I broke my 22mm lens!

Long time lurker here; created an account because I just needed to vent.  I was taking a picture with the 22mm lens and dropped the camera onto a carpeted floor from about 1.5'.  After picking up the camera, I noticed the focus was off and there was a glare no matter where I pointed the camera.  Swapping lens fixed the problem so it was evident that the 22mm lens had an issue.  As you can see from the attached shot, taken from by Galaxy S3 phone's camera, there's an interior lens piece that's loose.  Anyways, everyone knows not to drop their cameras but be extra careful with this lens.

well, for what it's worth, just try to open it and fix it, maybe there's nothing "broken" but just "disassembled"

Immediately above the 22mm text I see a slight depression. Is it just my imagination or is this the result of the drop? Or maybe the picture is just playing tricks with my eyes?

For drops, it all depends on what  hits first.  If the end of the lens hits first, there's more potential for damage than if the button of the camera hits first.  The camera is a more rigid, solid unit than more delicate lenses.

I dropped my 5D with big heavy macro lens attached 3 feet onto asphalt but the bottom of the camera hit first and the lens hood was on the lens which further minimized impact to the lens.  Scuff marks only and everything worked perfectly.  This is where lens hoods can be more "protection" for a lens than a cheap UV filter.  Lens hoods that are semi-flexible plastic are better for protection than the very rigid non-flexible plastic ones.  Sigma hoods for EX lenses are the semi-flexible type.

Mahmoud, there is no depression on the lens.  It was really an innocuous fall onto carpet but just enough to knock loose that internal piece in the lens.

I didn't even consider the possibility that I could take part and repair such this lens.  But with nothing to do on a Sunday morning and nothing to lose, that's what I did.  I took pictures along the way to document the process and to help me remember how to reassemble the lens if I magically could fix it.  Here's a couple of initial shots of the disassembly.

4 ribbons cable needed to be removed from the circuit board.  2 of the ribbons have a spring clip release, the other two just slide out.

About 1/3 of the way through the disassembly of the 22mm lens.

Unfortunately the loose piece required the entire lens to be taken apart down to its core; some of that I had to do with brute force.  Being realistic, there was practically zero chance that I could reassemble everything in reverse order.  Here's the loose lens piece and another random loose part that I have no idea where it came from.

Offending loose lens piece and another mystery loose part.

Here's how that piece attaches to the underside of the lens assembly.  I can see why it fell loose because it's just held on by a bit of friction, a strip of tape around the perimeter of the piece and two way too small dabs of glue.

Here's where the loose lens piece goes.

At this point, I start to reassemble knowing that the lens would never work again because of an accident with superglue and way too many tiny parts that I took apart.  After awhile, I chucked everything in the garbage can and decided that I'll just have to spend another $100 for a replacement 22mm lens.

Welcome WaterChange, and post any questions or comments you like. Even the pros on this forum learn something new all the time.

Silicone case for EOS-M  that improves grip immensely. Lasting link. ALso protects somewhat for rain.

I stopped using UV filters a while back I just use a lens hood all the time and jackets that have pockets big enough to accommodate the camera, lens and hood. Lasting search , and the one I bought , metal but very thin so will sent before transferring impact energy to the lens. I chose it as it will protect the glass better than the true plastic hood, yet this lens barely makes use of the actual shading aspect.

Neck strap that is also often tethered to my waist belt. But for comfort and versatility I highly recommend this outfit that is made in the USA from OP/TECH USA Dual Harness.

The 22mm EOS-M STM to my way of thinking is well worth $300 let alone the $130 it is almost always available for.  But for fun I certainly would try taking it apart, even cutting it apart just for fun, but I do have the right tools for such a thing already. If you list it on ebay as a broken lens with your image I bet someone would buy it for about $25 plus shipping.

bugbait wrote:

Silicone case for EOS-M that improves grip immensely. Lasting link. ALso protects somewhat for rain.

For $39.80 I think I'd rather stick to a camera strap...

I collect mechanical pencils.

Those with silicone grips turn into glue within 3 to 5 years in tropical climate.

bugbait wrote:

Welcome WaterChange, and post any questions or comments you like. Even the pros on this forum learn something new all the time.

Silicone case for EOS-M that improves grip immensely. Lasting link. ALso protects somewhat for rain.

I stopped using UV filters a while back I just use a lens hood all the time and jackets that have pockets big enough to accommodate the camera, lens and hood. Lasting search , and the one I bought , metal but very thin so will sent before transferring impact energy to the lens. I chose it as it will protect the glass better than the true plastic hood, yet this lens barely makes use of the actual shading aspect.

Neck strap that is also often tethered to my waist belt. But for comfort and versatility I highly recommend this outfit that is made in the USA from OP/TECH USA Dual Harness.

The22mm EOS-M STM to my way of thinking is well worth $300 let alone the $130 it is almost always available for. But for fun I certainly would try taking it apart, even cutting it apart just for fun, but I do have the right tools for such a thing already. If you list it on ebay as a broken lens with your image I bet someone would buy it for about $25 plus shipping.

waterchange wrote:

Mahmoud, there is no depression on the lens. It was really an innocuous fall onto carpet but just enough to knock loose that internal piece in the lens.

I didn't think carpet could do that either, but in the pic it looked like it was slightly dented to me. Must have been the pic playing tricks on me.

This is a very cool disassembly, even though I'm sorry to hear you couldn't save it. I have never seen inside the 22mm before, and it gives me a greater appreciation of the work that goes into this (now) $100 piece. It really is quite a good lens and probably the biggest bargain lens going now, so just as well it doesn't cost too much to replace.

Thanks for taking the time to document the disassembly and posting pics and good luck with the new one when you get it.

Interesting that; there is moisture that will leave most artificial rubber even in the Northern USA, but it takes a long time. But rubber coated pens, yep they turn gooey here too, cheapest silicone rubber they can find.

The M case seems to be a tin based silicone, older tech but doesn't attract dust as much as platinum. It does attract some which I feel helps with lens changes. Rather it end up on the case than the sensor.

I have cast silicone and resins.

Expensive platinum based - water clear polyurethane will hold its transparent nature for quite a while here but apparently turns yellow pretty fast near the equator.

calterg wrote:

I collect mechanical pencils.

Those with silicone grips turn into glue within 3 to 5 years in tropical climate.

bugbait wrote:

Welcome WaterChange, and post any questions or comments you like. Even the pros on this forum learn something new all the time.

Silicone case for EOS-M that improves grip immensely. Lasting link. ALso protects somewhat for rain.

I stopped using UV filters a while back I just use a lens hood all the time and jackets that have pockets big enough to accommodate the camera, lens and hood. Lasting search , and the one I bought , metal but very thin so will sent before transferring impact energy to the lens. I chose it as it will protect the glass better than the true plastic hood, yet this lens barely makes use of the actual shading aspect.

Neck strap that is also often tethered to my waist belt. But for comfort and versatility I highly recommend this outfit that is made in the USA from OP/TECH USA Dual Harness.

The22mm EOS-M STM to my way of thinking is well worth $300 let alone the $130 it is almost always available for. But for fun I certainly would try taking it apart, even cutting it apart just for fun, but I do have the right tools for such a thing already. If you list it on ebay as a broken lens with your image I bet someone would buy it for about $25 plus shipping.

Sorry you couldn't fix it. Roger of LenRentals has mentioned such assembly techniques inside some lenses. Sounds like either the assembly person or their trainer dropped the ball on this one. Maybe design, but not as likely, industrial glues and tapes are most often extremely effective if applied correctly.

SquareTrade as well as others offer 3 year drop-spill warranties on these lenses. Just a thought.

waterchange wrote:

Mahmoud, there is no depression on the lens. It was really an innocuous fall onto carpet but just enough to knock loose that internal piece in the lens.

I didn't even consider the possibility that I could take part and repair such this lens. But with nothing to do on a Sunday morning and nothing to lose, that's what I did. I took pictures along the way to document the process and to help me remember how to reassemble the lens if I magically could fix it. Here's a couple of initial shots of the disassembly.

4 ribbons cable needed to be removed from the circuit board. 2 of the ribbons have a spring clip release, the other two just slide out.

About 1/3 of the way through the disassembly of the 22mm lens.

Unfortunately the loose piece required the entire lens to be taken apart down to its core; some of that I had to do with brute force. Being realistic, there was practically zero chance that I could reassemble everything in reverse order. Here's the loose lens piece and another random loose part that I have no idea where it came from.

Offending loose lens piece and another mystery loose part.

Here's how that piece attaches to the underside of the lens assembly. I can see why it fell loose because it's just held on by a bit of friction, a strip of tape around the perimeter of the piece and two way too small dabs of glue.

Here's where the loose lens piece goes.

At this point, I start to reassemble knowing that the lens would never work again because of an accident with superglue and way too many tiny parts that I took apart. After awhile, I chucked everything in the garbage can and decided that I'll just have to spend another $100 for a replacement 22mm lens.

You should have taken more step-by-step photos and then sold the rights to one of the many 'break down' web sites, help pay for replacement !!

Next time try superglue on tip of a straight pin - no kidding, and use 2 hands to steady your expected nervousness when applying - we have all been there!

Good Luck!

PS: I dropped my 22mm from about 3' today (lens cap and mount cap on) as I missed putting in my pant pocket (man can those curse words fly so quickly) !  No problems thankfully, not even scratch - but on pea gravel walkway ocean side across from Pebble Beach golf course!

BTW, do you think the lens that broke was the the second from left (refer to lens component break down for 22mm) ?

Right side is camera side, left is object side.

Just curious.

Dropped my 22mm + eos m about a week ago, from about one and a half meter down on to rock hard concrete. The camera casing got a bit skewed so I had to take it apart and bend the casing back to it's normal shape. The 22mm got a dent on the focus ring so now it has some friction when manual focusing.

Except the dent on the focus ring everything works as normal, no damage on the inside of the lens. My copy probably was better glued together, or else it shouldn't have been able to survive that fall.

The M lenses have a very smooth, non-grippy finish that makes mounting not that easy requiring a very firm grip and invites you to drop them.

The Minolta Maxxum AF lenses used to be known as "beercans" because of their smooth tubular exterior in the apprx. diameter of a beer can. I think the M lenses can also be called beer cans but for a different reason: they are made of the same material and have the rigidity of aluminum beer cans.