Elmer, it’s actually a lens diaphragm count, not a shutter count. The shutter is in the camera not the lens.
For me CPS has always been a good investment. It costs $100 per year for CPS “Gold” but belonging has saved me much more than that – in cash, in time spent in the shop and in angst.