Sony issues service advisory for its 16-35mm F2.8 GM lens

The 24-105mm f4L lens is really a lower case "l" lens. :D

another google search brings you some lens issues statistics made by lensrental, where they're saying the 70-200mm f2.8 are the ones causing most trouble. Those are expensive and pro level, and everything.

I don't care about Sony, to be honest, maybe they do have lesser QC, and their lenses are expensive in general, but we have to expect that a f2.8 zoom, even with its price tag, can fail.

Nothing "mindless" about purchasing a tool that returns 30X back in earned revenue per year... Costs no more than the average commercial photographer day rate... And can be repaired in 3-5 days by Pro Services with loaner replacement if necessary. No my friend, this is a well thought purchase that will end up costing total of $20 per year because it will sell for 80% of its original price after a decade of service.

Indeed, let's be very mindful of our gear purchases. The target customer knows this will make them money and end up costing practically nothing in the end.

Sure Aegon, you're right, it's not always, and it depends on many factors. I sell a lot on the eBah and it's astonishing what price a good ad can return on premium gear. Once got higher than new price for a ten year old Canon 24TS lens. Buyer claimed he wanted one that had been professionally tested from trusted seller because of an upcoming assignment, and didn't have time to test and return a new one if it failed. When Sony purchased Minolta, there was once a window of opportunity to sell old Minolta AF glass for equal or higher than 25 years new price, because it fit on the newly revived A-Mount and many preferred it over the new price Zeiss.

My experience is that top pro lenses don't wear out as much as one might believe. Professional use also means professional care with cleanings and maintenance. Buy something from me and it will look mint and perform better than new with all the updates and recall fixes done. Some find that valuable and don't mind paying for it.

It also depends on if a lens has been replaced by new model. Some Canon/Nikon pro lenses can be had for super cheap because they've been replaced by new models multiple times. But lens that are original run sell much higher because nothing can replace it. Samsung NX-1 50-150/2.8S is a good example. Fans of that camera don't have any other choice than to pay dearly for even a beat up copy. No other options.

It also depends on how well the lens works with newest technology. I suppose it will be a long long time before we see Canon R fast glass be heavily discounted used price bargain. The DSLR lenses will be discounted much faster now that the mount has changed. Many factors to consider. This era of YouTube reviewers can make or break a lens resale value more quickly now.

Haha, after 10 years of pro use, it ain't gonna look mint. And this isn't a special use lens like a TS, or affordable Zeiss alternative. I expect it'll hold its value well. But i also know that after you've used it constantly, and regularly serviced it for 10 years, that i ain't gonna buy it from you. 😉

@ Clyde Thomas
Yes, my lens is on the list, hence the thrust of my post--i.e., I'm disappointed and may have erred in investing $2K in that lens.

How were you able to get the word "fanboys" to print???

EDIT: Aha, so can I. It's the singular version that won't print...

@ Clyde Thomas
That's one way to look at it--i.e., I should consider myself lucky.
You seem to lack appreciation for my concern with sending it in--a reflection of your attitude, indeed. Thank you for the head's up on Sony Pro Services. Nevertheless, time is money. It's a distraction. Perhaps you can appreciate such sentiment.

What you are describing would only be “vaguely similar” to a recall if a large number of EF 24-105L2 was reported to have the same problem. Since there is no evidence that such a phenomenon has happened, what you experienced is simply a case of defective unit.

Nikon would have fixed it for free. 😉

Aegon - I love my Canon gear but I gotta admit that if I was going to switch to another brand it would probably be Nikon. I don't think there is much to choose between them in terms of reliability/durability/servicing, but in *most* areas Nikons (DSLR and MILCs) beat Canons in terms of specification, performance and value for money. D850 is a bit of a lump but clearly better in most regards compared to 5DS. Likewise Z7 craps all over EOS-R.

I may however end up getting another Canon eventually, as they do everything I need them to do, and handle extremely well. Macro is my thing, so ultimately it will come down to which brand produces the best macro lenses in their mirrorless mounts.

@entoman:
Nah, i just gotta get my Nikon jabs in. 😉 Anyone sincerely criticizing Canon is a fool.

I don't think you'll have to wait much longer for a real Canon MILC. They're just taxing early adopters right now. But the 7RM4 is probably the kick in the butt Nikon and Canon needed to get serious about MILC. With the 7RM4 Sony has finally made a camera with ergos/haptics that doesn't instantly get laughed off the stage by experienced photographers, and has AF that's generally good enough for portrait and landscape, and of course stationary stuff. It's the first real threat to Nikon's and Canon's meat and potatoes. And I'll freely admit that some Sony glass is pretty enticing.

Continued...

And in case any Sony faithful jump all over my above post with their praising of the a9, it ain't no threat to Nikon out Canon in its current form. Otherwise you'd see the Press using them, which they're not. I hear in Germany they're gaining popularity with the Press, but i don't see them anywhere. Like anywhere at all... Lol, the only one I've ever seen IRL was my friend's one that i got to play with. Paparazzi seem to be adopting them for fluid photo-video transition, but that's all i see.

Aegon - The way I see things is choose your lenses first and your bodies afterwards. I keep my glass for 10 years. Up until about 5 years ago cameras were evolving fast so I'd upgrade almost every year. But it isn't necessary anymore. I can see no point at all in upgrading to another DSLR.

The D850 is definitely a better camera than my Canons but would require me to swap my Canon glass for Nikon glass, and anyway the difference between the D850 and the Canons is so marginal that it would make no appreciable difference to my photography.

Switching to a MILC would offer benefits such as silent shutter, faster burst rate, better metering (due to WYSIWYG) and possibly more accurate focusing. Up until now the only MILC with any real appeal was the Z7, but the a7Riv is really tempting, and the promise of a decent Canon MILC is just around the corner. Luckily I'm a patient guy, so I can wait a few more months.

Specification-wise, the a7Riv offers me everything I need. Actually more than I need. And all that lovely Sony glass. And ability to retain my Canon glass and use a metabones during the transition period. So tempting.

But no matter how good the a7Riv is, I just think that ultimately it will be Nikon and Canon who produce the better, more usable and appealing cameras. I've had a a7Riv in my shopping basket several times, but just can't bring myself to hit the check-out button.

Canon, I want to stay with you, but I don't want or need the exotic ultra-expensive glass you are show-casing. You need to release a good RF mount macro at the very least, and good RF mount F4 zooms, if you want more of my custom.

Yeah, I think the Sony ergos would make you crazy. And the menus. I don't see them completely re-writing the a7 and a9 lines' ergos. Sony would have to release an entirely new line(s) if we're ever going to see smart ergos from them.

Next generation, or at the latest, 2 generations from today, Nikon and Canon will be for real in MILC. Like you, I'm patient. I'm still rocking my D800E that was pre-ordered the day it was announced. Admittedly, if the D850 had a pop-up flash, I'd have 1 or 2 of them as well. Meh, don't get me started on pop-ups... ;)

You pros can joke all you want, but just remember the green orbs that put Fuji out of business.

Green orbs?

Thank you Marc. Good advice.