I have owned my 70-200mm f2.8L for around two months. Last week, while cleaning the filter, I noticed a little fleck on one of the inner rotating elements. It looks somewhat reflective. So, considering my level of confusion/frustration, I have a few questions:

1. Is this normal for this lens? I mean, should I expect there to be some sort of material inside the lens after two months? I am not certain that it is dust. My other lenses that are between 2 and 10 years old have never gotten anything like this in them.

2. Is this something that should be checked by Canon? Perhaps it is the result of a manufacturing error(it almost looks metallic)?

What am I looking at here? Me being on the verge of retentive? Or, do I have a real concern? If it were just dust, I could understand it and live with knowing it won't hurt anything, but, since it seems to shine under bright light, do I have an honest concern?

-- Roger Shrader (rashrader@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

Does the thing show up in prints? Does it move around (bang the lens on the palm of your hand and see if it moves)?

Unless you can see evidence of it in your pictures, or if it seems like some piece of plastic or metal that is rattling around, I probably wouldn't worry about it.

But since it is an expensive L lens, only two months old, it is under warranty. Why not just take it back to the place where you bought it, just to get some piece of mind?

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 06, 2002.

This thread on the Leica board may answer your question:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=008ILO

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 06, 2002.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Unless there's an indication of a real problem, don't worry about it.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), March 07, 2002.