badapple Loc: Twin Lake, Michigan

Have canon 80d and canon 18-135mm usm lens purchased January 2017. Both the auto and manual focus quit working today on the 18-135. A nifty fifty, 55-250mm, and 100-400mm work fine. Have cleaned the contacts on the 18-135 with no success. Will canon repair be more equitable than a new lens. It has been my favorite “walk around” lens. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Burt

John Hicks Loc: Sible Hedinham North Essex England

Get a quote from Canon for a repair of the lens and set that against the cost of a new lens and see which one you prefer

CO

I don't know how much they charge for that. I do know that they offer an autofocus recalibration service for $179.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Explain how / in what way the auto focus and manual focus quit on the 18-135? The lens has a manual focus switch. You're saying with the switch position to MF, turning the focus ring doesn't focus the lens? That would be pretty broken.

As great as these lenses are, they don't hold their value in resale (all EF-S lenses). If you can find a used copy at $250 or less, that is very likely to be less than a repair cost. Just scanning google for results of "used EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilization USM Lens", it looks like buying a used one from KEH, MPB, similar is cheaper than a repair.

badapple Loc: Twin Lake, Michigan

Yesterday fine. Today broke. Switch in either AF or MF will not focus except at 18mm. Appreciate your reply and suggestion. Is there a comparable lens you would suggest to replace it?

Thank you for your thoughts.

Burt

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I think you have one of the best options in the 18-135 USM version. If a bit shy about the potential for more problems with this model, there's two older options in the IS STM and the original IS. Most of my equipment is used. Just test it / use it and confirm you plan to keep it within the no-questions-asked return period from most used vendors.

User ID

Do you suppose that would restore it to normal function ?

efnelson

I have the 80d..I have had the same issue only to find I inadvertently engaged the settings lock lever.. lol

badapple Loc: Twin Lake, Michigan

Thank you. I did think of that. Wish it was the problem.

Burt

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Your best bet is to get a quote from Canon. Compare the price to a brand new lens, a refurb one or a second hand lens.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

DO NOT USE CANON REPAIR. THEY'LL CHARGE YOU HUNDREDS AND DO NOTHING.

gouldopfl

Is this the only lens you have this problem with? You might want to try lightly rubbing an eraser over the contacts on the lens to see if that is the problem. Use a hard eraser so it doesn't break off small pieces into the lens. If happening on multiple lenses, try the mount contacts.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Alas, one person's problem experiences are not consistent with the vast majority of customers, satisfied customers of a company with a market share larger than the total combined size of their next two competitors. So, take this feedback reply within the 1-off context where it belongs.

That said, a quality repair is likely to be more expensive than third-party options (if available) and possibly more expensive than just buying another used copy.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I know you had a very bad and unsatisfactory experience with Canon repair and am sorry that happened.

However, overall Canon repair services get very high marks from most customers and are rated better than many other camera manufacturers' service depts.

Because they are a factory repair service, it's likely that they will "replace" rather than "fix"... which can be more expensive than what an independent shop might offer.

Just for example, a common problem with certain DSLRs was that over time and with use the shutter release button would get gummed up with finger oils and dirt. The shutter release would get sluggish. If you sent the camera to Canon, they'd replace the shutter release unit with a new one and charge you for the labor and the part. But if you put the same camera into the hands of an independent repairer, they might instead simply clean and re-lubricate the existing shutter release, rather than replace it. This is all that's really needed and nearly always solves the problem for many years to come... And this should cost much less because no parts were replaced, only labor charges will apply and maybe some small cost to cover the cleaning solution and a few drops of oil.

Now, I'm not saying that's the case with this lens. It may or may not need parts replaced.

Original poster appears to say that it autofocuses only at the 18mm setting, fails to focus when zoomed to any other focal length. That tells me the focusing system is functional, but for some reason there's a break in the electronic contacts except when the lens is fully retracted. If that's the case, it might be as simple as an internal ribbon cable that's loose or broken and would be a fairly easy, inexpensive fix. If it focuses at 18mm, the motor and such appears to be working. But this is just a guess.

I'm pretty sure the EF-S 18-135mm IS USM is a "fly by wire" lens, meaning that even manual focusing is conducted by the electronics... that there's no direct mechanical connection of the manual focus ring. Because of that, I'd expect both AF and manual focus to fail, if it's a connectivity issue. Try manual focus at 18mm and see if it works. If so, this would probably confirm the fault is just partial loss of connectivity.

Is it worth having repaired? Hard to say. A brand new EF-S 18-135mm IS "USM" will set you back almost $600. It's the top-of-the-line APS-C kit lens for Canon DSLRs and the most recent design (though it appears to and share optical design with the less expensive "STM" version). It's the first of the new "Nano" USM Canon lenses. I did find some used copies of it in poor condition (KEH "bargain") for $230. In better condition, it is usually priced closer to or above $300. In "like new" condition, KEH is asking more than $350 for one. Adorama lists one in "excellent +" condition for $329. MPB.com doesn't have any in stock right now.

It might at least be worth having Canon look at it and getting a repair quote. If it's a "known problem", they might even be able to give you a rough estimate via email, without actually seeing the lens. Or, since it's no longer under warranty, maybe have one of the independent repair shops look at it and give a quote. Unlike some other brands, there's usually no problem having an independent shop work on Canon gear, because Canon will supply them with parts, if needed. (Some other brands refuse to sell parts to repairers, making the factory service dept. your only option if parts are needed.)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I recommend NOT using any sort of eraser on those electronic contacts.

Pencil erasers are made of vegetable oil and often the source of problems with the contacts is oils (probably finger oils... or maybe lube from the camera or lens). As such, an eraser is unlikely to solve the problem. Might even make it worse.

More abrasiveness types of erasers definitely shouldn't be used. The electronic contacts on the lens and the corresponding pins inside the camera are gold plated (because gold doesn't oxidize). You don't want to damage that plating!

And, yes, with any eraser there's risk of small particles finding their way inside the camera, where they can potentially jam things such as the shutter or mirror lifting mechanism.

The safest and best way to clean the lens' electronic contacts is to use a few drops of isopropyl alcohol to dampen a lint free rag and wipe the contacts carefully with that. Also check that the corresponding "pins" inside the front of the camera are working properly. They're spring loaded and should return to position after being pressed lightly with a wooden or plastic toothpick or fingernail. Cleaning is actually rarely needed, because the "pins" tend to wipe the lens "contacts" as the lens is being rotated to the latched position on the camera. But sometimes a cleaning will help. High purity isopropyl alcohol can be difficult to find. It's no problem using cheap and widely available "rubbing alcohol" instead. Special contact cleaners like DeOxit aren't needed because the contacts are gold plated.

Another precaution... Never, ever use a Q-tip (household swab or "cotton bud") for this cleaning or anywhere inside a camera. The swabs tend to shed tiny fibers that also can get into and jam mechanisms.