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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Quantaray lens problems
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Showing posts 1 - 18 of 18, (reverse)
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 01/04/2007 04:09:33 PM · #1
Has anyone experience any problems with them, particularly the 70-300? For the past few months it has been malfunctioning at critical moments. It works fine for a few shots, then I start getting error 99 on my camera. I've taken the battery out, changed flash cards, cleaned everything and it will still do it at all settings. I don't have that problem with my canon 18-55. I bought it at Wolf camera and even got the extended "no matter what" warranty. They put it on one of theirs and it worked fine. I tried to explain to them that I don't have a problem indoors, normally outside and when I use manual, tv & av settings. It functioned fine for them and they say it's probably my camera. I just want a different lens. I feel it's not my camera since I don't have a problem with the other lens. Anyone have a similar issue?
 01/04/2007 04:16:57 PM · #2
Drop it then they have to replace it.
 01/04/2007 04:19:37 PM · #3
I've never had much luck with any Quantaray lens... do as Wazz says (check your warranty first of course) and then place the replacement lens on E-bay as new-in-box.

Message edited by author 2007-01-04 16:20:11.
 01/04/2007 04:23:26 PM · #4
Yeah I checked out it's covered if dropped. And yeah that's a good idea about eBay.
 01/04/2007 04:24:48 PM · #5
I wouldn't advocate destroying it just to get it replaced, but you should be able to successfully argue that since it only happens with that lens, and since your other lens does not do that, then it is not likely to be the camera.
The issue here is that they will probably have to see it happen. When they do, ask them to get out another (preferably the same make/model) lens and try it. If it then works, your argument gets almost watertight.
Once you get it replaced, I agree with fotoman, e-bay it and upgrade.
 01/04/2007 04:26:29 PM · #6
I hear ya kirbic. It's kinda how I feel when I see a musician smash a guitar.
 01/04/2007 04:50:23 PM · #7
Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:
I hear ya kirbic. It's kinda how I feel when I see a musician smash a guitar.


I've done the guitar smashing once... I must say it was a girl's fault, but I digress... I felt horrible afterwards, even tried to fiberglass the thing together again. :-(

OK, don't break it, just go with kirbic's advice and prove it's the lens.
 01/05/2007 09:36:53 AM · #8
I'm gonna take it in tomorrow and see what they'll do.
 01/05/2007 09:44:39 AM · #9
It is NOT the lens malfunctioning... This is your Camera saying "Hey! This is not a Canon compatible lens!". I used to have this problem before with a cheap lens. Worked fine for a while then... 99! It pissed me off. Now I got all Canon lenses and life is good. So don't waste your time going to the store, the error does come from the camera.
 01/05/2007 09:51:01 AM · #10
I don't shoot with a Canon, but know some that do...I thought I'd heard that the error mentioned (err 99) can happen even with a Canon lens. If the lens is older and needs a firmware patch, etc...
 01/05/2007 09:58:00 AM · #11
Sometimes the problem can also be that your contacts are dirty. Use a small eraser to clean the contacts on the lens as well as in the camera.

BTW, Error 99 is Canon's "catch-all" error... Just as informative as Microsoft's "General Protection Fault (AKA blue screen)".
 01/05/2007 10:08:45 AM · #12
Originally posted by candlerain:
It is NOT the lens malfunctioning... This is your Camera saying "Hey! This is not a Canon compatible lens!". I used to have this problem before with a cheap lens. Worked fine for a while then... 99! It pissed me off. Now I got all Canon lenses and life is good. So don't waste your time going to the store, the error does come from the camera.


Some misconceptions here.
Yes, the error is generated by the camera, but in this case it is *because* something external to the camera (the lens) is not right. It is the catch-all error, and thus *could* be the camera, but when it comes and goes with one lens, it's something about that lens, or the way it interfaces with the camera. Cleaning contacts is a good idea, but if the problem persists and is associated with a specific lens... it's the lens.
In your case, where the lens worked fine for a while, there is a definite indication that something went wrong with the lens, or the electrical connections.
For reference, Some third-party lens manufacturers (Sigma specifically) don't have a license to make lenses in the Canon mount, and so they have to reverse engineer everything. Changes in communication protocol introduced with new camera bodies screw them up sometimes. Then the lenses need to be rechipped. At some point, they are too old to be rechipped, (parts not available) and the lens is junk. Tamron and Tokina both are licensed, and thus do not have this issue.
 01/05/2007 10:14:57 AM · #13
This is exactly why I never bother with extended warranties. I just LOVE how the salespeople give you every excuse in the world as to why you HAVE to get this warranty... and then magically give you every excuse in the world why NOT to honor it when something happens.


01/05/2007 10:39:07 AM · #14
Originally posted by alanfreed:
This is exactly why I never bother with extended warranties. I just LOVE how the salespeople give you every excuse in the world as to why you HAVE to get this warranty... and then magically give you every excuse in the world why NOT to honor it when something happens.



Ditto.
A few years ago there was a published figure for what's paid out vs the cost of the extended warranties. I believe it was 4%. That's abyssmal. It may be better today, but I guarantee it is still very bad. It rarely makes sense to buy an extended warranty.
 01/05/2007 10:43:10 AM · #15
Yeah, it makes more sense just to buy insurance on your equipment
01/06/2007 04:44:12 PM · #16
Before my inexperienced self went to the camera store whinning, I decided to try it one more time. Stepped out my front door, focused on something across the field, and "snapped" the picture. Right off the bat I get error 99. Came back in, changed lenses, didn't touch any setting, and was able to take the picture. My last visit was unpleasant due to the guy acting like a smart ass and trying to tell me it was in my camera and he can't do anything because I didn't bring mine so there's no way to tell if there was a problem with it. Worked fine on the one he had. When I walked in I could just feel the relief when I didn't see him. Another guy helped me. He took a pic with it, worked fine and I explained what was going on, how sometimes it's okay for a shot or two and sometime it doesn't work at all. He said okay, whatever and gave me a new one. No questions asked. I could tell by the way he was talking that he knew what he was talking about, knew about photography and he just wanted to make the customer happy. Rarity these days! Anyway, have a new lens now and still kicking myself in the butt for not buying that Canon 70-300 that was on clearance at Walmart for $70 (not a super fancy one, just plain).

Thanks for all the advice!!
 01/06/2007 06:09:16 PM · #17
Originally posted by alanfreed:
This is exactly why I never bother with extended warranties. I just LOVE how the salespeople give you every excuse in the world as to why you HAVE to get this warranty... and then magically give you every excuse in the world why NOT to honor it when something happens.


I dropped my 70-200 2.8 out of the back of my backpack climbing down a mountain. Busted it. Took it in for warranty repair. They fixed it up no questions asked.

I also had my 20D suddenly just die on me. I'm guessing it was moisture from the day before. But I took hundreds of photos between the time I was out shooting in the rain/snow and when it actually stopped working, so I'm not entirely sure. But it definitely appeared to be electrical in nature. Again, fixed no questions asked.

So I keep an extended warranty on all of my critical equipment.

Message edited by author 2007-01-06 18:09:37.
 01/06/2007 06:11:35 PM · #18
I'm glad it worked out for ya Heather...
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