Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto (1 Viewer)

[Bananafishbones]

I have somehow got dust inside the lens today, Is this retreivable?

Lens is still under Guarantee (although bought in USA) and now located in England.

Is this sort of thing a quick fix?

Gutted

Dave

 

[a.dancy]

I presume you mean you can see dust on the inside of the object lens. The 100 -400... bad news is that will suck in dust, the good news is that it should make make no perceptible difference to image quality. If necessary the lens can be serviced but I imagine in your case it won't be necessary. Before you go out, wipe the lens barrel and make sure your bag is clean of dust particles. You won't stop dust getting in altogether but you can reduce it. Try not to worry about it.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Cheers a.d

**However*** update:**

Looks not to be the lense but the camera, I tried a few other lenses and found the same, it must be dirt / dust on the mirror inside the camera.
Can this be cleaned by a novice such as I, or should it go for a clean by a proffesional? (40D model)

Cheers
Dave

 

[Stephen Fletcher]

I have seen many reports about the 100-400 sucking in dust, and quite frankly, they are laughable, and have yet to see any proof. If the principle of the mechanism were to suck in dust, then any lens that has a physical size change will also do the same, after all, when you increase the size you increase the inner volume, so air has to get in somehow or it wouldnt work. The seals are made so they dont suck in dust. I have also seen quotes that the lens will suck dust into the camera body. OK, show me how that happens then, as there are several lens elements between the moving parts and the sensor. It is one of these subjects that gets padded around the net, and ends up as send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance.

As for cleaning the sensor, there are various recent threads on the very same subject.

 

[Nikon Kid]

Cheers a.d

**However*** update:**

Looks not to be the lense but the camera, I tried a few other lenses and found the same, it must be dirt / dust on the mirror inside the camera.
Can this be cleaned by a novice such as I, or should it go for a clean by a proffesional? (40D model)

Cheers
Dave

Read this thread it might be helpful to cleaning your camera

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=138543

 

[GYRob]

i rembember the ( three and fourpence joke ) lol
Rob.

 

[RJL2005]

I took a 100-400mm to Tanzania a couple of years back. Got to have been the dustiest place I've ever visited. I didn't notice any dust inside the lens at all after 10 days in the field there.
If the dust is on your mirror I would just live with it - it wont affect picture quality. You may dislodge it with a manual blower, but I would use no 'heavier' treatment. Dont touch the mirror what ever you do.
Rhod

 

[a.dancy]

I have seen many reports about the 100-400 sucking in dust, and quite frankly, they are laughable, and have yet to see any proof. If the principle of the mechanism were to suck in dust, then any lens that has a physical size change will also do the same, after all, when you increase the size you increase the inner volume, so air has to get in somehow or it wouldnt work. The seals are made so they dont suck in dust. I have also seen quotes that the lens will suck dust into the camera body. OK, show me how that happens then, as there are several lens elements between the moving parts and the sensor. It is one of these subjects that gets padded around the net, and ends up as send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance.

As for cleaning the sensor, there are various recent threads on the very same subject.

Before purchasing my 100-400 lens I asked 'will it suck in dust?'...reply 'yes but it should not affect IQ at wide apertures' or words to that effect. Honest salesman perhaps.

Perhaps people reporting dust being sucked in is so reported because it is true

I have received emails and PMs on the subject of people experiencing dust being sucked in....maybe they are all liars and so am I:king:

I have looked at other 100-400 lenses when out and about and the question of dust was brought to my attention and I have seen the dust complained of.

I have attached a shot of my 100-400 lens which gets used almost daily (4 yrs). Not only is there dust on the internal glass but there are fibres too and more than you can see by the image. Anyone wearing rose tinted glasses made by Canon obviously will not be able to see the fibres or any other particles :'D

Ring Canon (I have) and ask them if they can guarantee that dust won't get sucked in:eek!:

I try to base my advice on my experience and not from what I have seen on the internet and I am honest as opposed to being wishful with regard to my chosen brand.

On this occasion Steve I think you are hoisted by your own petard and if you did find the internet comments laughable I wonder if you would be noble enough to now address the issue with a bit more objectivity

I am still very satisfied with the IQ of my lens and will get it serviced ...one day ...maybe.

 

[Nikon Kid]

Before purchasing my 100-400 lens I asked 'will it suck in dust?'...reply 'yes but it should not affect IQ at wide apertures' or words to that effect. Honest salesman perhaps.

Perhaps people reporting dust being sucked in is so reported because it is true

I have received emails and PMs on the subject of people experiencing dust being sucked in....maybe they are all liars and so am I:king:

I have looked at other 100-400 lenses when out and about and the question of dust was brought to my attention and I have seen the dust complained of.

I have attached a shot of my 100-400 lens which gets used almost daily (4 yrs). Not only is there dust on the internal glass but there are fibres too and more than you can see by the image. Anyone wearing rose tinted glasses made by Canon obviously will not be able to see the fibres or any other particles :'D

Ring Canon (I have) and ask them if they can guarantee that dust won't get sucked in:eek!:

I try to base my advice on my experience and not from what I have seen on the internet and I am honest as opposed to being wishful with regard to my chosen brand.

On this occasion Steve I think you are hoisted by your own petard and if you did find the internet comments laughable I wonder if you would be noble enough to now address the issue with a bit more objectivity

I am still very satisfied with the IQ of my lens and will get it serviced ...one day ...maybe.

You can't ague with that, interesting

 

[Jack Dawe]

People worry too much about dust in their lenses.
http://www.lensrentals.com/news/2008.10.30/front-element-scratches

 

[Stephen Fletcher]

Before purchasing my 100-400 lens I asked 'will it suck in dust?'...reply 'yes but it should not affect IQ at wide apertures' or words to that effect. Honest salesman perhaps.

I have had a salesmen from a well known camera chain tell me a 1D will take an EFS lens, no problem, they will fit anything. I have also had one try to fit a Nikon lens to a Canon body, and he couldnt understand why it wouldnt. Also one told me that he had it straight from Canon that very morning, that they were bringing out a 500/2.8, 3 years ago. I could go on.

On this occasion Steve I think you are hoisted by your own petard and if you did find the internet comments laughable I wonder if you would be noble enough to now address the issue with a bit more objectivity

If i knew what it meant i might.

I too always answer purely on my own experience. I can guarantee you that it is far more dusty here than it ever will be in the UK, ask anyone who has ever been here, we have had no rain for 3 months, and the dirt tracks are pure dust, that gets in the car, ears, eyes, sensors etc. You can see a car coming from miles away by the dust cloud trailed behind. Most of my work is done from the car window, using it as a hide, and i have to clean everything when i get home as it is all beige. I can assure you there is no dust whatsoever inside mine, and rather than call anyone a liar, which i most certainly did not, lets just say i am obviously very lucky, and leave it at that.

 

[Macswede]

I put my 40D and 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM in for free cleaning at the Photo Trade Fair during the autumn and received a report that there was dust inside the lens. When I looked myself I could see very fine dust on the inside.
I asked the Canon people what I should do about it and was told to do nothing if it wasn't affecting pictures. It certainly doesn't seem to be. At the time I wondered if the dust had got in during manufacture. I haven't been anywhere particularly dusty with the lens.

 

[hollis_f]

Just had a real good look at my 100-400, which has been to Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Portugal (thrice). I can't see anything inside.