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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
I need a UltraSonicMotor for Canon 400 2.8 series I....
Dave Chidley, Photographer
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London | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 10:20 AM on 11.29.09 |
->> I need a UltraSonicMotor for Canon 400 2.8 series I....
Canon won' fix them, there apparently are no parts available.
I've sent it to a good independent repair shop and they can't get a motor. Without it the lens can't even be manual focused. So effectively it's now one big paperweight! I know it's old, but I just don't really want to just "give up" on this lens.
Does anyone have any solid leads if anyone in the world has USM's for this lens????
Thanks. |
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Monty Rand, Photographer
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Bangor | ME | USA | Posted: 10:22 AM on 11.29.09 |
| ->> Put in an insurance claim??? |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 10:54 AM on 11.29.09 |
| ->> Have you tried the guys at Midstate Camera Repair. They work on a lot of older gear. They may have some they have scavenged from some goners. |
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Ray Anderson, Photographer
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San Francisco | CA | USA | Posted: 10:56 AM on 11.29.09 |
->> Good luck Dave
This is one reason I hate to buy from canon or nikon they have a policy of only making parts for seven years even when you buy a lens like the 400 2.8 that cost a small fortune.
There is really no excuse for this other than greed.
I have a roliflex built in 1953 and a speed graflex built in the 50's and I can get them both rebuilt at a reasonable price.
The best way for canon or nikon to get more market share would be to come out with a policy of making parts and making camera repairs for a longer period of time than other competition.
Nikon or Canon sell me an 8,000 lens that is not going to be a paper weight in 8-10 years.
Wish I could help you hopefully you may be able to find a third party out there to supply you with the part that canon should still be making. |
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Michael Ip, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:01 PM on 11.29.09 |
| ->> Try contacting KEH as well. They sometimes have old inoperative lens lying around they might be able to cannibalize. |
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Craig Mitchelldyer, Photographer, Assistant
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Portland & Orange County | OR and CA | USA | Posted: 1:32 PM on 11.29.09 |
->> "The best way for canon or nikon to get more market share would be to come out with a policy of making parts and making camera repairs for a longer period of time than other competition."
uh. What market share? Every photographer I know owns either nikon or canon.
I don't have a problem with them not servicing a lens after 10 years. It sucks, but why wouldn't they only support new items? |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 4:38 PM on 11.29.09 |
->> Hmmm... the world has shorten the life cycle and availability for functional parts. You might not be so friendly if they told you, yes, we have that motor for that 12 year old lens, that will be $1000 please.
Would you pay that amount?
Every part they stock is a dollar investment. If you have to wait 6.7 10 or 12 years to get that investment back, it gets very expensive in a hurry. |
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Al Goldis, Photographer
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East Lansing | MI | USA | Posted: 8:59 PM on 11.29.09 |
->> Actually, Michael, my memory is a little foggy because it has been many years but if I recall correctly, that is about what the USM for a 400/2.8 cost.
I'm also foggy about the exact price because while I had one replaced on a Series 1, for reasons I don't recall, I wasn't charged for the part, only the labor. |
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Bob Donnan, Photographer
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Winston-Salem | NC | USA | Posted: 10:10 PM on 11.29.09 |
| ->> Camera Repair Japan in Georgia will work on older canon and nikon gear. 1-888-226-6678 |
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Dave Chidley, Photographer
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London | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 11:28 PM on 11.29.09 |
->> Thanks for the couple of tips. I'm still trying.
The question facing me, would be IF I could find a motor:
$1,000 for a rebuilt lens or use it as a paper weight?
The rebuilt lens certainly would be worth a $1000 to me. I likely could sell it for double or close to triple that! I'd be making the choice to fix it, IF I could find a motor.
If I had a 15 year-old Rolls Royce with a good body, I'd certainly put a new motor in it, if was needed. The 400 2.8 L series (as any L series) lens should get a bit of special consideration for long term parts and repair. They are the special pro, top of the line equipment that fetches top dollar in the first place.
It's not just another piece of electronic equipment with a built in shelf life, or is it? |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 11:34 PM on 11.29.09 |
->> The way Canon has dealt with it it seems that way Dave. Which is too bad, I think canon should service that thing for life. You are making at times an 4 to 10 grand investment which in 10 years might not be worth anything because no parts are available.
Not good |
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Michael Ip, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:35 PM on 11.29.09 |
| ->> Perhaps this is a dumb question, but is it possible to retrofit a ver II or even an IS motor into this lens? Or would that just be more trouble than it's worth? |
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Duane Burleson, Photographer
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Sterling Heights | MI | USA | Posted: 1:18 AM on 11.30.09 |
| ->> Just hazarding a guess here, but I think the original and Series II use the same motor. |
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Duane Burleson, Photographer
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 9:58 AM on 11.30.09 |
| ->> not a bad price to be honest |
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Jeff Brown, Photographer
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Greenfield | MA | | Posted: 11:41 AM on 11.30.09 |
->> Dave,
I bought and paid for the Canon 400 2.8 rebuild service from Pro Camera Repair in California. I sent my lense to them in the late summer and as of today (almost December) the last update I received was, I needed to just wait until it was done and they would contact me. That and I have a additional $700+ bill comming for additional parts and lador.
They claim there was some tampering done to the inside workings of the lense. It had only been to one other shop in the life of this lense and that was while we were tring to see if any one could fix it.
They keep telling me it will be as good as new. I priced a repacement and is is still a better deal to get it fixed if it is ever done. I do not use it much this time of year so I guess they have a few months before I chomping at the bit again.
If you go this route with them be aware that the girls who answere the phone are great. The tech I have delt with on the phone seems friendy enough but there is shall I say a comunication problem between the two of us. They are supposed to be a good repair shop so I am just praying.
Best of luck and I feel you pain. My 400 way treated with kit golves, never dropped and there was not even a mark on it. |
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Dave Chidley, Photographer
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London | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 11:25 PM on 11.30.09 |
->> Thanks!, that sounds like a real possibility.
Jeff if you can please update me if you get your lens back and your opinion of the results.
Do they provide a warranty of any sort? |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Russell Rinn, Photographer
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Georgetown | Tx | USA | Posted: 12:43 AM on 12.01.09 |
| ->> With all the talk about Canons shortcomings/reality when servicing an out-of-production lens I'm curious what Nikon's policy is. I'm a Canon shooter so I have no idea. Does Nikon service a lens forever? Doubtful, though I am curious. |
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Fred Greaves, Photographer
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Jeff Brown, Photographer
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Greenfield | MA | | Posted: 12:28 PM on 12.01.09 |
->> Fred,
Wish I had this info months ago. I read the BBB page and it looks like the Tech I have spoken to is also listed as the business Principal. I guess the "F" does not stand for "FANTASTIC".
Thanks for the heads up! |
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