Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Hi everyone: It has been a few years since I actually posted. I just picked up a used Canon 20D earlier today. I plan on using it as a starter camera. It came with 3 Canon lens (ef 50mm 1:1.8 II, ef 38-80mm 1:4-5.6 III, ef-s 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 is II) 3 batteries, a charger, a Lowepro backpack style bag. I paid $200 dollars for everything. After getting home and charging up a battery, the camera works fine. I did find that the base of the 18-55mm lens was cracked and was seperating from the lens housing. I contacted the seller and they did not know about it. I take the blame for not looking at the lens close enough. Honestly I never even thought about the possibility of the base of the lens being cracked. I should have put each lens on the camera and looked it over that way also.

I guess my question is: What would be my best course of action to take care of the lens? Do I send it back to Canon, or an authorized repair facility or just buy another lens? I planned on using the camera next weekend at the 42nd annual 2017 Louisiana State High Power Rifle Silhouette match. I am unable to post a couple of pictures. Thanks Ken

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I think a new EF-S 18-55 goes for around $195. Depending on where and how it is cracked, you can glue it back together. Do not use any kind of super glue, the fumes they generate could be bad for the glass. Use a good epoxy to fix the Crack. Another option, if you are adventurous is, since it is a plastic base, you can actually convert it from EF-S to EF. There are a couple Web sites and videos that show you how to do it.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

For next weekend I would just use the 38 - 80 lens, possibly the 50mm if light is low. It will cost more than the lens is worth for a professional repair, but a home repair if done well may suffice, a good epoxy resin very carefully applied may do the trick, but you may need to remove the mounting plate to do it effectively. Also, if it is broken, it may have been dropped, so there may be other damage. Changing the mount on a lens is less intimidating than it may sound or appear, but it depends upon your personal aptitude for such things.

My personal, subjective, viewpoint is go use the camera as a starter camera, and if you decide that further investment is in your future, then maybe a refurbished more modern camera would be worthwhile. It all depends upon level of use and available funds.

Looking at your profile, it looks like you have a Canon XTi, so what has changed, and what other lenses do you have? It seems a little confusing to me.

Good luck!

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Peterff: The other lens is actually a 35-80mm. Most of the shots will be outside during the day. The 20D will be used as a starter camera. My funds are limited so that is another reason that I went with this camera for $200 bucks.

After looking closer at the broken base, I think that the mounting base is actually cracked and not the lens housing. If I had a damaged and unuseable lens, I would be willing to try to change out the mounting base. It is only 4 tiny screws to remove. It should not be that complicated to replace the mounting base. I did notice a couple small pieces of trash or something in the lens, so the lens would need to be cleaned also.

Would it might be better, to just go ahead and buy another lens?

When I first signed on: I had the other Canon. I found I didn't really use it and so I sold it. Just recently, I have found myself wanting to give this another try.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

For now, I would just use the 35-80mm. I don't think it has image stabilization, so faster shutter speeds would be recommended, say 1/125 to 1/250 or faster. Fixing the other lens may be more than just four screws - all the AF stuff needs to be connected. Possibly easier to take apart than put back together. The screws are probably JIS, not phillips. Fixing it before next weekend may be a challenge. Do you need wide angle shots? If not I would use what you have, and consider fixing the other lens yourself or buying a used on on ebay. The repair would likely be a bunch more expensive, and either way not ready by next weekend. I would practice with what you have.

Good luck!

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Sir: I haven't signed into this forum in 3 or 4 years. Maybe you have me mixed up with someone else.
Why don't you post a link so I can see what comments you are referring to. Have a good day.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It sounds like you need one of these. If you do the repair yourself, get a set of JIS (Japanese) screwdrivers from Amazon. I replaced a couple of mounts on lenses - not too difficult.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Lens-Bayonet-Mount-Ring-For-Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-F3-5-5-6-IS-stm-Repair-Part-/322733364210?hash=item4b246853f2:g:5YcAAOSw9cNZ4~xD

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Take the 38-80 and the 50. Leave the 18-55 at home for now. I had a cracked lens once and rubber banded the living snot out of it with a heavy duty rubber band. Worked well for years. When I worked for a living we had a lens bank that you could sign out a lens, as you can imagine many were beat up but optics worked. Many of the lenses had been dropped. Those that were non metal had cracks in them. Our repair guy was very basic, rubber bands and crazy glue were the methods used for lens repair. Look, that is a kit lens and I would not bother trying to fix it, if the bands work, GOOD. If not, look at this, you cannot beat the prices.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XCanon+18-55mm+1%3A3.5-5.6+II.TRS0&_nkw=Canon+18-55mm+1%3A3.5-5.6+II&_sacat=0

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Wow! That's harsh.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Good suggestion, although is the STM version the same as the IS II version that the OP has?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No idea, but doing a search with the right words might get better results - not just on ebay, but through Google.

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Thanks for the tips on the lens. I will be checking it out. If I do decide to buy another lens, should I stay with the 18-55mm or look at something different? Thanks Ken

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

A more versatile lens would be the 18 - 135mm, either STM or nano USM. Both excellent optically. The Nano USM version is a tad more expensive, but both very fast and quiet. The STM is not quite as fast as the nano USM model but silent and very good for video. Either a used or refurbished one from a reliable source would be worth considering.

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Thanks Peterff. I will be looking around at different lens.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I was a Canon user for over twenty years. During that time I acquired two "kit" lenses {28-80, and an older 18-55} with plastic base. I never had any trouble with a base breaking, and I don't recall hearing incidents of that's happening. My guess is that this lens had some kind of unfortunate incident - perhaps being clipped as the person walked too close to a building or being dropped. According to eBay, the trending price for lenses like that is $49. If I were in your position, I would purchase another lens and not take a chance that the lens also has hidden damage.