I recently bought a Canon EOS500 at an extremely good price second hand. It was from a reliable source but a slight problem has arisen with the lens. I suspect grit is the cause, it's a 28-80 zoom lens and from about 50-80mm it sticks when I turn the zoom. Move it quickly and it's fine, move it slowly and it gets stuck. I have an old manual camera that got grit in a lens which was fixed easily, but as this is an auto-focus I don't know if the expense of getting it fixed is worth it - after all it is only a small problem I can work round! Or perhaps there is a way I can try to fix it myself? I'd appreciate any advice, thanks.

-- Isobel Hamilton (isobel@girlsf1.com), December 08, 2001

Answers

The 28-80 lens is basically canons bottom of the line cheap lens, Its more worth while to buy a new lens, may i suggest a 50mm or 28-105mm?

-- Jake F. (JakeF@nowhere.net), December 08, 2001.

get a 28-105. if you're up to it maybe a 24-85 or 28-135IS?

-- jeff nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 08, 2001.

hmmm that means I presume that no one thinks it's something worth getting fixed! The expense would be something better used to buy another lens?

-- Isobel Hamilton (isobel@girlsf1.com), December 09, 2001.

The EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens retails for $89.95 at B&H and, thus, the repair will likely exceed the value of the lens. Get a quote and see if the repair is worth bothering with. I've never been charged less than $100 for the most minor repair at Canon.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), December 10, 2001.

I agree with the above suggestions. Consider also that you are much less likely to encounter problems or failures in the future with the lenses mentioned than with a repaired lens of lesser build quality.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), December 10, 2001.

Gotta agree with the other opinions regarding cost effectiveness of the repair; most certainly will exceed the "value" of the lens. Another thing which is almost certain: it will over time get worse. You have to remember you're dealing with very, very close-tolerance, soft plastic internal parts where friction means wear and wear means sloppy performance. Try this approach...put this lens aside and throw it in your bag for exterior shots, such as at the beach. Outdoor shots will often necessitate stopping way down anyway, which should yield better pictures than you might expect from an entry-level lens..and you won't mind that much if more sand gets in it anyway!

-- Charles Hansen (charleshansen@aol.com), December 11, 2001.