After moving from the FD series of lenses and bodies from past years to the newest crop of EOS equipment, I find the fits of mating parts to be of a different nature; case in point: I have just purchased the 100-400 IS lens along with an Elan 7 body, and find the fit between the two to be "loose". I've also noticed this with the 50mm 1.4 and another EOS body. Are 'sloppier' tolerances in these newer products by design, or should I be sending these items back to Canon while the warranty is still effective for repair?

-- Charles Hansen (charleshansen@aol.com), November 05, 2001

Answers

I can respond to part of your question. I have an Elan 7E and EF 50 1.4 USM and they fit properly together (not sure if you're saying this combo doesn't work for you). 'Sloppier tolerances' just doesn't sound right. Use your warranty.

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), November 05, 2001.

With plastic parts there has to be room for heat expansion. Hence, loose lens barrels, sloppy gear trains, etc. The zoom and focus on my EF28-135 IS USM seems more firm when shooting in the hot Hawaiian sun than indoors.

However, with metal parts you may machine to very close tolerances. The mating between my lenses and cameras (EOS 7E, A2 and 3) is very snug. I can detect no movement when twisted or gently wobbled. The EOS 3 and lens mate so tightly I thought something was wrong at first.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), November 05, 2001.

Nothing fits as tight as an old FD breech mount lens. It's been downhill ever since. :~)

There have been a number of people that have noticed the looseness of Canon EOS lens mounts on one camera or another. Some, like the EOS 3 often seem better. The cheaper Elan cameras seem to be worse, but the Rebel with it's plastic mount often seems quite good. I don't know what to make of it, but in spite of the looseness, the cameras & lenses still seem to work well together.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), November 05, 2001.

I haven't noticed any problems from it, but my only 'L' lens is pretty loose on my EOS 3. It is a 300 f4 L IS, and since I have only had it on my Elan II once or twice I'm not sure if it is loose on it as well or not. I do know that my 24-85 and 50 f1.8 are tight on both cameras though. It is a bit irritating that my most expensive lens seems to be a bit on the sloppy side, but maybe that is how it was designed. Only Canon can answer for sure.

-- Brad Hutcheson (bhutcheson@iname.com), November 06, 2001.

Forget-about-it, and be about the business of making great photographs.

-- kurt heintzelman (heintzelman.1@osu.edu), November 06, 2001.

I agree fully with Jim - the FD breech lock is far more secure than the EF mount locking. The only catch is it's a little harder (for me anyway) to change lenses on an FD mount than an EF mount with one hand.

I've noticed that my 28-135IS feels a little loose as well. I came from an FD 50mm and FD80-200 zoom and the parts on them still feel snug after 20+ years. Mind you, they weren't built with lightweight plastics either :-)

Nik

-- NikB (ndb_letters@yahoo.com), November 06, 2001.

In more than 10 years with EOS cameras I havn't noticed this before. I just took my 90' EOS-1 and my 96' EOS-1n and tested it with 2,8/300L, 4/300L IS, 2/135L and some zoome lenses. Yes, a little movement of the lens is there but this realy is no problem. Forget about this discussion and continue to take good pictures. Thats why we all have this expensive items.....

-- Martin (uboot67@yahoo.com), November 10, 2001.