I thought a long time about whether to share my only experience with Canon Service. In the end, I decided, that sharing the outcomes of such a key aspect of technology ownership, was appropriate.
In August I aquired a pristine, perfectly functioning, used 40D. I purchased it on Craigslist, and, spent two hours with focus charts, a tripod, and two prime lenses, testing focus, and all aspects of the camera before purchase. The camera was perfect.
No scratches anywhere. Bought it from a young fellow whose parents gave it to him, but, also gave him an iPhone. "I only use my phone for pics".
At any rate, the camera was awesome, focus in all lighting was profoundly capable.
Separately, I had long owned a Canon 24-84 lens that, at 24mm, had about a 9mm back focus on by EOS 350D, at 2.5 meters. I was never sure if it was the lens or the focussing system, and, did not try to resolve this issue, rather, found a work around (large fstop).
However, this lens ALSO back focussed by 9mm my 40D. This confirmed, to me, that the lens was a problem.
So, I decided that I liked the lens so much I would send it to Canon to see if they could resolve this issue which appeared identically on two camera bodies.
I did send the lens. Canon did charge my card. Then, they sent the lens back with a statement that: "The lens was functioning within specification".
I found this surprising and phoned Canon service and explained that the lens was backfocussing identically on two camera bodies.
A very nice person said they would send me a post to send the lens back. So, I did.
When Canon received it I received a very nice call from someone who said, really, the lens is fine, CAN YOU SEND YOUR 40D in?
I thought about this, because, I am old enough to have learned that sending in a perfectly functioning piece of equipment is always risky in any domain.
But, I thought maybe Canon could figure out the lens problem if they had the camera. So, I sent it in.
I received both the camera and the lens back. I was initially amazed: The 40D now focussed perfect at 24mm on my 24-85.
But, quickly, it became apparent that, on all of my primes, and EVEN ON THE 24-85, the 40D now dramatically front focussed. Nothing at f4 even, was in focus in any lighting. Not anything.
So, I broke out in a sweat and called Canon. A very nice person said "We are so sorry, please send it in again". And I did.
I received it back and, my formerly highly capable 40D STILL dramatically front focussed on all of my primes. It STILL was perfect at 24mm on my 24-85.
So, now, I began to get that sense of dread, but, still with some hope, phone Canon again.
A very nice person spent a very long time on the phone with me to understand what happened and said: "Please send your camera in a again".
So, I did. Nothing to lose since it did not focus on anything with any of my lenses except at 24mm zoom on the 24-85.
I received a camera back 4 days ago. First, although the serial number is the same on the bottom, the body is NOT the same as the pristine body I sent in. I notices that my plastic LCD screen had been removed, and reseated so I pulled it off. The LCD screen is profoundly scratched, and, the one tiny scratch that I knew existed on my LCD screen....before I sent it in....is GONE. Also, on the body itself, the rubber looks like it was removed from a tire it is so worn. AND, there are two scratches on the body down to the metal.
Canon swapped out my pristine, no scratch body, for another body, BUT, they put the serial number plate back on the body they sent me.
I know this sounds crazy, but, I have closely examined this body, and, it is NOT the body that I sent in.
So, presumably, Canon gave up on my other body, and, swapped it for a body they had that was, ostensibly, better focus.
This body is not nearly as capable of nailing focus as the one I sent in. It is OK.
So, in the end, I spent money to get: my 24-85 lens with nothing done to it, and, another camera body 40D that looks like somebody used it to go bowling with.
At the beginning: I had a pristine, well tested, 40D that functioned perfectly.
I completely understand that there is no going back from this now. The camera I had is gone, the capability is lost, and, my 24mm-85mm still back focusses at 24mm on both my bodies just like it did at the beginning of this odyssey.
I do plan, based on this experience, to go and take advantage of the D90/18-105 sale.
I did phone Nikon and talked with a pro Nikon guy who has dealt with Nikon service. He is astounded at my story.
I am a Canon fanboy since 1981. This story crushed me.
In August I aquired a pristine, perfectly functioning, used 40D. I purchased it on Craigslist, and, spent two hours with focus charts, a tripod, and two prime lenses, testing focus, and all aspects of the camera before purchase. The camera was perfect.
No scratches anywhere. Bought it from a young fellow whose parents gave it to him, but, also gave him an iPhone. "I only use my phone for pics".
At any rate, the camera was awesome, focus in all lighting was profoundly capable.
Separately, I had long owned a Canon 24-84 lens that, at 24mm, had about a 9mm back focus on by EOS 350D, at 2.5 meters. I was never sure if it was the lens or the focussing system, and, did not try to resolve this issue, rather, found a work around (large fstop).
However, this lens ALSO back focussed by 9mm my 40D. This confirmed, to me, that the lens was a problem.
So, I decided that I liked the lens so much I would send it to Canon to see if they could resolve this issue which appeared identically on two camera bodies.
I did send the lens. Canon did charge my card. Then, they sent the lens back with a statement that: "The lens was functioning within specification".
I found this surprising and phoned Canon service and explained that the lens was backfocussing identically on two camera bodies.
A very nice person said they would send me a post to send the lens back. So, I did.
When Canon received it I received a very nice call from someone who said, really, the lens is fine, CAN YOU SEND YOUR 40D in?
I thought about this, because, I am old enough to have learned that sending in a perfectly functioning piece of equipment is always risky in any domain.
But, I thought maybe Canon could figure out the lens problem if they had the camera. So, I sent it in.
I received both the camera and the lens back. I was initially amazed: The 40D now focussed perfect at 24mm on my 24-85.
But, quickly, it became apparent that, on all of my primes, and EVEN ON THE 24-85, the 40D now dramatically front focussed. Nothing at f4 even, was in focus in any lighting. Not anything.
So, I broke out in a sweat and called Canon. A very nice person said "We are so sorry, please send it in again". And I did.
I received it back and, my formerly highly capable 40D STILL dramatically front focussed on all of my primes. It STILL was perfect at 24mm on my 24-85.
So, now, I began to get that sense of dread, but, still with some hope, phone Canon again.
A very nice person spent a very long time on the phone with me to understand what happened and said: "Please send your camera in a again".
So, I did. Nothing to lose since it did not focus on anything with any of my lenses except at 24mm zoom on the 24-85.
I received a camera back 4 days ago. First, although the serial number is the same on the bottom, the body is NOT the same as the pristine body I sent in. I notices that my plastic LCD screen had been removed, and reseated so I pulled it off. The LCD screen is profoundly scratched, and, the one tiny scratch that I knew existed on my LCD screen....before I sent it in....is GONE. Also, on the body itself, the rubber looks like it was removed from a tire it is so worn. AND, there are two scratches on the body down to the metal.
Canon swapped out my pristine, no scratch body, for another body, BUT, they put the serial number plate back on the body they sent me.
I know this sounds crazy, but, I have closely examined this body, and, it is NOT the body that I sent in.
So, presumably, Canon gave up on my other body, and, swapped it for a body they had that was, ostensibly, better focus.
This body is not nearly as capable of nailing focus as the one I sent in. It is OK.
So, in the end, I spent money to get: my 24-85 lens with nothing done to it, and, another camera body 40D that looks like somebody used it to go bowling with.
At the beginning: I had a pristine, well tested, 40D that functioned perfectly.
I completely understand that there is no going back from this now. The camera I had is gone, the capability is lost, and, my 24mm-85mm still back focusses at 24mm on both my bodies just like it did at the beginning of this odyssey.
I do plan, based on this experience, to go and take advantage of the D90/18-105 sale.
I did phone Nikon and talked with a pro Nikon guy who has dealt with Nikon service. He is astounded at my story.
I am a Canon fanboy since 1981. This story crushed me.
