The Pump Goes Back

Boddie · #1 (**permalink**) 22-05-2007, 07:28 PM

Following the recent debacle that one of our members suffered at the hands of Canon I thought I would chart my experiences.

I have today packed up my 100-400 IS due to a small hair in the front element cavity of the lens. It does not impair the clarity, but my fear is that should it move it may end up doing so.

I will send my lens tomorrow to the Service Centre at Borehamwood and let you know how I get on.

Andrew

Boddie · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2007, 09:10 AM

23rd May

Its gone.

It cost less than I thought at only £8.30, insured up to £1,000. I am promised it will arrive tomorrow.

Will keep you up to speed on its progress

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 23-05-2007, 10:06 AM

Was this one of the fine hairs from the palm of your hand?

Boddie · #4 (**permalink**) 23-05-2007, 06:06 PM

It may very well have been

Tormentil · #5 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 10:08 AM

Isn't this an inherent "fault" with pump lens? I'm no expert on this, but surely air as to be displaced as you zoom in/out and fine particles can be sucked in to the lens.

Boddie · #6 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Isn't this an inherent "fault" with pump lens? I'm no expert on this, but surely air as to be displaced as you zoom in/out and fine particles can be sucked in to the lens.

I am not sure something even of that size would have been sucked in. I do know Graham (GLSammy) cleaned out his Bigma and said it was full of dirt so I guess anything telescopic has the ability to become contaminated

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boddie

I am not sure something even of that size would have been sucked in. I do know Graham (GLSammy) cleaned out his Bigma and said it was full of dirt so I guess anything telescopic has the ability to become contaminated

Yep, I've had to do it again! It's amazing what gets behind that lens. I imagine almost anyone that uses their camera gear a lot with a zoom type lens will find this is the case, if they look carefully, or more importantly, take it apart carefully!!

eeyore · #8 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 10:01 PM

when you think about it although much is made of the pumping action of the 100-400 the zoom element of the bigma and indeed pretty much every other long zoom moves in the same way - okay you might be twisting to zoom rather than slidingbut the in and out action iof the lens assembly is really identical across the board

at the end of the day every zoom lens that has a hard life will get cack inside a somepoint, just as ever sensor will get dirty - you can protect them from this by never taking them into the field or exposing them to harsh condititions but to my mind this kind of defeats the point of having the kit in the first place

glsammy · #9 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

when you think about it although much is made of the pumping action of the 100-400 the zoom element of the bigma and indeed pretty much every other long zoom moves in the same way - okay you might be twisting to zoom rather than slidingbut the in and out action iof the lens assembly is really identical across the board

at the end of the day every zoom lens that has a hard life will get cack inside a somepoint, just as ever sensor will get dirty - you can protect them from this by never taking them into the field or exposing them to harsh condititions but to my mind this kind of defeats the point of having the kit in the first place

Absolutely. I'm just glad the Bigmas design is such that you can easily remove the outer lens to clean it. You remove the small screws and rest the lens on a soft cloth and carefully pull the top part away. There are a few shims there to watch out for, but nothing else. You can then get at the back end of the main object glass and carefully clean it. The lens can only go back one way, just make sure the shims stay put. If anyone else wants to try, don't blame me if it all goes wrong!