waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I have a Canon EF 28-200 that won't zoom past 70mm line sometimes. The local Canon shop says it is obsolete and he can't get parts for it. I'd take a crack at fixing it myself if I could get the instructions. Or pay someone a fair price to fix it.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I would not be surprised if a second hand lens in good condition will cost less than repairing your lens. MPB is a reputable dealer and I can say the same of B&H, Adorama and Robert Camera.

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-lenses/used-canon-fit-lenses/canon-ef-28-200mm-f-3-5-5-6/sku-1266144/

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Thanks and you are probably right. I'll check the out. :-)

ggenova64

Precision Camera.

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

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Thanks I'll check them out :-)

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Thanks I'll check them out :-)

marvkaye

I have a Sigma macro lens that had focus problems, sent it direct to Sigma who said the same thing about it being obsolete so they sent it back unrepaired. I kept searching around the only folks who said they could probably fix it was Camera Repair Japan in Peachtree Corners, GA. They not only fixed the problem but upgraded the firmware and returned the lens in what looked like brand new condition. I couldn't have been more pleased with the service. Unfortunately their website comes up as unassigned (www.CameraFix.com) so it's possible the pandemic wiped them out. The phone for them listed on my receipt is 770-849-0555, and that was valid just a year ago. I hope this helps.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

There is another shop in Smyrna, GA (KEH) that does lens repair... They have been in business for decades and likely have parts for Canon optics.

Here is a URL to their Repair Service https://www.keh.com/shop/repair
Or you can email or call them at repair@keh.com or 770-333-4200.

Best of luck with your Canon Lens waegwan
Please stay safe!

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

Southern Photo in Miami Beach, Fl is certified Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Pentax repair center....Most of their work is within a few weeks turn around (parts availability) Pricing is moderate, AP, UP, & AFP have their work done there. 305.653-7355 Good Luck

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

DiscountCameraRepair.Com in Colorado Springs. Straight shooter, reasonable prices, stands behind his work.
Start with a phone call.

http://www.discountcamerarepair.com/

Ruthlessrider

I’ve sent several lenses back to Canon for cleaning and repair and found them reasonable and efficient.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Usually, when a zoom won't cover it's full range, it is a guide bushing (or loose screw that holds the bushing) that has come loose or come out of position. Maybe: the screw/bushing is the culprit (unless the lens has suffered a "hit" from being dropped, and actually broken something off). This is usually repairable, but varies in complexity from lens to lens. For starters you could google "Canon EF 28-200 repair", you will find some youtube videos and maybe/possibly even some schematics or repair manuals. A place that also has some service manuals is USCAMERA.COM (I've bought Nikon Factory Repair manuals "downloads" from them). Often you can service zoom bushings through service ports hidden under the rubber rings, or from the mount end/or front glass end...again, this varies from lens to lens/model to model. You will need some small electronics/camera specific repair tools...most are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Don't use inappropriate tools, that could also make things worse.

Most of the manufacturers drop an older model from "repair" once they have depleted the repair parts made during initial factory "runs", excepting for those higher priced models, and they eventually stop making parts for those too. As someone else said, you'd probably be better off picking up another used model. You could turn yours into a "parts lens" as there are always folks looking for mounts, glass, rubbers, tubes, switches, boards, motors and such, especially if it still looks great, it will have some value.

If you do go inside the lens, try not to disturb the focus stack - I don't know how it is with that lens, but it is easy to "brick" modern focus stacks, and then you need access to expensive alignment equipment.

If you can still move the zoom thru full cycle by push/pull (Don't force it, you might do more damage), some folks just use them as a push/pull and continue on.

At any rate good luck with your quest, finding good info and factory manuals can involve some detective work. Later today I will look into that lens, if I can come up with more usefull info I'll come back or PM. Cheers

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

I repair these for a living and I'm afraid it's not economical to repair. A quick check on EBay shows them, in good working order, for very little.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

After discontinuation, at some point Canon runs out of parts to make repairs, declares an item obsolete and refuses to take them in for repairs.

Exactly when this occurs depends upon the product and how much stock of replacement parts remains after it's been discontinued. For example, the EF 200mm f/1.8L USM was made obsolete within a year or two after discontinuation because the parts supply ran out. On the other hand, it was possible to have an EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens serviced and repaired by Canon for 7 or 8 years after it was superseded by the "II" model.

To a large extent this is just the nature of "factory" repair services. They don't go in and "fix" a failed component. They "replace" the entire module instead. And they only use brand new, OEM parts.

In contrast, an independent repairer might un-solder a sub-component and replace it with a generic or even a used one, if available. Sometimes independent repairers even make parts, when needed.

For example, over time and with regular use it was a common problem with the Canon 20D through 50D (at least) for the shutter release button to get "gunked up" internally with finger oils and dirt. The symptom of this was a noticeably increased shutter lag that got worse and worse until the shutter wouldn't release at all. If you sent the camera to Canon's factory repair department for a fix, they would simply install a new shutter release button. But all that's usually needed is a good cleaning and re-lubrication, which is what an independent repairer might do, saving the cost of any replacement parts. (In fact, for that particular problem there was a DYI cleaning that required no disassembly of the camera. But that wasn't ideal because it didn't re-lubricate the mechanism, was a bit risky and needed to be done very carefully).

In this case, Canon has declared the EF 28-200mm obsolete, which means they won't even take one in for possible repair. The only option is to have an independent repair shop look at it and give a quote. Since that's not a very valuable lens, it might be better to just try to replace it with a good, used one. If you can find one. (You might end up buying a lens with problems or little lifespan left).

Or look for something else that's similar... for example, the Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM is widely available used for around $100... a little more or a little less depending upon condition... and is a quite good performing "walk-around" lens. Although it dates way back to the days of film, it was often provided as a kit lens on DSLRs. As a result, there are lots of them around. It's image quality, autofocus performance and image stabilization rival that of some considerably more expensive L series lenses, though it's nowhere near as well built or sealed as an L. And, it's also been discontinued within the last year or two, so will eventually not be repairable or serviceable by Canon. (Independent repair may be possible, but may not be worth it on a lens that can be bought so cheaply.)

Of course, 135mm isn't 200mm. There is no Canon 28-200mm exact replacement now. If you need the telephoto reach a "premium" replacement is the EF 28-300mm "L" IS USM, which is a big step up in every way (image quality, IS, build quality, tripod collar and more)... not to mention an additional 100mm focal length. But, it's considerably bigger, heavier and a whole heck of a lot more expensive. It's still in production and can be bought new, but has been around for quite a few years (intro'd in 2004) and is widely available used.