Is it worth to repair a Lens for Canon DSLR Camera? Where to buy?

eatwell365 on 08/01/2014 - 10:50

Please help. Like your opinion on whether to fix or to buy a lens for Canon.

Got a Canon 650D for beginner's level photography.
The standard lens 18-55cm that came together with camera is not auto focusing properly. only have the twin standard lenses.

(It was my fault. lesson to share - I was in a rush, did not put the camera back in the camera bag, instead left in my backpack. my other half did not know and threw it on the ground. the zoom part of lens was slightly tilted. twisted the lens to make it turned. Now the Autofocus is now 'hit and miss' or takes good few seconds to find a sharp focus.)

  1. will you repair the lens and where?
  2. if buying a new one, will you buy the same standard 18-55cm Canon lens? where?
  3. is it worth to spend a bit more for a 18-270 or similar? Canon, Sigma or Tamron?
  4. where will you prefer to buy the lens?

Many thanks in advance.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • godofpizza on 08/01/2014 - 11:12
    +2

    i think the repair cost would out weight the price of a second hand 18-55 lenses.

    • ClayStevens on 13/01/2014 - 18:16

      Can't agree more. It is not worth to repair a 18-55. Just go for a used one.

  • ProjectZero on 08/01/2014 - 11:23
    +1

    1. The cost of repair for that lens might not be worth it, from what i've heard kit lenses usually aren't great, you'd be better off spending a little extra and get something better… thought i don't know the price of the 18-55mm… staticice has a dslr section that shows you the price though.

    2. Not too sure, staticice dslr section should help

    3. Part of my answer in 1.

    4. Usually i physically go into the store to see what price they can give me, i recently got my 50mm 1.4 (canon) at camera direct (or something like that) in Bondi for $380. Gary import for that is roughly $330 - $370. Make sure you do some research in the lens you want first otherwise you wont have much bargaining power.

    Just a little about photography experience, i'm an amateur with a canon 7d with 15-85mm kit lens and a 50mm atm. As such, i'm sure there are plenty of pros here that can give better advice

  • Master Bates on 08/01/2014 - 11:25
    +2

    I think the repair cost may even outweigh the cost of a new lens, not that I have ever bought from these guys!

    Even as a beginner, you are probably better off upgrading from a kit lens; the recommendations here may help.

  • sourdawg on 08/01/2014 - 11:29
    +2

    Kit lenses come up for sale dirt cheap second hand all the time as people become more serious, definitely don't buy a brand new kit lens!

  • BuyoTheCat on 08/01/2014 - 11:59
    +3

    A second hand kit lens would be worth about $50-80 on the second hand market.
    definately not worth repairing

  • AMLagonda on 08/01/2014 - 13:08
    +1

    18-55 lense isnt that good anyway, but we all continue to use it as thats what came with the camera lol.

  • jakentta on 08/01/2014 - 13:24
    +1

    Just be thankful that you don't have the horrible kit lens to ruin your photos any more. Buy something better instead, such as the cheapest of the primes 50mm f/1.8 or perhaps the 28mm f/1.8 for wider view.

    • ProjectZero on 08/01/2014 - 15:10

      Whilst the 50mm 1.8 is cheap, the image quality seems terrible when compared to the 1.4… of course, the 1.4 is about 3-4x the value =\

      EDIT:

      Source is from an online review of the 1.8 vs 1.4 vs 1.2 50mm

  • JediJan on 09/01/2014 - 08:22
    +1

    If I was you I would obtain a replacement part quote from a reliable camera shop. Can be expensive and unsatisfactory to have repairs done. Only shop I would recommend is Ted's Cameras, 03 9602 3733 in Melbourne. I had a camera repaired interstate (Qld) once and I wasn't happy with result. Mum had a video camera repaired elsewhere too, but altjough she was happy with result, It cost about half the price of a newer version.

  • timmypete on 09/01/2014 - 10:14
    +1

    I had an EF 24-105 F/4 L repaired by Canon through their NSW mail-in service following a similar drop-related issue. I was happy with the quality of the repair, which was out of warranty and cost $300ish IIRC that the person who damaged the lens paid.

    This said, the overwhelming majority (95%+) of the cost was labor rather than the insignificant cost of the damaged parts. As the lens originally cost me ~$1k (I saw a Kogan deal in the high 600s a couple of days back), repair was more economical than a brand-new replacement, but this is almost certainly not the case for a kit lens.

    On that note, I got the 24-105 after my kit EF-S 17-85 suffered from water intrusion when a seal broke on my dry bag case and had to make a similar repair vs replacement decision that was 50% of the lens value. I think any money spent repairing a kit lens is probably better put towards new glass as the kit lenses are built to a price rather than a quality standard.

  • Joejoeinc on 22/01/2014 - 13:44

    If you are in Sydney area give these guys a call http://www.cameraservicecentre.com.au/ (Ph:02 9264 7091). Tell them Joe sent you. I probably won't get you discount, more like "That bastard again" type response. Anyway they can quote and tell you how much to fix/repair a lens.

    I had my 18-55 repaired there (broken flex cable inside lens)

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