It seems my canon 50mm USM is having AF issues. After almost seven years I think, it's having trouble pulling the focus away from the its closest point when in AF. I can still do it manually though.

I'm not sure whether I'll leave it and hope it gets better, get it fixed or replace it. I'm tempted to say that a few grains of sand I had to clean off the barrel once was a part of a bigger problem and some got in around the focusing ring.

how much do repairs usually cost.

No idea.

i think it's fairly reasonable to assume it's cheaper to just buy another

That's my expectation. I've had it a while and beat on it more than most other lenses I own (only one that rivals it in abuse is my 70-200 2.8L)

Yeah but the 70- 200 is better built to take the abuse. Does Canon charge to give an estament? If not I would think it would be worth the cost of shipping to find out what it would cost to fix it.

Originally Posted by porschewrx

Yeah but the 70- 200 is better built to take the abuse.

That it is.

I'm planning to call them and find out what the situation is. IIRC they have a set of somewhat flat repair and maintenance prices. I might even send them my 70-200 for a tune up.

yeah, the issue is you have to ship it there to get the estimate... and it's a ~$70 lens so is it worth the $10 there, another $10 back, and then paying to fix it??? I'd bet no less than $40 when it's done and you can buy a used one for that much easily enough... or upgrade

I love nifty, but if that ever happens to mine it's my excuse to get the 1.4... "Outlasting it's durability"!

I have the 1.4... that's my version of the nifty fifty Shipping it to them might run me $15-20 on a $340 lens, and if repairs are less than half the price of the lens I might be tempted to go that route.

And it's my 1.4 (50mm 1.4 USM) that's starting to misbehave I don't own the 50 1.8 and never have.

I just read nifty and assumed 1.8... Yeah, for the 1.4 send it in for sure. My only experience was with a 550EX that got wet. I had to pay shipping both ways to find out it wasn't cost effective to fix. Good Luck!

Originally Posted by emorphien

I have the 1.4... that's my version of the nifty fifty Shipping it to them might run me $15-20 on a $340 lens, and if repairs are less than half the price of the lens I might be tempted to go that route.

And it's my 1.4 (50mm 1.4 USM) that's starting to misbehave I don't own the 50 1.8 and never have.

Definitely send it in. I've heard of lenses being fixed for <$100 more often than not. Thankfully, Canon seems to love taking care of their investors.