Scratched RF 24-105 repair cost?

RHutch · Mar 11, 2023

I scraped my Canon 24-105 RF lens. It’s the two marks on the lower left. I think the other spots are flare from the lights. The image quality hasn’t been affected at all, but it’s bothering me to no end. Any idea what Canon would charge me to replace the front element & or should I just forget it?

AbuMahendra · Mar 11, 2023

How did you manage to scratch the front element?

Bryan Conner · Mar 11, 2023

That would probably cause me to lose sleep at night....seriously. But probably for only one night. Then, I would contact my favorite authorized Canon service center and ask them. And if the cost to repair was less than the cost of a new one, or close to the cost of a scratch free used one, I would pay to have mine repaired. I don't think I could handle having scratches like that on my lens. I know that it is probably irrational to feel like that, but that is how I roll....haha.

In my experience, when you have a lens repaired, it is probably given more attention in terms of calibration etc. when compared to a mass production situation. This might not be true for L lenses of course, I don't know. But I have had two lenses repaired here in Germany and both came back with better overall image quality than before. I take shots of a lens chart with each lens when I buy one so I have a reference image in case I need one. And comparing before and after shots (with the same camera of course) with each of my repaired lenses revealed that the overall sharpness was improved. I don't know if it was due to de-centering issues etc as I am no lens expert. But the lenses came back without any dust specs inside and had been professionally cleaned and adjusted.

I looked at it like getting a new lens at a cost that was less than the actual cost of a new lens.

Arthur Stanley Jefferson · Mar 11, 2023

…use a black sharpie marker on the scratches first then try a shot or two, into the light, side to the sun etc. With the sharpie trick and a lens hood I doubt it’ll show up.

I had a medium format Mamiya lens that had a massive scratch that I could catch my fingernail in, and this trick worked for me.

Good luck

Rock and Rollei · Mar 12, 2023

When I had thr front element replaces on my EF 24-105 L Mk I 10-15 years ago, it cost me £40. But that was because I was having the ribbon cable replaced at the same time, so there was virtually no extra labour charge...

Reality is I wouldn't have bothered otherwise. Vanishingly unlikely to have any effect on IQ.

RHutch · Mar 12, 2023

Thanks for the input. I'll contact Canon and see what they say.

Randy

SteveinLouisville · Mar 12, 2023

RHutch said:
I scraped my Canon 24-105 RF lens. It’s the two marks on the lower left. I think the other spots are flare from the lights. The image quality hasn’t been affected at all, but it’s bothering me to no end. Any idea what Canon would charge me to replace the front element & or should I just forget it?

I got a small scratch on my front element, but since it has no effect on image quality and I don't plan on selling the lens, it doesn't bug me anymore. Just consider it normal wear and forget it.

ZX11 · Mar 12, 2023

RHutch said:
I scraped my Canon 24-105 RF lens. It’s the two marks on the lower left. I think the other spots are flare from the lights. The image quality hasn’t been affected at all, but it’s bothering me to no end. Any idea what Canon would charge me to replace the front element & or should I just forget it?

Try to see it as no longer an art piece jewel but a well used tool that has seen combat. It doesn't effect things. A reliable old piece of gear that gets tons of use instead of a perfectly preserved heirloom kept in a glass display case.

People have videos online of them fixing dust in the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS. The front element is easily removed and seems reasonably priced. It's my protective filter since I don't run filters. Good filters being very pricey.

I can post pics of my perfect RF 24-105 f4 front element if it will make you feel better :-D

Abbott Schindler · Mar 12, 2023

I had my RF 24-105L repaired by CPS in January. They said they had to replace and entire front lens module, so it sounds like they can't just replace the front element like they did on my EF 24-105L. Expect a cost around a few hundred dollars.

My scratch wasn't as bad as yours, but I did see it if the light hit it from some angles. This is one of those things where the scratch "shouldn't" have been visible, but under some conditions it was.

Doesn't matter: the only repair is to replace it, and it's not going to be cheap. I'd suggest that you try some of the other ideas in this thread and see if you can work around it.

SteveinLouisville · Mar 12, 2023

ZX11 said:
RHutch said:

I scraped my Canon 24-105 RF lens. It’s the two marks on the lower left. I think the other spots are flare from the lights. The image quality hasn’t been affected at all, but it’s bothering me to no end. Any idea what Canon would charge me to replace the front element & or should I just forget it?

Click to expand...

Try to see it as no longer an art piece jewel but a well used tool that has seen combat. It doesn't effect things. A reliable old piece of gear that gets tons of use instead of a perfectly preserved heirloom kept in a glass display case.

People have videos online of them fixing dust in the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS. The front element is easily removed and seems reasonably priced. It's my protective filter since I don't run filters. Good filters being very pricey.

I can post pics of my perfect RF 24-105 f4 front element if it will make you feel better :-D

Bryan Conner · Mar 13, 2023

You can always take some sandpaper to the front lens and then sell it on Ebay as a "hand customized/converted diffused portrait lens", and as a premium price for it. You never know...there might be victim out there that would buy it.

Kokopelli_Rocks · Mar 13, 2023

I just had my Rf 24-105 f4 in for repair of a scratch on the lens. The original estimate for the repair was $556.83 with my CPS discount. I bought a Canon CarePak Plus when I bought my R5 and Rf 24-105 f4. Below is my original estimate.

Canon Repair estimate without the CarePak+

Here is the final total with the CarePak+ applied

CarePak Plus

Here is a thread about my experience. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66925742

My lens scratch was not anything like yours. My scratch was on the side of the front element and I did not see any evidence in the images. I was worried in might show flare. I was very surprised when I found the scratch as I normally very careful with my lenses.

I was very pleased with my service. I sent the lens in on Friday (Canon paid the UPS Ground shipping) and I had the lens back the following Thursday. The CarePak+ saved me quite a bit. The CarePak was less than 1/2 the cost of the repair.

I hope all works out for you.

--

https://theshire.zenfolio.com/

Kokopelli_Rocks · Mar 13, 2023

Abbott Schindler said:
I had my RF 24-105L repaired by CPS in January. They said they had to replace and entire front lens module, so it sounds like they can't just replace the front element like they did on my EF 24-105L. Expect a cost around a few hundred dollars.

My scratch wasn't as bad as yours, but I did see it if the light hit it from some angles. This is one of those things where the scratch "shouldn't" have been visible, but under some conditions it was.

Doesn't matter: the only repair is to replace it, and it's not going to be cheap. I'd suggest that you try some of the other ideas in this thread and see if you can work around it.

Yes, they have to replace the entire from lens module - at least that is how they repaired my lens. I about went into shock when I received my first estimate from Canon. I sent the lens in because I had a CarePak+. I sent in all the paper work as instructed. A quick call to the CPS desk sorted the situation and my repair was free.

I am not sure I would have bothered with the repair if the lens was not covered by the CarePak. Mine was not as bad as the OPs scratch.

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Scratched RF 24-105 repair cost?

RHutch

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AbuMahendra

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Bryan Conner

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Arthur Stanley Jefferson

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Rock and Rollei

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RHutch

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SteveinLouisville

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ZX11

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Abbott Schindler

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SteveinLouisville

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Bryan Conner

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Kokopelli_Rocks

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