Beware Canon users! Lenses falling off… http://bit.ly/canonlens. Spread the word people. It’s not a myth. Via @gavinseim
For original 2009 post scroll down (highlighted in red).
05/21/12: Latest update & 5D MK3 Notes.
More comments keep coming in and the lenses are still falling. This design flaw in the MK2 that allows the lens release button to be ultra sensitive. Be very careful and watch for lenses coming loose. Often you can catch it before it falls if you’re aware of the issue. Some users go for years without it happening. Others deal with on a regular basis.
According to the latest reports, Canon claims they’ve never heard of such a thing, even though many have called in about the issue. It would appear Canon support reps are being directed to lie about the issue.
5D MK III. We’re hoping this issue does not occur with the MK3. In fact I was assured by an executive at Canon who I will leave unnamed, that this WILL NOT happen on the MK3. So far so good but we shall see. In the meantime, keep posting comments and keep hammering Canon until they give is a real fix for this problem on effected bodies like the MK2, some 1D series and the 7D… Gav
09/15/11: When Does Someone Get Hurt?
Canon seems to still be ignoring the issue, but it keeps happening. People keep stumbling on this post and telling of their own lens disasters. But here’s an even more scary tidbit. A Canon lens fell from the sky recently and hit a home, damaging it. It was in Petaluma around Sept 2nd. Seems a Canon lens fell from the air, damaging the roof and slicing thru two window screen. Thankfully no one was injured. More Details on the incident here.
Police and FAA can’t seem to pin it down. Maybe they should read this blog 😉 Of course I can’t say for sure what happened, but based on what we’ve seen, it’s not hard to imagine that the lens slipped off during an aerial photo session. This raises the question. How long till someone really gets hurt because of Canon lack of responsibility in dealing with this flaw? THE LENS RELEASE IS TO SENSITIVE CANON!
Imagine of of these heavy lenses falling on someones head at a wedding or event? Hang on to those lenses folks. And call your Canon rep… Gav
UPDATE 11.20.10: Pro Gear?
This article has brought quite a bit in discussion in the past few days. I want to reiterate that this is not a case of clumsy, stupid photographers. Most of these are the same people that have earlier models with no issues. Did we suddenly get dumber when we bought the effected bodies? I’m not the kind of guy that blames the coffee shop because I spill on myself. If I was simply screwing up, this post would not be here. I myself had a 10D, 20D, and 30D prior to my MK2 and while the release design is very similar, this never occurred.
Some suggest a lack of maintenance or that parts are worn. As you’ll see in my earlier updates, I sent my nearly new MK2 body to Canon for repair and they said their was NOTHING WRONG. The loaner Canon sent me during one such inspection had the same issue as my own. This also seems to be cropping up on more Canon bodies, some new (such as the 7D), some older (such as the 5D MK1). It begs the question. Is the position of the Canon release button in general simply a poor design?
This is equipment used in bustling job situations like weddings and events. Attempting to replicate this as a test offers little help, because in real situations you’re just working, zooming, or holding to that lens to stabilize. You’re not expecting the lens releasing, even though general active use is all it seems to takes It would seem (though we’re not positive) that the button is brushed by the hand in the right way while using the lens and is far too sensitive. It releases. At that point a simple zoom or focus is all it takes to rotate the lens off.
Some, in defense of Canon (such as on the Canon forums), blame users saying that their holding their cameras the wrong way. I think we should consider that this is expensive pro level gear. There is nowhere in the manual that says how we have to hold the camera, nor should there be. The camera needs to be able to position in any manner we need it to.
THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO HOLD IT. If we are using pro gear in pro situation and it cannot handle the task without coming apart in our hands, that would indicate a poor design that needs to be addressed. Note that while the user prefs of many photographers have so far kept them from experiencing this issue, it does not excuse the problem. It should be noted that this problem has not been reported on ANY OTHER CAMERA BRAND. People should ask themselves. Do I want a camera I have to babysit or do I want a camera I can use in any situation and not have to worry?
If professional gear cannot withstand professional use, then it is poorly designed and needs to be fixed. This is not a life altering problem. It’s just one that Canon needs to man up and deal with, so we don’t have to worry about breaking expensive gear every time we pick up our cameras. Canon should take some pride in the refinement of their engineering and fix this flaw. Nikon seems to have avoided this problem Canon. Why can’t you?
PS. Needless to say. After all this, I doubt I’ll ever get that invite to Canon Explorers of Light that I always dreamed about. Oh well. Life goes on 😉
PSS. I am still unsure if only certain copies of the suspected models are flawed, or if all of them are and it’s just a matter of how some people hold their camera. Time will tell I hope.
UPDATE 11/18/10: Canon Ignores Us.
Lenses keep coming loose and falling off. This thread has over 100 comments now and I wounder how many people have had the problem and not spoke up. Not realized it’s a Canon design flaw. How many have had their lenses come loose, but have realized it before the pavement smack, twisted it back and just went on.
People keep explaining, keep mentioning this post to Canon, but Canon seems to be pretending it does not exist and tells people THEY dropped their lens. I say it’s time to ramp this up. People are getting mad (me included). Some are thinking of switching. Call your Canon dealer or rep, post to your twitter, facebook, forums. Let your friends know. You can read through the many comments and updates, as well as the original article below for more details. Bottom line. All it seems all it takes is brushing your hand in the right spot while zooming, focusing etc and it’s released.
Andy brought up something in a comment that I have had concerns about as well, but to see it spelled out gave me chills. What happens when a Canon lens falls off from a balcony at an event and lands on a guests head? Not good. I for one am doubly careful when using my lens over an open space.
Some are skeptical, so let me add that this is not a freaked out conspiracy theory. We’re just regular photographers, but with broken lenses. This has NEVER happened on a Nikon that I’ve been able to find. There is no excuse for Canon. It may not be happening to you yet, but be aware and don’t think because you’ve not been hit with the issue, that this cannot effect you next.
UPDATE 08/10/10: Now included on the Canon 7D
It’s been over a year since this post was started. Everyone has not had the problem, but as verified by more continual comments, the issue very real. Many don’t realize how serious it is until it happens to them (which can be at any time). At this point I don’t see how it can be denied that there’s a serious design flaw in some of Canon’s release mechanisms. Shame on your Canon for ignoring this problem. To anyone having this issue, let everyone know. If you get lens damage due to this, don’t just pay up. If you’re a CPS member contact your Canon rep and explain the issue. Ask them to fix the lens under warranty. If you don’t know who your rep is, contact Canon customer service (800-652-2666). Don’t hesitate to direct reps to this post to backup what you’re telling them. The easiest way is with the short link… http://bit.ly/canonlens
It looks like the issue may have also started on the Canon 7D. Apparently canon did not address the problem when they designed the new body. Based on this, I recommend all Canon users be cautious. This keeps happening on more Canon bodies and depending on how you hold your camera you could be next. I don’t plan on a brand switch at this time, but if Canon does not address this issue I’m nearing a point where I may stop recommending their SLR’s. We’ll see how this plays out. In the meantime please share your comments and tell people anytime it happens. You’re not alone… Gav
UPDATE 12/01/09: No Response
Complaints keep trickling in and sadly there’s been no resolution. Not everyone is having the problem, but it’s far too many. Canon has not responded (shame on you Canon). For now all I can suggest to those having the issue is to contact Canon and voice your thoughts. Also keep leaving comments and letting people know about the issue. When shooting these days I’m just very aware of the problem and watch for lenses coming loose, in hopes of avoiding further accidents.
UPDATE 09/09/09: It’s not a problem.
I sent my MK2 body and broken 24-70L lens to Canon. They returned my body stating everything was up to spec and sent a repair quote for the lens which broke when it fell off at my last wedding. My rep got them to repair the lens at no charge. I’m thankful he worked with me, but forced to wounder. Would he have been allowed to help had I been non media related? I don’t know.
The bigger concern I have is that Canon did not acknowledge the problem. What happens the next time a lens falls off in the middle of a shoot. They come loose frequently and usually I catch it before disaster strikes, but not always. Will Canon keep fixing lenses for no charge? I have my doubts .
I use a battery grip, so perhaps my hand is held slightly different? I’m curios if others having the issue are using the grip. I’ve talked to my rep about possible causes and we’ve come up with no answers. The bottom line it that a locked lens can be detached (presumably from a button touch while zooming) and if not caught in time (easy during the heat of an event such as a wedding) it falls off.
This keeps happening, but not to everyone. We’ll see where it goes and I have hopes that Canon will find a solution for those of us dealing with it. Please keep reporting your findings. If you break a lens because of this Contact your Canon rep, see if they’ll take care of it and let us all know how it goes. If I get further info I’ll let you know.
UPDATE 08/26/09: How it might happen.
The release button position falls directly into the thumb path for many of us while zooming (especially on short lenses). Larger lenses are not entirely immune, but seem to have less issues. Perhaps due to more wight (more force to turn loose) and perhaps that the control hand would be further up on the barrel with a large lens and close to the release button on smaller lenses.
More reports keep coming in and I had yet another lens disaster. Last weekend at a wedding, I had multiple lenses come loose including my 17-40 and 24-70, but I was wary and realized it. Then at a later point during heavy shooting, the 24-70 came loose and fell about 6ft to a ceramic floor with a sickening smack. It no longer works properly.
My Canon rep sent me loaner MK2 and 24-70. I’ve not shot with it yet, but from my tests, the lens seems to release every bit as easily as my body I just sent to Canon service, along with my damaged lens. The button is so sensitive that a slight touch will unlatch it. If you don’t realize it, it’s a simple matter to it to turn entirely loose and fall off. Especially since lens mount seems looser than previous models like my 30D. Further experimentation on my 30D shows me that the lens can still come off, but the difference must be enough that it has never been a problem for me or others.
I fear that Canon will say there’s nothing wrong. I can’t tolerate this and neither should anyone having the problem. Could it be I’ll have to turn to Nikon after using Canon my entire career? I have not heard one such report on Nikon bodies. We’ll see how Canon responds. They have a good track record and hopefully with rise to this and find a solution. I’ll keep you all posted.
UPDATE 06/29/09: It keeps happening.
The lens keeps unlatching, but I’m watching for it and have not had any more falls. With me it happens on the 24-70 L. Other reports keep coming in however. I compared it with my 30D, and it just seems like the release button it hypersensitive, making it easy to turn the lens off while zooming. I spoke with Mike, my Canon rep and he’s going to arrange a loner body so I can send this one in and have them look at whats happening. I’ll report back.
UPDATE 05/31/09: Experimentation..
Doing further experimentation. The lens worked loose twice at Saturdays wedding but did not fall off as I was watching for it. It seems (especially on the 24-70 2.8 Canon) that it’s VERY easy to Inadvertently hit the release button while zooming. It’s very sensitive and and takes only a slight touch to release the lens allowing it to turn while you zoom. Perhaps the button is more touchy on the MK2 vs other Canon bodies? Or even just certain units in the MK2 model? Will update again soon.
Original Article. 05/18/09. Lenses falling off.
by Gavin Seim: Please share this so we can use the net to get feedback or tips on it. I’ve sent the tweet on my twitter and requested RT’s. You can paste it and do the same if you like. This is a simple way to hear from the world on their experience with this…
Those who listen to the PPS podcast are aware that I recently sent my brand new 24-70 2.8 L lens to Canon for repair because it fell off my 5D MK2. I love my MK2, but I was on the dance floor at a wedding happily shooting away and next thing I know my twelve hundred dollar lens is rolling on the floor. Pretty disconcerting.
There’s was that chilling intake of breath from the crowd, that most of us who have publicly dropped a piece of gear are all to familiar with. Like any pro, I kicked the lens off the dance floor with disdain, while casually saying. “Heck that old thing. I have a whole case of them in the car”. OK seriously though, I kept cool and finished the wedding just fine. If you want to hear about that listen to PPS podcast #58.
Naturally Canon treated the situation as if I’d dropped the lens outright and the the repair cost me about $200. Not a huge deal. I figured perhaps I somehow hit the release button. Then I got to thinking. Should that happen since you we you have to to rotate a lens with some pressure to take it off. Probably most people thought I was being clumsy and did something wrong. I was using the camera quite normally however.
I was about to let it go when I found I’m not the only one this is happening to. Seems that there’s various reports coming in about lenses falling off the MK2. More all the time. So I decided to write this post to talk about this. Does this happen commonly? How about on other cameras besides the MK2. Do Nikon’s ever have this issue?
This is not some conspiracy theory about Canon having a plot to make all our lenses fall off and break, so we’ll buy new ones. (then again… Just kidding) I just want to know. Have you had this problem? I’m concerned that the locking mechanism does NOT always stay locked. These are VERY expensive lenses we photograph with. The risk of the dropping them is bad enough. We don’t need them falling off too.
Thoughts?
I’ve had my Mk 2 since the end of November last year and I have to admit this has never happened to me (and I hope it doesn’t either, especially with my 855 f/1.2!). Will be interesting to see if this does turn out to be a design issue as I can’t see what on earth Canon could do to rectify it considering the units shipped…… will watch with baited breathe.
I received my Mk 2 the first week in December and I have not experienced this issue, but you can be certain that I will be checking my lens mount frequently in the future.
I’m interested in seeing what Lenses people where using when this happened. I’m simply inclined the issue to be with specific lens builds – after all Canon has produced this mount on their bodies for more than a decade.
I do not own a Mk II – but I can honestly say that my 24-70 lens does not fit as tight on my 5D and say the 70-200 does … or any of my other non-L lenses do.
hence, I’m wondering if we don’t have a build problem with a specific lens.
Sorry to hear about the problem you had. Chris Marquardt from TFTTF had his 5DMKII separate from his lens – but the body fell on the floor – not the lens…
I’ve had no issues with lenses ‘falling off’ my 5DMKII.
I don’t own the 24-70 – but my 70-200, 16-35, 85 and 100 have been fine.
The locking mechanism is mechanical so it would require the button to be pressed (accidentally) and the lens to rotate – not hard as you turn the camera in to portrait and landscape position.
Just admit it. You messed up! Stop trying to blame Canon for your mistake. Gavin, seriously, take a breath once in a while. You’re too hyper!! It takes me about a MONTH to get through your podcasts because I can’t take your ranting and stumbling over words.
I know weddings are fast-paced but blazing through stuff only leads you to make mistakes (CASE IN POINT!)
Seriously Gavin, chill.
Wow you didn’t even read what I wrote did you. Are you a stockholder at Canon 🙂 I never denied that I may have hit a button, but the lens should not have fallen off. Now that this is happening to various people it seems there”could” be an issue.
I don’t need to explain myself to you, but honestly I don’t know what happened or how it fell off yet. far as I’m concerned this post could turn into a list if tips on avoiding it.
Don’t you have to push the button and turn the lens to take it off? I can’t imagine how this happens, but I can say I would NOT be calm and cool if it happened to me and one of my favorite lenses. Maybe take the 5D, put it 2 inches from a pillow, and push the button again with a lens attached to see if it is a recurring issue?
Definitely sorry to hear about the lens. $200 bucks for the repair don’t sound too bad. I’m thinking, maybe the locking mechanism didn’t quite lock the camera into place. You might have twisted as far as it can go but maybe the lock didn’t set in properly. Just a guess. My solution is lots of duck tape and gorilla glue, that’ll keep that sucker from ever coming off. : D
Hi Gavin,
I had sent you the DM on twitter yesterday because this has happened twice to me with the 5D Mark II. Luckily both times the lens came loose in my hand instead of landing on the floor/ground. I remember hearing that one of the podcasters had this problem – it turns out it was Chris Marquardt from TFTTF as Al pointed out above. I remembering listening to the TFTTF podcast when Chris was talking about it and it made me wonder whether others have had this problem. When you mentioned it in your podcast, I thought it might be worth talking about to see whether or not it’s happening more often to other 5DMKII owners
It has happened to me twice, once with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L Lens and once with the Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 APO Lens. While I would like to assume that it’s user error – I can honestly say that in the 6 or 7 years that I have owned and used Canon DSLR’s (starting the with the 10D) I have NEVER had a lens come loose. My gut tells me that the problem lies either with the positioning and/or size of the release button. That’s the only common sense deduction I can make. It just seems strange that three of us (myself, you, and Chris) have had this happen.
Ron Risman
Gavin,
I was listening to podcast when you shared your experience about your lens falling off. The tone of your voice definitely had me thinking it was one of those “WTF just just happened!!” moments… you sounded truly confounded!
Well, for what it’s worth, I received my 5D2 just after Xmas ’08, right before I embarked on a long excursion to India — not once have I had a problem with a loose lens.
Keep up the great work…stop being so hyper will ya!?!!! (kidding)
Don
I have a friend who had this happen with her Tamron 28-75 2.8 Di.. In fact, the lens won’t even lock onto the camera. Lame!
I actually had this happen to me on just my normal 5D I had my Canon 70-200 2.8 on it sitting on my hip outside a church, next thing I heard this sickening smash and looked to see my lens bouncing end over end on the Concrete!! i had figured i had knocked the button and it was slowly working its way off, and felt like an Idiot! maybe not?? but then you mentioned this happens with the MrkII so maybe I still am??
Maybe it’s a problem across the board with Canon. Though I never had it happen on other bodies I’ve owned. To be honest I’m amazed at many many people have dealt with this. Even if we briefly hit the button the design should be such that the lens does not fall off. Anything else would is bad design it seems to me
This has happened to me twice – both times I recall it was as I put the camera in the bag. As I pushed the camera in to its padded slot the lens came right off. It happened with the 24-105 f4L and the 70-200 f2.8L. Each time I assumed I had knocked the lens lock button just a smidge from the side and this caused it to release its grip of the lens in the mount.
I would say this is user error, confounded perhaps by a rather light trigger on the lens lock button. I’m not sure if there is anything Canon can/will do about it.
I’ll be taking a closer look at this tonight and see if the button is more sensitive to being hit from the side than if you push the button in directly.
Gavin, I am a Nikon shooter so I do not have personnal experience with this particular combination but I think there is an issue. I have heard atleast a half dozen accounts of the 24-70mm seperating from a 5D Mark 2, and that is just in the last couple months. Sounds like there may be an compatability problem.
I’ve just bought a 70 – 200mm F2.8 L series lens and I have found that the lens feels loose on the 5D MKII body. I haven’t had it fall off but it does feel odd when I carry the kit, I can certainly feel free play in the mount, is this normal?
I’ve had my 5D for a few months and love it. I have a 70-200 F4L glass but i notice that once its locked into place there is still play in the lens. i could literally grab the lens and shift it side to side a tad to see there is a little wiggle room which really concerned me but i havent had a lens fall off completely.
Yes, I already dropped a 80-200 2.8 IS and I had to pay almost $ 200 to have a fix I though it was my mistake but next Saturday in a Wedding I was able to save a 24-70 2.8 because I hold it in my hand before it felt.
This SAME exact scenario happened to me while I was shooting a wedding as well, my second shooter witnessed it. I had the same lens on, the 24-70 on my 5d mark II and the lens simply fell off. This has never happened to me with any of my other cameras either in all my years of shooting. When the brick hit the floor my heart just sank. I did attribute it to user error at first, maybe the release button was pressed somewhere and the lens wiggled free? I was lucky, the lens hood took all the impact and the lens still seems to function fine. Now every time I use the 5d mkII Im always checking to see if the lens is on tight.
Wow, this is really bad quality control IMO. Terrible. Out of curiosity I took my two cameras and actually tried to do this. Pressed the button and moved the camera around. The lens didn’t budge. Even my big lens. Makes no sense to me that it is that easy for Canon dlsr’s to lose their lens.
I have owned my Canon 5D Mark II since the end of December and have never had a lens come off or feel loose. I use the L series 24-105mm and 70-200mm f/4.0 and also use a 100mm macro lens on the camera.
A post over at Planet5D might have helped explain why some 5D Mark II owners, including myself, have had lenses come loose. One of the differences between the 5DMK and all the other Canon DSLR’s that I have owned is the video capability, which I use quite a bit. I have never taken the lens off to ‘trick’ the aperture but I do use manual focus while shooting video. If the lens release button gets pushed and stays ‘locked’ for lack of a better word in that position and then I start using manual focus while in Live View this could easily account for the lens being twisted to the position where it could become loose. Plus, when shooting in Live View, the camera is being held out in front of you in a rather awkward position, making it more likely that I don’t always find the manual focus ring on the first try.
I don’t think that explains too much. I didn’t even use video the day this happened to me and at the time I was also using AF. To top it off, hitting the button is really not an excuse. Certainly the button is going to get touched while shooting. The system has to be built for it.
I’m using my MK2 no different than any of my previous bodies. I’m not sure what gives, but somethings up. I’m not sure why everyone keeps trying to excuse the fact that lenses are falling off our cameras out of the blue sky. I don’t really care what the use situation is. It should never happen.
I’ve seen more than enough reports on this post alone to be very concerned.
Gavin, thanks for explaining that you weren’t using video. As I explained in my blog, I tried several different things to try to make this happen with my 5D mk ii, maybe you could try to figure it out on your camera? Maybe there’s a way you can help debug this issue. Do it in a controlled environment, low to the ground with pillows etc to protect the lens if it does happen again. Play with just touching the release button etc.
And if I may ask, where are the other reports you’ve seen? I’ve only found your blog so far.
Yes I plan to keep working with it Mitch to see if there’s clear signs/solution.
Other reports are mainly the people commenting here and some on twitter which initially got me to make this post.
I’ve almost had this happen once, I must have hit the button is all I can think. It was my 70-200 and for some lucky reason I felt it was loose.. I would not have been a happy chappy if it had crashed to the ground!
Greg.
We haven’t had that …Yet. I would surely wet myself if it happens..
I have a Mk II and have not experienced lens falloff. I was recently doing a shoot in a cave in Northern Thailand near the Burmese boarder and dropped the hole bloody camera and lens onto a hard stone ground. Fortunately I had a filter on the lens and except for a couple of scratches on the body and a ruined filter the camera and lens survived and no issues.
Just finished a wedding today with my 5D MK2 and I have not encountered any issues such as this. I usually keep my 70-200 2.8 on it as well. I can;t wait until the firmware comes out so I can manually adjust the videos!
i tried to replicate the problem by literally pushing the lens release button and shaking the camera…the lens would not fall off.
From what I can tell it has nothing to do with shaking the camera. I tried that too. A slight touch on the lens release will dis-engage it and as you zoom you can turn the lens off. the core problem I see is just that the button is too sensitive to a light touch.
I feel your pain and agree about the spring issue. I had a lens twist half off before -catching it. My 70-200 would have hit the ground if I didn’t catch it unlocked. This happened exactly a week from hearing you and chris marquardt. Never happened again so thinking sensitive spring too.
I was recently on a stopover, doing the tourist bus thing, getting up moving between seats, putting the unit down on the seat beside me, etc.
I went to get off and all of a sudden the 24-105 F4 bounced off my foot! Luckily it was fine, and I assumed it was my fault and didn’t think anything of it (or the 5DMKII), now have another excuse as to why my photos shite in the future – I’m having to focus on ensuring my lens stays on! 🙂
one week ago i had the same problem late evening.
Not in action, just walking around.. !!!
having the camera mounted with my 70-200 2.8 IS L around my shoulder , it dropped itself while walking without doing anything.
damn.. searched the forums for problems i though i gonna crazy.. other people had the same problem.
so whats the matter with it
another interesting thing is, this morning my camera showed an connection problem between lens and camera. (please remount lens and reboot camera)
after this messege i remounted the lens carefally and safety.
I don’t have a DSLR, but my 24-70L fell off of my Canon Elan 7NE last year while sightseeing in NYC. Although it bounced around a few times it is still functional though the zoom ring is not quite as smooth as it was prior. Because it still takes great images I haven’t sent it to canon for repair. Since that time I have noticed that the lens occasionally comes loose. I’m pretty certain that I had not touched the lens release button. I’m thinking that there may be an issue with the 24-70, not the camera body. I have never had the the 70-200 f2.8 or the 50 f1.4 come loose.
my 24-70 2.8 is wonky on the 5d Mk II also. It sometimes dosen’t want to mount, and will take some fiddling to get it on properly. Something wierd is going on here. No falls, but it feels wrong when I change lenses.
This happened to me for the first time in my career at last Saturday’s wedding. Unfortunately it was my 70-200 2.8L IS lens. It fell about 7 feet off the Mark II onto concrete just as the bride was about to toss her bouquet from the 2nd floor. Perfect timing, right? (Thankfully, I had 2 other shooters with me catching the moment as well.) This has never happened on any of my other Canon cameras. I took it to Canon and it will cost approx $555.00 to repair. It never even occurred to me that it could actually be an issue others were having as well. Hmm. Bummer.
I was shooting a wedding this past weekend with my trusty 5D (NOT the MkII) and dang it all if this didn’t happen to me too… I was in the groom’s room, which naturally has a stained concrete floor. My 24-70 f/2.8, which weighs 4 lbs, fell straight off the front and crushed the UV filter. It also made it so the lens wouldn’t zoom. Argh. This was before the ceremony. I’ve never had this happen before; I’m sure I hit the button somehow but clearly had no sense that it had happened. I was shooting and the next thing I knew all of us were staring incredulously at my goof. Whew – I had other lenses, but it sure put me off my game; I always shoot with that lens the most. Maybe we can rig up a little strap or something that wraps around the lens. Or, just be more careful 🙂
I’ve actually had a similar experience with my 40D. I was using the 24-70 f/2.8 and got a “err” display and nothing would work. Upon closer inspection the lens was loose. Glod I caught it. I’m starting to think it’s the location of the button.
Hey Gav
For what it’s worth I have a Nikon D80 and I have never had a lens fall off quite the opposite they are quite stiff. But I am not a pro so do not shoot as much as you
Hi Gavin,
When using the 5D Mark II, there have been a couple of times when the camera won’t let me adjust aperture – even in manual mode (I have the latest firmware update). When this happened last I doubled checked the lens to make sure it was tight and it was – but removing it and re-connecting the lens made the problem disappear. I wonder if this lack of “full” connection is leading to the lens problems that some seem to have from time to time, including myself.
Ron
Well…It happened to me today
I was carrying the 5D MkII, with the strap around my neck, and my lens (Canon 24-105L) just simply fell off of the camera and hit the stone walkway, damaging the mounting ring so that it will no longer mount on the body.
I had not taken any pictures as yet today, but I used it Sunday without problems. I’m sure I couldn’t have accidentally touched the release button hard enough to release the lens, and nothing else could have pressed the button.
I have noticed since, that it sure doesn’t take much button movement to release a lens. 1/8th inch at the very most! My other bodies take more to effort release the lens than this one does.
Have have had mkII for six months, never lens fall off, but don’t have the 24-70. My 70-200 2.8 is very loose on the body, though, with wiggle room as the prior poster noted about theirs. Wonder if it is a combination of tolerance issues…
I know what you mean Dwager. It seems a bit sloppy. I’ve not had the same troubles with the 70-200 either. I think it’s because it’s so much heavier. I have had my 17-40 come loose, but not fall. It think it depends also on how you hold and zoom the lens.
I had my 24-70 lens drop off the Mk II a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, I was kneeling down to get a shot at the wedding and the lens landed on a carpeted floor, so no damage. I had heard of this happening to others, but this is the first time it has happened to me in the 6 months that I’ve had the Mk II.
Odd. I’ve shot with the 5D and the 5D2 for several years and tens of thousands of frames and I’ve never even thought about the lens coming off from accidentally pressing the release button, much less had it actually happen.
I wonder if either something is out of adjustment with your lens release button – e.g. too loose, etc – and it needs to be sent in, or perhaps you grip that camera in an unusual way.
Good luck.
Dan
Perhaps Dan, but honestly there should be no way of gripping the camera that the lens can become detached. Everyone has a different hand and professional gear has to be designed well enough to work with it’s users. Not only that many people are having the issue. I will be sending it to Canon and add an update to the post though. Just be thankful you’ve not had this issue.
I feel bad for you Gavin, I really do. This is intolerable! Indeed, Canon owes you and everybody else with this problem recompense for your woes.
Perhaps your time has arrived “Luke”… come to the dark side and join us on Nikon! Together we shall rule the world, and indeed, the entire galaxy.
I am a Nikon owner who met a guy today at the camera store with a Canon 5D Mark II and he had the lens fall off at least 3 times. He was at the store this time with his lens stuck on the body. The button would not disengage the lens. I was debating if I should buy the 5D Mark II or wait for the Nikon D700X to be released. 🙂 If this news gets to the general public it will put a damper on the 5D. I won’t be buying until Canon gets this issue fixed. I am not going to have a $1700 lens hit the floor. Canon are you listening?
Tried it with my 24-105 and my 100-400… pressing the button, shaking the cam, throwing it in the air.. okay I didnt do that but I did shake it and rotated it a BIT… no issue’s here.
might be just with the 24-70 lens…
Good luck anyway on this!!
I have a Mark II and shoot daily – never had an issue. It’s about 2 months old.
Similar thing over here – 5DM2 with a 70-200 f/2.8 EF, lens cap on, hanging on a shoulder while walking, when suddenly the lens dropped down on a gravel path. Except for some scratches on the housing nothing bad happened.
Hey kids,
Look, we suck at QC. You know it. We know it. But I can say categorically that we haven’t **** up… for once.
Keep your claw-like appendages clear of the lens-release, you big buffoons!
Yours,
Chuckie
I’ve got two 5D Mk II’s and between then I’ve shot well in excess of 20,000 frames sine I got them last December. I’ve got various lenses including the 24-70 and nothing like this has ever happened. That said, it could be a production batch issue. I had issues on my G10 that Canon recognised with a certain batch of cameras…..good luck and hopefully something will be resolved soon.
I have had it happen to me a few times. With both my 70-200 and 24-70. At first I though it was me, but it keeps happening and I know I am being careful. I was lucky and caught my 70-200 just about to fall off this weekend when I got the connection error.
It happed to me while shooting this weekend with my 70-200. Was walking away and it dropped right off my body. Luckily for me the lens didn’t fall very far and was ok. From now on I’m holding my 70-200 lens rather than letting it dangle while attached to the camera.
Hi Gavin!
I am horrified to hear about this. You are not the only one I’ve heard from with this issue this week either. I was itching to get a Mark II for my next purchase, but am not sure I will now.
I used to be a die hard Nikon user. Got hit by a car in Greece and lost all my equipment in one go. When I came back decided to go with Canon for the R&D and cost/value roi. One thing I noticed right away – the mounts are all weak. It doesn’t seem to matter on the camera. The mounting assembly should be made of metal. I like that most of the body is plastic for the weight issue but some things should still be made of metal. The sheer weight of the lenses has been an issue on several models from the 10D to the 5D. I am wondering if this is part of the issue here? If the assembly has issues in tolerance for the older lenses, plus being weaker than it should be… just maybe that is the issue.
I would love to see what Canon is doing to fix this issue since it is an issue many are having. If changes are made – I would really like that Mark II – even though it doesn’t have enough focusing areas like the Mark 3 does.
Hi Gavin,
This weekend while shooting a wedding the Canon 24-105mm “Kit” lens came loose during shooting. I was actually holding the lens and didn’t even realize it was loose. What alerted me was an error message that appeared on the screen after pressing the shutter. Unfortunately I can’t remember what the message said exactly, but it was white text on a red background and made mention that the lens wasn’t communicating with the camera – or something about the contacts themselves – I wish I could remember. I was supporting the lens with my left hand and it didn’t feel strange so I snapped another picture and again the message came up instead of the image itself. I then decided to check to make sure the lens was tight and of course it wasn’t. I can’t imagine that it could have been twisted that far on the mount without my left hand actually realizing it was loose. It didn’t feel loose at the time and would have fell to the group if I was alerted. What makes this even more strange is that I cannot duplicate this error message. I’ve twisted the lens virtually off the camera, pressed the shutter, and still not message. If it happens again I will write it down or, if possible, capture it with my iPhone’s camera.
Ron
I have had this happen several times as well. I use a Black Rapid strap attached to my 70-200 L IS lens, so the camera hangs from the strap which is attached to the lens. SEVERAL times, I’ve had the camera BODY fall off of the lens as it was hanging by my side. Sometimes as I’m walking, I’ll hold the lens to steady the camera and keep it from flopping around. Just brushing up against the release button has allowed the body to detach and hit the ground. Definitely a problem and a design flaw.
Ok, seems like this isn’t really getting much love these days 🙁 I’ve continued to see this kind of problem (lens coming loose) on my new 5dMKII and I decided I need to consider some solutions before a wedding I have this weekend. I wondered if we could insert a thin “shim” between a lens and the body – has anyone thought of this or tried it? I cut about 1″ of paper into a circle that can sit on the silver mount of the lens and sure enough it increases the friction to insert or remove the lens. I suspect it could alter focus somewhat, but with casual shooting I didn’t see any problems. I guess it’s possible it could wear the mount out sooner than “normal” as well. Any thoughts out there?
Just to close the loop, I used the “thin paper shim” technique I described above and it worked flawlessly this past weekend. I never once felt the 24-70 f/2.8 come loose at all, and the shots are perfect.I think this will be my default approach until Canon comes up with something more “standard”…
Well I honestly thought, this was not real till it happened to me last night. Scared the crap out me. Brand New 24-70 came flying down, luckily it fell on the table only 6″. The camera is rarely used, and the lens stays on it 90% of the time, go figure. Never had this happen on Nikon.
Sorry to hear that Canon has not been very helpful so far. I would put a small piece of gaffers tape on the lens/body to keep it from twisting in the meantime. Good luck Gav!
I have a 5D MkII since june 2009 I have used it with half a dozen canon lens including 16-35 F2-8 ,70-200 F2.8 right up to my big 300mm F2.8 plus X2 converter with no problems. I am forever changing lens never had one fall off yet. Although my 1D MkIII has a lens locking pin problem and lens sometimes don’t lock properly on that.
Well I was just about to buy a 5d Mk2 + 24-70 L. I’m a Sony user at the moment (A700). Now I have to rethink my plans. I have no allegiance to any system, but I see clear pros and cons with the A900, D700 and 5D MK2. The 5d2 was my choice – just – vs the competition, and then I remembered this old chestnut! Lenses staying on the camera is kind of a big deal for me, but I’m weird like that. Damn, damn, damn.
I had the same issue last summer with the 5D mark 2 and a 400 5.6 and a 300 2.8 . I caught the camera three times . I use an R-Strap and now hold the camera battery grip when it is swung down by my side . This is a big issue. I just dropped my 7D on a wood walkway no damage but the 7D has the same issue Ive almost lost it three times last week . Same issue the lens release button is hypersensitive and easily bumped.
PUT CAMERA ARMOUR ON THE 5D MK2 AND ITS QUITE DIFFICULT TO GET THE LENS TO RELEASE BECAUSE OF THE RUBBER COVERING THE LENS RELEASE BUTTON, ITS ALSO CHEAPER THAN HAVING A LENSE FIXED 🙂
I had the same problem recently on an assignment in Cornwall.
My 28 to 300 lens just fell off luckily I just caught it with only slit damage
My Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens detatched from my 5D mkII. the 5D hit the ground hard. The lens was attached to my dual balck rapid strap. The body works but shows damage
i was just googling “lens fell off 5dmii” and found this blog. last night while shooting a wedding my 24-70mm fell off my 5dmII and hit the sidewalk. now it won’t screw back on the camera. i assumed it was something i did wrong. just wanted to let you know that i had the same problem. i guess i will be calling canon in the morning and forking over a couple hundred dollar. 🙁
Sad to hear Molly, but it’s real problem that’s becoming ever more apparent. Has happened to me twice with that very lens. It still comes loose on me frequently. Lately I’ve just been aware of it and noticed before if goes smack.
Don’t just hand over your money though. This issue is Canon’s fault and they should man up and take responsibility for it. Don’t hesitate to find out who your Canon pro rep is, contact them and explain the situation. Make it clear you consider if their responsibility and ask them to fix this with a charge. If they try to act like you’re just trying to get a freebie fix, because you dropped your lens, point them here. We can all back each other up by letting people know when things happen, because while not everyone is having the problem, many of us are dealing with this and Canon needs to respond. We should not be paying for repairs when lenses fall off Canon cameras.
Maybe Canon will start paying attention when we all switch to a different brand.
Personally, I have my eye on the Leica S2.
Wow, I thought I was taking crazy pills. My 5DmkII has somehow ejected my 24-70 L three times now in the past 3 months. Two of those times happened today at a wedding! The first time it happened the lense dropped about 5 feet onto concrete and bounced…had it repaired and now today it fell off again to a concrete parking lot…and bounced. The glass wasn’t cracked but the zoom ring is sticky and I’ll probably have to send it in for repairs again. I’m seriously getting pissed over this issued. I’m about ready to tie the lense onto the camera as a fail safe because this seems to be happening regularly now.
Canon DO SOMETHING!!!!!
Has Canon rapaired anyone’s lenses under warranty for this problem yet?
I had my 70-200 2.8 IS with 1.4 extender on my Canon 7D body. Suddenly the autofocus stopped working, and since in my 36 years of using a SLR I have NEVER had a lens come off, I didn’t realise what was happening until the lens and extender fell onto the road. Now the autofocus really doesn’t work. I was trying to think what I could have done wrong until I came across this site and realized I was not alone.
I got my 7D in March this year and had been really pleased with it until now, but even after I get the lens repaired I will always be conscious of the lens falling off and it’s ruined it for me. How I wish I had stayed with Nikon.
I’m not going to invest any more in Canon lenses unless they come up with a suitable way of solving this.
Come on people, you are holding it the wrong way
Lol, ya. Maybe Steve works for Canon too 😉
Seriously it has to be the way you are holding or carrying the camera. And if you think a “paper shim” is going to work well in the mount and not cover your sensor with lint dust you really are ignorant. I have worked with EF mount cameras for years as a working photographer and know dozens personally who have never had anything like this happen. If you really do have flippers instead of hands I could see this being an issue and I’m sure some here can suggest a good point and shoot.
I have had the canon 7D since November of 2009. I have put the 24-70, 70-300, 10-22, 70-200 IS II F2.8, 70-200 IS II F2.8 + 2x extender and I have never had my lens fall off my camera. I had the 50D before it and the Rebel XT before that. To my recollection, the button to release the lense has always been in the same spot.
What has changed with the MK II and 7D that would cause this sudden issue?
Nicolas count yourself happy you have not had the issue. Some don’t depending on their hands and holding prefs. As for what could be causing it, just read the article. Everything is explained as much as we can… Gav
Happy to find I’m not going crazy, I was taking photos last night and my 24-70mm L lens just dropped off and rolled across the floor. I had NO idea how it had unscrewed itself. It’s damaged and won’t go back on the camera body. I live in Tokyo so will be taking it directly to the canon center here tomorrow, my warranty is up anyway but i am going to see what they say.
WOW !!! I thought I was the only one. I had my 5D mark2 come loose from my 300 . 2.8 so many time i quite using the R strap. My 7D came loose and fell to the ground ,.. Canon NY repair charged me 200.00 said it was my fault and no the release button. I made a safety strap to hold the lens camera body from twisting.
I finally Quite using the R strap and have had no issues .. i use a monopod I liked the R starap but my hand would push the Release by mistake it doesn’t take much to get it loose. When you swing the camera up with the R Strap attached to the Lens tripod collar it twist releasing the lens from the body. I am aware of this button and on the tripod or monopod there is no way you will bump the release button. I wonder how many that have this issue use ther R Strap
Honestly I don’t think it has anything to do with the R strap. The R strap mat effect your holding preference a little, but the button is too sensitive. At the end of the day with does not matter what strap people use or how they hold their camera. If canon is making a body that’s too sensitive and releases from a light button touch, then their at fault.
For the record. I do have an r strap, but normally I work without it (I like going strapless) and the lens comes loose anyways. Gav
I’m with Canon since 1994 and it never happened to me. I also shoot in the crowds like parties or even on concerts in the past and it never happened to me. I always have my camera in my right hand and the lens in my left hand. It’s like I would shutting with a gun to reduce vibrations. It’s no way the lens would fall during the shooting. And when I don’t shoot I always hang my hands around my lenses.
I heard for the first time something like that happened when listened to your podcast.
Hi iv just found this thread and im worried.. Yesterday my lens fell off my camera. Its the 5d mark 2 and the lens was 25-105mm i just phoned canon and they say that there isnt a problem, that they have had no reports about this before.. The camera was only purchased in July. To say im a bit worried is an understatement…
I just bought a new 24-70L, the new 70-200 2.8L IS MkII and a 50mm 1.2L so I was really worried about these reports. The fact it has not happened to me yet wasn’t comfort enough so I have spent the last couple of months TRYING to make a lens come loose with all the different shooting styles and positions I know during portraits, urban, landscape, still life, sports and more with and without a tripod and with and without the battery grip.
The result:
I cannot get my hands, fingers, knuckles, toes, ass or any part of my anatomy to come even close to the lens release button during proper handling, let alone actually press it AND turn the lens. In fact, it taught me just why the lens button is actually where it is!
Conclusion:
You are a very small minority of users who have odd shaped hands or somehow hold the camera in some weird unconventional way which is impossible for Canon (and me) to replicate or recognize… and for one… I don’t blame them!
I’m sure it happens to a few people, but stop bleating and blaming Canon, sort out your shooting style instead!
Si.
Incorrect Simon. Canon is selling pro gear. There is no wrong way to hold it and if lenses are falling off there is a design flaw. It’s that simple. If the tires fall off your car while driving down the highway can we just say you held the steering wheel wrong.
For some reason people like to pretend we’re doing something wrong or making this up because it’s not happening to them. Then when it does they join the fray of shocked unhappy users. If this does not happen because of your hands or the way you operate your gear then count your blessings, but watch out because it could happen to you to… Gav
I disagree, we live in a society where everyone wants to blame everyone else for everything. The tire analogy is a bit severe…Indeed if i were driving down the highway and the door kept opening on my car everytime I went over a bump…. I might need to address the fact that I have some unorthodox habit of holding on to the door lever before blaming General Motors for a design flaw!!
Si.
You can make excuses all day long for Canon Simon. You have that right. At the end of the day their still shipping a product with a flaw and it’s costing people money. When it happens to you (and eventually it may well) you’ll probably stop blaming the people for using their camera in a normal fashion and get ticked at Canon yourself for ignoring the issue.
Happened to me on the weekend, was climbing over rocks at the beach, was holding the 70-200 lens by the tripod foot, so nowhere near the release button, and the camera fell off the lens. It hit a couple of rocks fairly hard, but thankfully didn’t end up in the water or sand.
That said, I am a pro and know how to hold my camera, whilst having perfect light during a sunset model shoot things happen fairly fast, but release the lens I did not.
Allan
I got my 70-200 repaired under warranty but had to pay for a new converter (good business for Canon, these lenses falling off). And, it cost me $170 to ship the camera body and lenses so Canon could tell me there is nothing wrong with the body.
I do have the solution though….I duct Tape my lens to the body. It’s amazing how many people ask me why… and I tell them!
Let me get this straight… are you guys finding that you are somehow unintentionally pressing the lens release button, or is the lens simply coming loose for no apparent reason?
Si.
Canon 5Dmk2 / EF100/400L IS
Thought i’d check on the internet to see if anyone has had their lens fall off and found this site.
I’ve had my 5dmk2 since they were released in Thailand that’s about 2 years.
I’m really impressed with the camera untill now.
I’ve just been on a visit to Saigon, cut short now as the lense is broken.
I was walking through Saigon looking for photo opportunites with the 100/400 lense attached and camera strap over my shoulder, then it happend. That noise as your lense hits the concrete, even the woman selling food on the other side of the road groaned.
Cursing myself for not fitting the lense properly I picked it up and checked it, all ok, what a bit of luck.
Refitted the lense CAREFULLY checked, wiggled, bumped and twisted to make sure it was fitted correctly and carried on walking.
20 minuites later the same thing happened, that noise as the lense hits the concrete again.
This time the lense is jammed at 135mm and fuzzy. I cant understand how it can happen 2 times in 1 day.
Not finished walking so I fitted the lense again and checked all for correct fit, this time I tied a bit of string to the lense and to the shoulder strap.
20 or 30min later IT FELL OFF AGAIN bit got caught by the string.
Holly smoke batman this lense is EXPENSIVE I look after my equipment nothing has as much as a scratch on it untill now.
I’m going to take the lense and camera to CANON Thailand to get it fixed, I’m also going to print out all the complaints about lenses falling off to submit to them.
I will let you know the outcome in due course.
Delivered the lense and camera to Canon head office Bangkok at 1pm 13/10/2010 with an explaination of what happened and the 30 pages printed from this site ( which they kept for reference) with all the complaints.
Also explained that as it’s a design fault ((reference all the other lenses falling off) I don’t expect to pay for the repairs.
Moreover, that on Monday morning I leave Thailand for UK/USA/ Nigeria and won’t be back untill Christmas.
That leaves 2, 1/2 working days to fix it.
Left the office with the promise of a phone call to let me know what’s going on when they find out and can I bring in the warrenty card even though the lense is 4 years old?
Very polite and friendly service form Canon Bangkok.
My conclusion about the continuous ‘you must have touched the release button’ comments, ‘BS, BS.’ 30 years of photography and I never had a lens fall off before, yes I’ve dropped lenses and cameras but NEVER, NEVER had a lens FALL OFF
Somehow I don’t know why or how, the release fails to hold the lense in place. Iv’e tried to replicate it failing but I can’t. My only conclusion is that somehow the constant movement of walking somehow works the catch pin back into the camera body. I expect a slightly stronger spring would fix it for next to nothing. Or the relief hole in the lens body is too shallow to suit the 5Dmk2.
Now back to my repair issue.
The product (5Dmk2) may have issues but CANON BANGKOK certainly has a FANTASTIC SERVICE I doubt if there is better anywhere in the world.
My camera and lens was cleaned seviced and repaired within 24 hours.
I picked them up at 13:45 today 14/10/10 cost 350 Baht ($11) for cleaning the camera.
Then’ I can only assume this is was a token payment to maintain some ‘face” ‘or it’s not our fault look you paid to have it fixed’ a fee of 1,353 Baht =US $45 to have the lense cleaned/ fixed.
Although I told them I wanted it fixed FREE at US $45 everyone walked away happy I got my gear back and they kept face (don’t know if you americans know that expression) there’s no way that lens was repaired for that price so I guess they quietly took some blame for the damage.
The focus now is so sharp I cut myself .
There was no mention of the fault and as far as I can see no external new parts, eg lock plate on the lens or different lock pin on camera body.
I will investigate the locking mechanism further and find out whats going on. As an engineer I expect to be able to find SOMETHING. If and when I find what the fault is I will post my findings, it can’t be hard to work out what’s failing as there are only 2 parts to the lock.
On to the other issues that I thought only I had ”SOFT FOCUS’ I have the EF24-105L USM. when I first purchased the lense I returned it to Canon service complaining about the poor focus. They checked it and said it was fine, I thought there was something I was doing wrong.
I also had all the other issues mentioned the error codes requiring new components in the lense (iris mechanism should be considered as a consumable part ) I was told. Also had the small rolling switch (aperture adjustment) replaced on the camera body and had the mirror fall off. Canon Thailand fixed that for free overnight.
However not a short list for 2 years of occasional amature use.
Also bought a XM2 video camera which refused to load tapes within the first week. It was fixed under warrenty but I had to take it back to DUBI Airport where I bought it, or pay the repair. On the other hand I had a friends video camera’ Canon MV600′ which was a couple of years old and the CMOS was dead fixed for FREE???
All praise to the sevice from Canon Thailand.
But I hope I never see them again.
Last bit of my ranting for now.
Soft focus, re-calibrated my EF24/105 lens.
I used a calendar at 45% for a target as its covered with shapes and number so it’s easy to see where the focus is landing.
Anyway I ended up with an adjustment of -20. That’s the maximum available. A pretty poor show for a pro lens I think. Pictures are now so much better. Portraits now have eyes in focus and not ears, the focal point is where I’m focusing now What a difference. It’s a pity I only came across this site at such a late date.
Canon said there was nothing wrong??? Must be using some equipment that’s not suited to the task.
And yes when I complained about the focus I left the camera body and lens to be checked.
Well… Andrew you’ve certainly had a hard time of it… Glad to hear all ended well though!
So, based on what you experienced, this is not a case of “accidentally” pressing the release button, it’s actually releasing itself? It sounds like it’s got to be a weak release button spring. Mine seems to latch firmly without problem but it’s not a particularly reassuring feeling as it takes very light pressure and a surprisingly small prod of the finger on the button to release the lens!
This must be some kind of batch manufacturing problem, it would be interesting if everyone on here with the problem could post their camera serial number to see if there is some kind of pattern… what do you all think??
I dont think my camera is likely to suffer this phenomenon now after four months of constant daily use and abuse but I find now that I tend to hold the lens constantly while the camera hangs around my neck during walking and I am working on making some kind of easily released security strap that links my lenses to the body for extra security.
So come on folks, how about posting some serial numbers??
Simon.
Good idea about the serial numbers Simon, my 5Dmk2 is Sn 0330230296.
I checked on line for parts catalogs for the EOS D series cameras and found that the part numbers for the locking mechanism is common to most of the range with the exception of the 1D series. Why it should be a problem with the 5D/7D series I have no idea unless it a batch manufacturing fault like you suggested.
I’m off on my travels again, London UK, Ft Worth Texas,Lagos Nigeria and back to Bangkok In December so when I get back to Bangkok I think i’ll get a new mount and locking mechanism fitted to my 5D2 body so if it’s a batch problem I should be ok after that.
Iv’e taken to holding the lense at all times now as an extra security measure. So far i’ve had no issues with the 24/105 lens coming off only with the 100/400.
I’ll keep the site updated as and if anything happens.
I’ll check out your link and give it a go.
Mine’s OK, but here’s the serial No.
1831120780
Well, this happened to me with my canon 5D classic, more than once. I thought it was me, the first time I was shooting and I was using my canon 200 L 2.8 IS USM and I always shoot holding my hand under the lens to support it. It just came off in my hand, thank goodness. Well I purchased the new canon 200L 2.8 is USM in May and this weekend I was shooting my nephews band in a building with a cement floor and I was shooting in portrait mode I had the tripod mount on it and was using my hand to support the lens when shooting like I always do and lowered my camera and the lens just came off and it hit the concrete floor. It hit the lens hood and then bounced but I noticed that it is dinged up near the base of the lens. I am not sure what damage was done to the lens, but it could not have done it any good. My lens was in mint condition, It was always in the case, no dings at all, I dont shoot with my finger near that button at all. I was planning on upgrading after Christmas, now I am not so sure I will.
I just got a email from Canon, SEE DETAILED NOTES. EQUIPMENT SHOWS VISIBLE SIGNS OF IMPACT. CHECK ALL FUNCTIONS, REPAIR TO GOOD WORKING ORDER. PLEASE RESPOND TO ESTIMATE. The only detailed notes they gave me was it was going to cost me $326.00 to repair my lens. As for my 5D this was the email I got. $212.00 to repair it.
Examination / Request Details:
TEST MOUNTING UNIT. SEE DETAILED NOTES. CHECK ALL FUNCTIONS, REPAIR TO GOOD WORKING ORDER. PLEASE RESPOND TO ESTIMATE. They also sent this along with the email. Customer Loyalty Offer
As an alternative to repair, you may wish to consider the wide variety of product upgrades available only to Canon’s repair customers.
Simply call toll free 1-866-443-8002. Please be prepared to provide your repair order number.
My sympathy to you.
I’m going to try to forward this series of emails to Cannon customer support not sure if it will work but it’s worth a try. I have forwarded this link to Canon with possible scenarios that would be unfavourable for Canon should they occur. Like a lens falling on someone and causing death or injury.
Other countries (UK) have customer protection laws which cover faulty goods and may take action on producers of faulty goods
In this modern age as they (Canon) have now been informed of this fault they have no indemnity if this occurs and may be libel.
I hope something constructive comes of this.
Nancy that crummy. If you did nothing to damage it, then don’t just let this go. Point them to this thread and at least make your voice heard.
Andy good on ya. Keep spreading the word. Canon needs to stops ignoring this design flaw. You also bring up a good point. I’m VERY careful when standing on a balcony or the like. I find myself always checking to make sure it’s still secure. Highly distracting. The last thing we need is one of these heavy lenses to fall and crack onto someones head. Canon should not dismiss this so off off offhandedly. It’s very poor business on their part.
I called Canon, and the gal on the phone said that because I dropped the lens that it is not covered under warranty. I told her I did not drop it. I sent the form Canon requested with the proof of purchase and serial numbers for both the camera and lens with a detailed description of what happened. It is like they did not even read it. I also asked about the Canon loyalty program they mentioned and she said I could upgrade to a newer camera or a refurbished one, for a price of course. I asked what a canon 5D mark II would cost to upgrade or another Canon 5D classic and she said that I could only upgrade to a 7D, that the 5D’s were not included in the loyalty program. Well I then asked to talk to her supervisor and she put me on hold. After the 5th song I had to hang up. Not sure where to go from here. What I do know is that I have close to $9000.00 of Canon equipment that I may be selling. Not to sound corny but I have lost trust in Canon and their gear. How can you maintain the level of professionalism when you are constantly chimping your gear to make sure it is not going to fall apart on you.
I have the 7D, so far no problems with it. I sure hope it does not happen and I would be upset as well if Canon would not do something to change it. Lenses cost too much to mess with that.
Sorry this happens to some. Have had my 7D for almost a year and so far nothing, knock on wood.
One more thing I might mention that might or might not be helpful. If you can call your Attorney Generals Office and tell them about this they have helped me with issues such as this and also your state Reps also have people who get you to the right people on the other end. If this does not get Canons attention I do not know what will, a class action maybe????
My beautiful, and very expensive EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II lens, has fallen off my 7D three times now. The first was the worst, when it fell from quite a distance, but fortunately survived the impact relatively unscathed. I’ve since gotten a double connector rapid fire strap/harness, and use it a lot of the time; one line connects to the camera, the other to the lens bracket. But each incident gives me quite a scare, and the marks left on this lens, already serve as a warning that something is not right.
Also, my little plastic EF 50mm f/1.8 prime looks exactly like the one in that image included with your article right now, because it too popped off too quickly when I pressed the release button on my 5D Mark II. I wasn’t prepared because it is such a light lens, and it popped off the cam and out of my hands and onto the hardwood floor, and bears a striking resemblance now to that one.
That time however, was perhaps not completely inadvertent, though. Could probably have been avoided.
Maybe……….
Really unsure now, given this article.
I have the 5D MKII and have never had this happen or known anyone that this has happened to.
You know someone now Misti. Count yourself blessed. But beware because I believe this can happen to any 5D MK2 and perhaps other bodies… Gavin
I wrote about my experience on the Canon site…man they threw me to the wolves.
Gavin:
Regarding my posting on the canon photography on the net. My intentions to make Canon users aware of the problem, turned into me being a whining sue happy canon owner. Some of the comments were darn right hurtful, some were kind of comical, you would have thought I said the world was round and not flat. Thanks for going to bat for me. I will let you know how much Canon charged me for the repairs and what exactly they said they repaired. I would like to add the first call I made to Canon the rep on the phone was very apologetic and said I am so sorry this happened to you and she sent me the email with instructions to send both the camera and the lens in to the repair facility. I felt confident that they would make it right when I sent my gear in.. After they had my gear in their possession that is when ever thing went down hill. I have talked to 2 tech people both said sorry you dropped it. It is not covered under warranty. I also qualified for the CP with all my equipment and sent my rep a letter, they have not responded.
The net can be a cold place Nancy, don’t let it get to you (I know, not always easy). My plan is to just spread the word and hope others do the same. There’s an issue here that Canon needs to address even if it’s not happening to everyone. It’s just bad business for them to ignore it. I suggest people be nice, bit not be afraid to get a little stern with Canon. Go up the ladder, talk to your rep, managers etc. It may not fix the problem, but the more people that react to this situation the more they’ll think about this.
Gav
Hi Gavin, first may I send my sympathy it must be heart-stopping to have this happen!
Just a thought but your readers may be interested to see a photo of exactly how you are coming into contact with the release button so that technique may be reviewed and considered – guessing that any ‘resolution’ may be a while in appearing??
Would it be possible for you to arrange a series of photos to demonstrate the problem – we are in a visual environment lol.
Apologies if this has been done and i have missed it here or on youtube, wouldn’t be the first time!!!
All the best,
Julian
Interesting idea Julian. I’ll give it some thought. Maybe I can show people what I think happens and what to watch for… Gav
Totally agree that Canon have a problem but not admitting to it. My wife and I both have 7D’s and we have both had lens coming loose (no accident yet). these are Canon 300mm and 500mm lens also happens with a sigma lens. It has not happened with older Canon bodies that we have only the 7D’s
Hello Gavin, it just happened to me while shooting with my 5D MII on the island of St. Thomas Sunday. I have no idea how it happened, but BOOM !!! My brand new 24-105 glass suddenly hit the cobblestone walkway. I picked up the lens, put it back on the camera and noticed the focus SHAKE like CRAZY each time I pressed the shutter button halfway down. It would’t stay steady in focus while I prepared for shooting, moving up and down like it was out of control. The lens was trashed.
I only hope that someone comes up with a clever way to prevent this from happening. I smell a business opportunity for a gadget to resolve the situation for all shooters. I would pay money for such a thing, any ideas anyone?
Scott
This to has happened to me using my 1D Mark III I was walking down the street taking photos with my 70-200 2.8is and to my amazement I was trying to catch my lens before it hit the concrete, nothing doing there I watch it bouncing like a ball on the concrete. I picked it up examined it and noticed the ring it mounts to on the camera was crushed so there you go a real sick feeling.Always have checked to make sure my lens locked into place and chalked it up to user error but I was always left wondering how could i had hit the button to release the lens if that did happen. This incident cost me 295.00 to have my lens repaired.
James
Well, I stand down and have to admit to ALMOST losing a 70-200 f2.8 IS MkII this week! After a few hours of landscape shooting I lifted my 5d MkII to take a shot and found there was a zero reading in the aperture readout, I gave the lens a twist to check the contacts were good and guess what… the lens was already loosened off by about an eighth of a turn, it turned back and clicked into place!
I’ve already replaced the CF carrier and shutter mechanism in a 20D so I guess it should be a piece of cake to tear down the 5D MkII and put a stronger spring under the lens release button!
opposite problem – my lens is stuck on!
put the 70-200 on my 5dMk!! and it was quite stiff – totally out of the blue. put my 24-105 back on after – v stiff – now wont remove at all. of course i’m just days out of warranty… the release button seems to work fine
I believe it because I’ve witnessed it twice. Once at a zoo in washington state and the second time by a pro shooting a wedding. The latter was glad he had insurance!
Had a 70-200 detach from the body of my 5DMKII this weekend.
Was shooting with it with no problems. Handed it to assistant who started walking down the hall, next I hear is a crash and I see the lens cap and a pile of glass shooting across the T intersection of the hallway.
UV filter mounting thread area bent and compressed deep into the front lens element mount.
Could not remove destroyed filter ring.
Lens simply let go. Looking at $1000 to repair according to Canon Cda.
Not impressed to say the least!
It cost me close to $326.48 to have my lens repaired. I sent a letter with what happened, they pretty much ignored it. This is what the service details stated. Your product has been examined and it was found that the part was broken. The focus adjustment ring, lens mount were replaced and product functions were confirmed. Other electrical adjustments inspection and cleaning and mechanical adjustments were carried out.
I used the lens twice, since I got it back, last week I took it out in low light and it was hunting for focus, and it was squeaking like crazy. A squeaky grinding sound. I use to be so smoot and fast. Not anymore. I just feel the focus is off, takes longer to focus. I emailed canon cps and once again my lens goes in and they want my credit card number. Sigh….
My camera was $212.00 as I sent that along and the Service Details were as follows:
Your product has been examined and it was found that the product performed according to specifications. Electrical adjustments were carried out and the AF assembly and product functions were confirmed. Other inspections and cleaning were carried out.
Thank god I’m not going mad.
I was walking through Tokyo, taking photos quite happily, when my F stop reading stopped at ’00’. I turned my camera around to look at the screen when the lens went crashing to the ground.
What a horrible sound. Made me sick to the stomach.
The mounting thread is now damaged and it won’t re-thread back onto the camera.
I have taken 1000 photos in a day for weddings and other events and have never had anything like this happen, so I should have the confidence to walk around with my very expensive camera without cradling the lens in case it pops off.
I’m currently trying to figure it out with Canon, which is difficult since I’m in transit. It’s not much fun since this trip was intended to expand my portfolio and I can’t use my main lens.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. I’ll be using your experiences to negotiate a resolution.
aaaaarrgh this keeps happening to me too. with my 5DMK2 and 24-70L (both 6 months old). Its happened about 5 times.. each time I have caught it with my lightening fast reflexes.. I’m a little bit special so i thought perhaps it is me so have been taken extra extra care when mounting AND shooting and its still happening.
I only have to slightly touch the lens release button for the lens to be able to wiggle loose, I’m meaning the slightest touch… its sooo loose that im sure even if the wind was blowing hard it could push the button and if i twisted the camera… down she would go.
I have contacted canon, of course they are more than happy to take my $ and have a look at it, but there is a 8 week wait to get my camera back (im in rural New Zealand).. which isnt really practical mid wedding season.
Does anyone have some good ideas on how to rig up something to attach the lens to the camera in case I dont catch it.
And thanks so much for posting this Gavin, I now feel confident that I am not totally retarded… needless to say tomorrow I will be getting my B*&ch on and ringing canon.
Canon will say, sorry you dropped your lens, that is not covered under our warranty. They refused to even discuss it with me. I really feel Canon has some very real quality control issues. They have had to fess up before, the mirrors falling off the 5Dand some problems with the 1D’s. If I did not have so much invested in Canon I would switch to Nikon in a minute.
Ugh! I had never heard of a lens just falling off, but it happened to me last night. My 70-200mm just fell off new 5D mark II. Luckily, my lens but didn’t break, but now it has a big dent in it and its only 2 months old!!! I used the camera all day with no problems, it was not in use at the time, but was around my neck hanging. I was stunned and shocked when it just fell off my camera and so were all the people who witnessed this weird happening. I’m now worried about using my camera and lenses! Does anybody have any suggestions.
Happened to me.
5dMk2 + 24-70mm f2.8.
Strolling down the Yangtze river, China, when all of a sudden the 24-70 falls off. Luckily, and I mean really luckily, I manage to catch the lens in my left hand before it hit the concrete.
I thought it was my fault for not attaching the lens correctly, but I am normally REALLY diligent and always slightly twist in the opposite direction to ensure the lock is activated.
This thread leads me to believe it may not 100% be my fault… 🙁
Found this thread googling for help getting my filter off my 24-105 after it fell off my camera over the weekend. I am pleased to see that I am not the only one whose 5D mkII constantly releases my lens. Usually I have my hand on it and feel it go or get an error message letting me know that it’s not on. This time, however, I was working with a cinematographer who I was helping out, shooting establishing shots around New York for his film. I always thought it must just be my boney thumb and forefinger grazing the release button while zooming and thereby accidentally releasing it and twisting at the same time…. but now, we both stood there in shock as he prepared his shot, let go of the lens and it plummeted to the ground, shattering the U/V filter. Heart attack city. It seems to be okay except that the filter is flattened on one side so I cannot get it off.
Ridiculou placement of the release button — it’s exactly where your hand goes to zoom.
I witnessed this happening to a friend of mine twice this week. There does appear to be an ergonomic issue with the placement of the release button. To reproduce the issue, do the following:
1) Load a large (heavy) lense onto your 5D M2.
2) Hold the camera with both hands, but make your left hand grip (which is presumably grasping the lense) close enough to you so that it is also rubbing against the camera body.
3) Still holding the lens closest to the camera body, move your left hand like you are adjusting your zoom.
Notice how easy it is for the side of your index finger to bump the release button. This is especially effective if you happen to be twisting in the direction that your lens dismounts. I have been able to reproduce this issue with a single motion. An easy motion to do on accident, and the result can be VERY expensive.
So.. I have been taught to always try to provide at least a suggested solution when pointing out a problem..:
Since the issue appears to be that the button is easy to push while twisting.. make it not easy. Meaning, it may be possible to fabricate some sort of guard to go around the button to prevent contact. Something like a really thick piece of neoprene. Something that would allow a finger to still press the button, when it was on purpose.
Hi, i have my 5d mkii one year now and i’ve had that problem, however, i have another serious problem and i don’t understand, if you could help me…
Normaly in wedding we do the peopple photograps with the Grooms and then we take a close picture of each person in portrait (cuting from shoulders), the problem is, the flash (580 exii) fires to strong and expose to much the peopple faces. I have tried in manual and P like full automatic and still doing that, it’s not my first 5d mkii doing that, the first one i send it to canon and they change the sensor but the problem remains.
I don’t know what to do, i already think in go to nikon…
Do you thing you can help me?
My e-mail tomasarmartins@gmail.com
Sorry the bad english.
Well, just one more to add to your list of people it’s happened to. I only have one zoom, which is my 70-200mm 2.8L II- I’ve had it fall into my hand at least 5 times. I watch more for it now, so it hasn’t happened recently, but it sure scared me when it did. I thought I maybe just didn’t lock it, until it happened the 2nd-3rd times, now I just assume I’m brushing the release button and the weight of the lens+zooming is popping it off. It’s a sad design, perhaps just a higher mount sitting on top of the release to cover the button from a downward swipe would prevent this? Leaving a small overhang over the release button so you actually have to push the button instead of just slide against it. I’ll be devastated if I ever drop my 70-200 because of this. Now that I know it is a common problem, I’ll be sure to educate my husband on how to cradle the bottom of the lens when shooting and how to hold it while walking so as not to let it slip off (as it has fallen off twice while not photographing, just walking with it in hand, but since I hold that particular lens by the lens itself while walking – with the tripod mount turned upwards and using it as a handle – it just pops off while still in my hand) and it’s a good motivation to go and get insurance on all of my professional gear before something tragic happens.
I think I know what the problem is here, its not that the lens release button gets pressed too easily… its because the lens/camera mounting flange has been manufactured too loosely. Try gripping your lens and turning it left and right, its really, REALLY sloppy compared to the same lens on any other Canon body.
On the 5d MkII it is so loose, if you press the release button briefly on the body the lens can turn in the mounting flange enough to start releasing itself from the body VERY easily. On other Canon bodies you have to press the button and FIRMLY grip the lens to twist it off the flange because it is pretty stiff. So, why have Canon decided to use different engineering tolerances on the 5D MkII than all their other cameras?
The Canon battery grip for the 5D MkII is just as bad, it doesn’t matter how tight you screw it on, it wobbles sooo much its useless if you fit it on to a tripod!
My EOS 1D Mark IV body suffers exactly the same problem, the lens dettaches itself from the body unexpectedly.
I was hiking with the EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 500mm F4, the set was carried with a shoulder strap hanging the objective, suddenly the camera became lose and went into the ground. Now CANON does not accept this has been caused by a design flaw and they don’t want to assume on the warranty any verification adjustment needed.
An official claim has been raised and we’ll see the results, at the moment I’m carrying the body+lens with two straps one for each.
My EF 50mm 1.4 fell off my 50d last year at a wedding, and broke one of the lenses. I assumed that I had not put it on properly. I sent it in and it only cost me $95 to fix. I figured that I got off easy. (I’m glad it wasn’t my 70-200 IS II USM!) I now try to be aware of both camera and lens, but it’s hard to be thinking about taking pictures and lenses falling off all the time.
I just don’t see how this is possible AT ALL. I’ve got a 7D, and a variety of L series Canon lenses, and some Sigma lenses. I’ve NEVER had a lens just “fall off” of a body. In fact, in order to remove the lens I have to push firmly on the release button, and while holding it in, turn the lens. if I merely push the release button, it just springs back into place, and the lens stays locked.
This has to be user error.
Kris telling all these people the reasons their lenses all came off in the same fashion was just because they’re too stupid to use their cameras properly is a little ridiculous and insulting don’t you think. It’s not user error, it’s poor design. But we’re used to this. Most people roll their eyes at it until it happens to them. I understand your skepticism, but you’re mistaken.
I own a Canon 7D and my 400 mm lens has fallen off 3 times in the last two weeks. I am not stupid or clumsy some thing is wrong with my lens or camera.
I never take off my 400mm lens. It is the only one I use.
Love to hear if anyone has had a problem like this.
My official claim (http://bit.ly/tuyzmP) has been rejected, Canon doesn’t recognize any manufacturing defect in this camera model, for Canon the camera is perfect and no issue may arise in the field, full stop. So I brought my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV to one good photo outlet to send it for revision, they have put side by side with another Mark IV and it was quite evident that the locking axe was portruding at least 1mm more in their copy than in mine, and that the force needed to get it down was much more in their copy than in mine. This may well be a common problem present in all the camera bodies here discussed.
Regards
Juan
Sorry they did not help you, but no surprise. Interesting on the locking piece. I wounder why they’re inconstant. Canon really needs to get with it and fix this problem once and for all.
I have had one worse, I had my 1D mkIII fall off my 300 f2.8 and land hard on pavement because of this issue. I was crossing a street to photograph some friends surfing on 25′ waves when I took my hand out of the hand grip to grab something. next thing I know, my body was flying into oncoming traffic I was lucky. It missed going under the front tire of a 4×4 by just a few feet but it got pretty dinged up and I suspect that the frame is now warped.
Shooting with 7D tonight I was at a concert, sitting in the balcony with my 700 – 200 1.8 when it just fell from the body into the crowded sold out show below. Thankfully someone looked up. In that moment, I don’t know if I had a voice to yell with. The music was too loud anyway. My lens crashed to the music hall floor. In this moment, after just arriving home from NYC, I am grateful that it didn’t seriously injure or kill someone. And that I didn’t have to face an 911 call, or have the show stop due to a horrifying death. I shot video and stills throughout the evening with no problem. I heard the lock catch as I attached that lens before music started to make SURE it was secure. I’m still stunned and feel horrible. The husband of a pregnant woman handed me my lens back, telling me I ruined their night will stay with me. I hope he can see that it could have been so much worse. I don’t think a 3rd story balcony mixed with the size of the 70 – 200 and people below is a good mix when this lens detached.
Adding to the other part of my post, I shot plenty of video and photos prior to this happening. So it couldn’t have been a result of not attaching properly. I fingers must have hit the release button while shooting in the dark club and it just fell away from the body.
Side note.. I’m a bit traumatized and have a typo. It’s obviously a 70 – 200 lens.
Scary Yvonne. Glad no one was hurt. It just reiterates how unprofessional it is that Canon is ignoring this issue. It can happen so easily. Keep spreading the word and warning people. The more that know the more can be aware and maybe Canon will step up… Gav
I THINK I KNOW WHAT’S CAUSING THIS!!
After some research and comparisons I am sure I can see now what the problem is. After checking my 5D MkII and several others in my local camera club, it seems all 5DMkII’s suffer from the same design flaw… and it’s NOT the lens release button. It’s the lens mounting flange on the camera body. You will find that on the 5D MkII the lens-to-camera fit is unacceptably sloppy and loose, in fact if you have a heavy long lens like the 70-20 f2.8 IS fitted, you can actually feel and hear it rattling around on the camera body as you walk along. All my lenses feel very loose on my 5D MkII… the 70-200 mentioned, the 24-70 f2.8 L, 17-40 f4 L and the x2 Extender MkII.
All of these lenses are a tight fit on my two 20D’s but not on the 5D MkII. I also tried my lenses on many other Canon models at the camera club and they all feel tight and stiff to turn into the camera lens flange.
This is my theory, I suspect that as you walk around with the camera dangling on a strap, the lens release button probably gets accidentally depressed for a split second dozens of times without you knowing it, but this does not cause a problem for other bodies because the lens is such a tight fit it doesn’t move. But on the 5D MkII…. it only takes one of those split second accidental button presses to happen at the same time as the lens rubs against your side andn the lens might turn… just a little bit… maybe just 1-degree… and from that moment on, your lens is no longer securely latched. You will not know this has happened until the lens turns a bit more and a bit more again and then falls off! In my case it came off in my hand so no harm done.
This is not a “wear” problem, my lenses have always been a loose fit on my 5D MkII.
Thanks for the info Simon. Very interesting. I’ have not looked at the ring that closely. Until a larger voice is heard I’m still not sure Canon will do anything about it, but it’s good info. Though this has also happened on the 7D and others. I wounder if they are just releasing camera after camera with sloppy quality control on the mount. I’ll have to take a closer look at mine and we’ll see where this goes.
Thanks… G
Hi Gavin, further to that last post, I experimented a little. I held the 5D Mkii with a 70-200 f2.8 IS and bumped the lens tripod mounting bracket GENTLY against the side of my leg (as it would if hanging on a strap). I VERY briefly pressed the lens locking button several times while doing this and EVERY time the lens became unlatched! From then on, all it would have needed was for the lens to turn a little and… bang!
I am convinced this is the problem.
When the 5D Mkiii comes out I will be checking the tightness of the lens fit, if it’s nice and tight like on my 20D’s I’ll probably buy one, but if it’s loose like my Mkii… Canon can keep it, I’ll be thinking of switching to Nikon.
Canon really are getting sloppy with quality control… have you noticed how loose and sloppy the fit between the 5D Mkii and the BG-E6 battery grip is? It’s so bad that it’s useless on a tripod!
In fact, I’m beginning to get hacked off with my 5D Mkii now:
1. Weatherproofing? That’s a joke
2. Shutter release button.. spongey with no feel or feedback… press…press some more… and a bit more… keep pressing more and more and finally the shutter goes off!
3. Lenses falling off
4. Sloppy battery grip mounting
5. Focusing?… my 20D is quicker
6. Shutter sound and feel… like a clacky plastic toy compared to the smooth “snick” sound of the 20D
7. Surprisingly plasticy feel to the body considering its supposed to be Magnesium Alloy.
Cheers,
Simon.
Thanks for the update Simon. Canon certainly has some issues to work on and it’s high time they get with the program.
Has happened to me three times. Luckily I spotted the lens coming loose before it fell off.
Cheers.
Dafydd
My 70-200 IS USM II just went crashing down last night. It’s the third time (this and my 24-70) a lens has detached, but the first time I haven’t caught it (literally). I decided to search “5D lens falls off” and found out that it’s not 100% that I’m a moron (well, at least not in this instance). Time to start researching more
Hi Gavin
I bought an as new 5D mark II last Thursday (verified at 13000 shots) and went out for a shoot with my 70-200 f2.8L lens attached. My lens strap was attached to the lens mount to avoid strain on the body.
Walked 10 meters from the car and the body fell off the lens and bounced along the concrete, seriously damaging my newly acquired pristine body!
In 40 years of handling SLRs I’ve never experienced a lens disconnect – now it’s back at Canon trying to get the damage repaired, it I was horrified to find this thread, after being advised by a Nikon user about this issue with Canon gear.
I’ve been using Canon bodies and lenses for 5 years – 30D, 40D, 7D, and now the 5D. I have around 15 lenses, all expensive, quality models. If this is a design fault I will be moving over to Nikon. I’m not prepared to walk around worried every time I put a $2000 bit of gear on the end!
Disgraceful issue to have to tolerate in professional gear.
Agreed Bob. It’s not a fun experience to have and one many of us have dealt with. It is indeed a disgrace on behalf of Canon. Hope the damage was not too extensive… Gav
I googled “lens fell off Canon 5D, Mark II camera” and found your article and this news feed. So, I know I’m not alone, and I have earned the right to belong to this club.
All kidding aside, both my 24×70 and 70×200 lenses have disconnect from my Canon at least 8 times over the course of the last year and a half. Each time I caught the lens and being in the middle of a photo shoot, I’d just think “geez, lucky the lens didn’t hit the ground. I must have done something to cause it to disengage.”
However, I’m a very careful photographer who respects her equipment and checks 2 and 3 x to make sure the lens is fully locked and I’ve been rechecking several times during a photo shoot. The unthinkable happened to me last Saturday night when I was taking prom pictures and my Canon 24-70 lens popped off the camera and crashed to the ground, bouncing twice on the sidewalk.
Yikes! The lens glass didn’t break but the zoom doesn’t work. I have an extended Mack warranty for the camera and nothing for the lens. I talked to a Canon rep and he claims to have never heard of this problem, and went on to tell me how the pin lock works and that it is impossible for a locked lens to unlock itself.
Has anyone had a reasonably good outcome like Canon replacing the camera or the lens or at least repairing both. I’m afraid if I send the camera in there won’t find a problem and I’ll be charged for the lens repair.
Thanks for listening. Wish me luck!
No…we are not alone, I had the experience as well!! Last Sunday 7 AM I was going to take some pictures to my local nature reserve, I said I was going because I did not arrive!!
It was my first day with Blackrapid strap, which I think is very good, but I had my worries too…and they came true. Even though it was nothing to do for what happen, it could have been different if I had the old one as I would have been holding camera and lenses at some point before leave them hanging in my neck.
That morning I got the camera out of the car….put the strap crossed in my body (it was attached to Canon 100-400)…next I saw the Canon 5D MKII (body only) flying I could not believe it….it was slow motion….I tried to stop it with my feet…which I am not sure was good idea…but I did! The camera ended rolling on concrete, the fall was from a meter more or less…nothing good could come out of this! I picked it up start to clean…first seconds I could not see anything wrong….but then I saw a big crack on the top near the flash connection…I wanted to die!!
My home insurance is going to pay to repair it, but I would like a new one.. Today the company who will repair it sent the quote. Top part and the mirror box £400. Can be more if they find further problems….
Is not the first time that that happen, but the unlucky one! It is far to easy to press the lens release when you hold the camera. I have not tried to contact Canon, sure they won’t care but I am very annoyed about this.
Thanks for reading….I wish luck to Judy and everyone that has Canon cameras!! (Canon 100-400 got detached from my 50D as well…but was my lucky day and did not fall!)
Glad to find this post. I guess I’m lucky. I’ve noticed the loose lens before it has fallen off. But all of my lenses are doing this on my 5D Mark II and it’s driving me crazy. I’m sorry to hear that Canon isn’t reacting to this.
Well eventually it’s happened to me. I was on the phone to Canon UK today discussing the fact that my lovely 70-200 f2.8 IS Mkii fell off the camera and is now seriously damaged. Their response?… “we’ve had no reports of this ever happening before”..!!
I was walking along the coastal path and all of a sudden the lens felt “rattly” against my side, I lifted the camera to check the lens was mounted properly… and it fell off onto a concrete path. The zoom ring no longer works and the lens is all blurry. There is also a big dent in the body near the mount.
See my post a little further back which explains what causes this problem to happen.
The camera mounting flange is clearly too loose a fit. All my lenses are loose on the 5D Mkii but NOT on any of my other cameras, so the problem definately lies with the 5D Mkii body.
My camera and lens are going to Canon for inspection.
Simon.
Sad to hear. They are lying. They have heard of it from many and they know it’s happening.
I’m guessing if you send it back they’ll say it’s fine. Since the problem is with the design of the camera and they so far refuse to be honest enough to admit to that problem.
Good luck… G
I’ve been a Nikon user for years and suffered the brunt of many a Canon users jokes and remarks. But this isn’t the first major design fault with Canon I have heard about. Wasn’t there a back focusing issue the 1d mark2 as well? Not good from a company that is supposed to be the “industry standard”.
Touche Matt. Canon keeps messing up. Again and again. They usually get it fixed eventually. But at this rate they will lose that reputation of industry standard. I think the Nikon mount is much more brilliant. If for no other reason that old lenses still fit… G
The same thing happened to me. My 70 – 200 f2.8 fell off my lens seconds after I took a series of still shots. I initially thought it was my mistake until it happened again with my 24- 105 f4 about a month later. I took it to my 5 month old 5D mk II body and two damaged lenses to the dealer I bought it from. They were sympathetic to the damage but said they have never heard of Canon covering impact damage regardless of how it occurred. All three items were sent to Canon Canada for repair. 5 weeks later and no resolution in sight. We have dealt with 5 separate reps and they have all said they have never heard of this happening. Their service department tested the camera and it is “within normal operating parameters”. Before we sent it in the dealer and I compared the springs and release mechanism to a used body in the shop and it appeared that my 5D mkII’s springs and release button were not as rigid as the other 5D mk II on their shelf. I am waiting for a supervisor from Canon Canada to get back to me as I have asked for my claim to be escalated so I can challenge the technicians findings. I doubt if this will be resolved anytime soon. Anyone else have any suggestions on how I should be dealing with Canon?….Bob
Good luck Bob. There’s more and more keep coming in. You could print out every case from here and send them a book. It really galls me that they pretend they’ve never seen it.
my canon 70-200f2.8L fell off into a bunch of cinder rocks while was shooting yesterday because of this problem with my 5D MK II. it shouldn’t be that easy to get the lens to release.
My 70-200 2.8L glass fell off today. I kept thinking it was my fault until a fellow photographer direct me to this site. This is ridiculous! Canon needs to take action to get this fix like they did with the mirror recall on the 5D classic.
This just happened to me.
I was shooting an event and it just fell off as I was in the hustle and bustle of the moment.
The lens wouldn’t re-attach.
I was fucked.
This is dangerous, and risky.
I am planning on sending in the lens ASAP and hoping they don’t charge an arm and a leg to fix it.
I am appaulled at this.
By the way… It was off of a 5D Mark III and was a 24-70 lens.
November 2010 was my last rant about the lens falling off issue.
Further to the accidental pushing of the release button issue. My 100/400 lens has a rigid carrying handle attached to the tripod mount on the lens . The handle completely covers the release button when fitted to the camera making accidental contact imposable.
After I picked up my camera from Canon Thailand 2 years ago I have had NO FURTHER issues, strange coincident if there was nothing wrong before, I thought.
I see from the columns written Canon still claim they have not heard of this problem. Well they have, I sent them a letter warning them I would be taking civil action if I had another incident and if there was an injury incurred by a falling lens that they would now be unable to deny any knowledge of the issue.
I find it amazing that 2 years later the lenses are still falling off, poor show by canon.
I have yet to hear of any other manufacturer having the same fault.
My 24-105L lens fell off my 5DM2 in March 2012 at a wedding. I thought it was just me but sort of relieved I’m not! Thankfully the lens hood was on so the lens didn’t shatter, only the UV filter that was on it. The ring is a little bent so it’s hard to put another filter on. There is now a noticeable noise when the lens focuses so I need to get it checked out.
Someone shared your link with me after I inquired about if this has happened to anyone else and also asking if there are ways to prevent this from happening. I was at a wedding a few days ago and my new 70-200 lens magically came off my 5dii, at first I just noticed my f stop setting showing 0.0 and I knew something was wrong, in attempt to hopefully fix the issue I was going to remove and replace both the battery and the CF card and when I went to turn the body over to do so, the lens just came off the camera body and luckily I had my hand on it so it didn’t fall, but it was quite scary to me that I could have had it fall to the ground.
I’ve been visiting France for the past 5 days and just had my Canon 70-200 2.8 fall off of my 5D Mark 2. I carry 2 5D bodies so I don’t have to change lenses. I had been shooting as usual when I noticed the auto focus wasn’t working. When I lowered the camera to check if the auto focus switch had somehow been changed to manual, the lens plummeted to the concrete. A good way to ruin a vacation.
As an update, I happen to live about 5 minutes from the Canon service center in Irvine, Ca. I took my camera and damaged lens in and explained what happened and, once again, they denied they had ever heard of this problem and refused to accept any responsibility. Perhaps it’s time for a more organized approach and possibly a class action suit to get their attention.
It’s very frustrating. I not sure a lawsuit would work here, but Canon’s behavior on this issue is inexcusable. Maybe a legal expert can weigh in.
Well I finally got my 70-200 sorted. My insurance replaced it within a week of sending it in for inspection. I couldn’t bring myself to send it to Canon and be without it for months only to be told they wont repair it.
I have an idea… if anyone else here experiences Canon’s “we haven’t heard of this before” crap, just let me know and I’ll be more than happy to give them my case number and they can go back to Canon and say “ok, so what do you call this then?”
Lets see what they have to say then!
Good idea. In fact is people start emailing me case numbers with a couple notes I’ll start adding them to the main body of the article.
I had this with the 24-70 2.8, moved onto 5D3’s eventually, no issue there.
Not a lens falling off but yet another lens/camera failure. I listed some of my many camera and lens faults before so this is just a repeat, the lens is not communicating with the camera.
Last time that happened Canon replace the auto Iris and told me this is considered a service part that wears out normally ?? Well I cant see what’s normal with it wearing out after a couple of thousand pictures? I would expect tens of thousands of pictures from a lens.
Something always goes wrong when I’m away or just leaving- this time I’m off to Africa in 48 hours that won’t leave long to have it fixed.
After all the trouble I’ve had with Canon I’ve reached the end. An unreliable camera is as useful as a chocolate tea pot, I’m done with Canon. Once I get my lens or camera (which ever) fixed I’m off to sell it and it’s equipment and buy a Nikon. I really had good results from my 5Dmk2 but it’s no use if it won’t work reliably.
Guess I’ll just have to re learn using a Nikon.
Just had the same thing happen with my 24-70 f2.8 L lens this weekend! I was using a Canon 60d though.
Any other 60d users had this problem? I had 2 cameras with me so no lens change had been made and I had been using the camera and 24-70 lens for an hour prior to it falling off.
I hold my camera with my left hand under the body, rather than around the side, I’ve been over the situation so many times in my head and I just can’t see how I could have caught the lens release button.
I just dropped my $2000 24-105 into the Seine. Just separated from my 5D mkIII, fell 30 feet onto the concrete and rolled into the river. It came off twice before in my hand. The release button is way to sensitive.
I have never had this problem, although I did drop my MK1 onto tarmac after getting out of a mini bus having thought that it was still attached to my black rapid straps. Big bang hit the floor long drive home after a hard day in the office.
So this just happened to me this past weekend at an out of state wedding. Just bought the 5d mark ii the day before used and now my 70-200 L lens is broken after falling on concrete. I had already been shooting with the lens and body for 5 hours when the lens unexpectedly dropped, I kicked out my foot to try to break the fall but the impact still damaged the lens making it unuseable. I am quite upset having invested nearly 10k in canon gear, I feel like I have nowhere to turn except to just pay for a repair for something I don’t feel was my fault. I have been professionally shooting with canon gear for 7 years and hope to have a long career shooting weddings ahead of me. Now I feel shaken like I can’t trust that my equipment will work how and when I need it to. I called canon customer service and they denied the problem.
Sorry to hear it. Go up the management chain and point them to this article. At least make them hear your frustration.
I just came back from the US tennis open. After shooting the match in which Ferrer (Spain) won, I was just outside the bathroom and the rented 100-400mm lens that was mounted into my 5dmark II fell off! I was mortified for a few second. Picked up the lens, tried to put it back it and it could not fit. I went to an outside table, looked closely at the lens and realized the last tread of the lens was damaged. All of my lens was L lens, from the 24mm tilt shift, 70-200mm, and 24-105mm. I even though that I might have accidental hit the release button or did not lock the lens in the body completely. However, it could not have happened. May be the spring mechanic inside lost its elasticity? I will have to bring back the rented 100-400 to the rental place tomorrow and just do not know what to say to them. Should Canon pay for this defect? I just found this tread tonight and hope will tell you what follow my experience. I finally realize that it was definitely not my clumsiness….
I had my 24-70mm fall off as I was zooming. it rolled right off the camera and onto the floor, the mount was dented of course and $200+ later, I have it repaired and working again. My thumb must have pressed on the very easy to press release button as I zoomed. I had a second shooter of mine do the same thing the week before. 🙁
This happened to me in 2010 with my brand new 7d and 70-200 f2. Both were under warranty but Canon charged me for repairs. I see that they still haven’t fixed the problem. I’m ready for a new camera and I’m switching back to Nikon. I had hoped I wouldnt need to. Strikes me that canon are making a fortune from lens repairs. Why would they wan to fix the problem?
My Canon 5D MK3 recently released my new Canon 24-70mm lens. I said the rudest Russian word I know when it happened and usually I do not swear. The lens costed more than 2K$!!!! I was shooting before it happened. The lens just suddenly fell on an asphalt… Zoom does not work anymore… I hope it is fixable.
No more problems for me. I sold ALL my Canon photo gear and bought a Nikon D800E. Wish I’d done it earlier. Great camera – so far.
This just happened to me last night! I saw the display had the f stop showing at 0.0. I turned off the camera, removed battery, and memory card, reinserted and everything seemed fine till the 24-70mm released and hit the ground pretty hard. I put it back on the camera (5Dmkii) and noticed zoom ring was tight. It was about 2 hours later the same scenario repeated itself. Now I can’t even mount the lens back on the camera. I’m shocked this is so common and am upset that my lens is broken and I can’t trust my camera anymore!
My Canon 5D MK2 continually spontaneously released my 70-22 lens from the mount- over 30 times on a 1 1/2 hr walk. That time I was lucky as I had it attached to a monopod with a strap around my neck so it didn’t hit the ground. But it did when I was conducting a photo walk in Thunder Bay last fall- minor scratches but now I’m afraid to use it. I took it into Canon and they attempted to duplicate it, but couldn’t. They now seem to think I somehow do not know how to attach a lens to a camera securely, in spite of the fact that I have been a professional photographer since 1975 and never experienced this problem. They claim to have never heard of this issue… this thread suggests otherwise.
Just had another 24-105 come loose and hit the ground. $400 to repair the lens and another +$200 to inspect the body for the second time. First time, as anyone who has read this read will know, Canon found nothing wrong with the release or the mount. Canon offered to knock 20% off the cost of the labor for the lens. Thanks for nothing.
I’m well into my 60’s. Been shooting Canons since my first FTb in the early seventies. Never had problem. Never had a lens come loose. Never even thought that a lens could come loose that I didn’t unlock.
Having EOS back to my first Rebel X 35mm and the lens lock system hasn’t changed all that much if at all, I can say I have never had a lens fall off, nor have I ever heard of anyone having one fall off. I’ve also had virtually every brand of lens along the way as well.
I have had a canon 7d mark 11 for many years and the lens that I use just started
to fall off. This is absolutely a tragedy for me. My hobby is taking pictures of
wild elephants in Africa and many times we have been chased by them,what am I
to do when the lens falls off, if I try to stop and pick it up I will become elephant
toe jam. I have to switch over to Nikon right away. If anyone has another suggestion
please Email me brice13754@aol.com. Thank you Gavin for this information. If there
Is a site where I can donate, I will to support your efforts.
Thanks Lawrence Davis. brice13754@aol.com