Canon 17-55 f/2.8 Lens Problem (Err 01)

[Kabalyero]

Hello everyone. I am starting a thread to ask you guys about your experience with the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, specifically its Err 01 issue. I just came from a trip to Japan (operating temp was between 3-14C) and the lens just malfunctioned from the first to the last day of my trip...i was not able to use it. Every time I mount it and try to use it, Err 01 appears with the check lens contacts message. The odd thing is that I checked all of my lenses 2 weeks then 2 days before the trip (I live in the Philippines and the operating temp is about 26-33C) and all worked fine. Upon arrival in Japan...the 10-22, 50 and 85 mm leneses (all Canon) worked flawlessly. The more peculiar thing is that the 17-55 works when I am at my heated room (around 25C) but not outside where I shoot.

I've brought the lens before to Korea and New Zealand with the same cool temperatures and it did not had any problem. I did not drop it or scratched/played with the contacts. Since my other three lenses worked, I am also pretty sure that it is not the camera body (60D).

What do you guys think? Does temperature affect the 17-55? Do you guys think I should have it serviced? Problem is that I am now back to my country and it works again. I will be going to Hong Kong in January with temperatures of about 12C and I am seriously concerned that it will malfunction again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kabalyero]

No takers?

 

[Schnapper]

Send it to Canon and tell them when it is malfunctioning (i.e. only when used in the cold).

My guess is that there is something wrong - maybe a contact inside that gets worse when the lens gets cold (i.e. loses contact because things contract in the cold).

 

[kreygscott]

Hello everyone. I am starting a thread to ask you guys about your experience with the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, specifically its Err 01 issue. I just came from a trip to Japan (operating temp was between 3-14C) and the lens just malfunctioned from the first to the last day of my trip...i was not able to use it. Every time I mount it and try to use it, Err 01 appears with the check lens contacts message. The odd thing is that I checked all of my lenses 2 weeks then 2 days before the trip (I live in the Philippines and the operating temp is about 26-33C) and all worked fine. Upon arrival in Japan...the 10-22, 50 and 85 mm leneses (all Canon) worked flawlessly. The more peculiar thing is that the 17-55 works when I am at my heated room (around 25C) but not outside where I shoot.

I've brought the lens before to Korea and New Zealand with the same cool temperatures and it did not had any problem. I did not drop it or scratched/played with the contacts. Since my other three lenses worked, I am also pretty sure that it is not the camera body (60D).

What do you guys think? Does temperature affect the 17-55? Do you guys think I should have it serviced? Problem is that I am now back to my country and it works again. I will be going to Hong Kong in January with temperatures of about 12C and I am seriously concerned that it will malfunction again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

It's not the contacts but rather your aperture blades stuck. If you shoot in full manual at the lens widest opening you won't experience the error. Try it and let me know.
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[Kabalyero]

I'll do just this...probably on the weekend. Thanks for the advise!

 

[Kabalyero]

Thanks a lot for the reply your bud!

I actually shoot in full manual about 90% of the time but your feedback go me experimenting just now. From the looks of it, my aperture blades are indeed malfunctioning. However, its a bit peculiar. At 17mm, the lens does not malfunction at any aperture value (2.8, 5.6, 11, 22) and operates as expected. When I zoom to any focal length greater than 17mm, the lens only functions at an aperture of 2.8. Every time i try to stop down to a smaller aperture...the Err01 appears. I also looked at the lens aperture blades using the DOF preview button. Again, no problems at any aperture at 17mm (aperture blades close then returns when i release the button). Longer focal lengths are problematic in that once I press the DOF preview button (aperture blades close), the blades do not open up to the full f/2.8 setting once I release the button. For example, it retains the 5.6 opening. I try pressing the dof button again but instead of opening up, the aperture blades close even smaller despite me setting the same 5.6 setting.

Physically, it seems that the aperture blades are working just fine in that they are able to close and open. Eletronically, they dont respond to the apertures that are set at focal lengths greater than 17mm.

 

[Schnapper]

Sounds like it might be a problem with the ribbon cable... Just a guess, but maybe when you zoom it moves the cable and causes loss of contact on some of the circuit.

In any case, it sounds like a repair is necessary.

Good luck with it!

 

[Kabalyero]

Noted Schnapper, thanks a lot for the very helpful insight! I'm going to send it in for checkup and repair at the Canon service center tomorrow. Hopefully its indeed only the ribbon cable so I don't get to spend big bucks and have more funds for my full frame upgrade next year!

 

[Schnapper]

Unfortunately, I think that the ribbon cable is part of the aperture assembly (can't be changed independently)... at least it is for the aperture assembly of the EF-S 17-85, and I think it is for the IS unit of the 17-55/2.8.

My guess is that it's roughly a $100 part, so if the basic overhaul charge is about $250 you're probably looking at around $300-$350 total...

I'd be interested to hear how much they quote you.

Oh... maybe not... I just found this on e-bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Lens-Ap...55-mm-Assembly-Repair-Part-Unit-/171034708858

So if it's just the cable you might not have to buy the whole aperture assembly.

 

[Kabalyero]

Okay i'm a bit nervous now...hahaha...anyway...ill go to the service center in a while. This is my first time to go to a Canon Service Center (only became serious with photography about 4 years ago and this is the first equipment issue) so I guess we will find out soon.

I'll update when information becomes available. Thanks again Schnapper!

 

[D3v1L]

Same thing happened to my ef-s 17-85 is usm lens. Problem was only when appeture was at max, if i closed it to 5.6 everything was fine. Problem was a ribbon cable inside. It cost me 100€ at Canon service. I hadn't any problem with lens after that, and not with any other Canon gear.

Hope you will fix it soon.

 

[Kabalyero]

Thanks for the feedback bud. I had my lens sent to the service center about a week ago and I was told they they should have the final diagnosis and quotation ready just about now. I was told that if it was indeed just the cable, the replacement part should be about 100 USD here although I am still waiting. Luckily, the service fee here is just 25 USD so hopefully the repair won't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[GumbyGumby]

So what was the cost and did it finally fix the issue?

 

[Kabalyero]

Hello Bud.

The specific issue that Canon service mentioned is the aperture diaphragm mechanism. The total cost was a tad less than a 100 USD since the part replacement was not that expensive nor is the service fee in my country.

The above fix did indeed solve the problem. I was able to do a lot of shoots afterwards with the lens and it worked flawlessly like brand new. I guess the added bonus of the repair is that they completely cleaned the lens as well - the two or three small dust particles inside (which were there when I got the lens) were removed and the zoom ring which was turning a tad bit white (maybe because of salt deposits from sweat or seawater) were also removed.

However...I sold this lens along with my other EF-S lenses as I have moved to full frame so I no longer have it now.

 

[GumbyGumby]

Thanks for the quick reply. Glad to hear that repair worked out and you had the use of your lens again. The repair isn't so inexpensive in Canada unfortunately.

 

[Kabalyero]

I'm sorry to hear about your lens problem bro and good luck with the repair. It's a really nice piece of glass for my old 60D which I then weighed against the cost of repair and so I proceeded. My only pain is that I knew at that time that I will be going to full frame and will be selling the lens down the road - resale value was just 400 USD. This was especially painful because I bought the lens at a time when it cost 1200 USD brand new - it now retails for about 900 USD in my country. It remains the most expensive lens I ever bought, even compared to my 16-35 f4L and 135L.

Anyway, best of luck!