Due to all user reports about lens coating falling off from RF lenses, and especially Canon RF 28-70/2L USM, I have decided to collect pictures of them here including the serial numbers of those lenses. Has this happend before? Yes, batches of Canon EF 24-70/2.8L USM II had the same problem.
Send me an email with a picture of the front element if you have the same problem. Choose the lens model as title in the email.
A comment from Roger Cicala at Lens Rentals:
According to Canon fluorine coating makes it much easier to clean the front and rear elements, so dirt and oil can be easily wiped away. With at least some of the lenses Canon has released with this coating, our opinion is the coating is very fragile. We started putting filters on all of our lenses a year after Canon started putting fluorine coating on their front elements; the incidence of lenses needing front element replacements for coating scratches and peeling skyrocketed. Canon says it’s not so, so perhaps it’s just us.
RF 28-70/2L USM
Serial numbers and pictures
Links
User comments about RF 28-70/2L USM
- July 2021 – MM: I’ve had EF lenses for years… Have cleaned them with zero issue.. Has anyone else experienced the coat coming off RF lenses after a few cleanses?.. This is ONLY happening to my 28-70 and my 85 rf… None of my other sigma or canon EF lenses has this issue
Edit… I am NOT USING ANY CHEMICALS OR LIQUID TO CLEAN LENS.
- February 2022 – ML: Anyone else have a similar issue? I wonder what caused this. There is no scratch and I never used any chemicals to clean it but coating seems to be wearing off. Please help.
- February 2022 – VM: I have a weird story for you. The second Canon release this lens I purchased it. First day I had it I put protective filter. 1 year goes by I took the filter off to put nd filter on to find out I have a same exact mark but tiny bit smaller in the same exact area which is weird. How it got there I have no clue
- February 2022 – KD: Happened to my 28-70 too. Had to send it to Canon and got a new front element.
- February 2022 – DN: This literally happened to me last week on the exact same lens and I sent it in to canon. Let’s see what happens
- April 2022 – WN: This was the RF 28-70mm F2 lens that I purchased nearly one year ago from Canon, but the condition of the lens is making me disappointing and eventually losing confidence in this global brand — Canon. As this lens was purchased at extremely high price and therefore, I always use it carefully and take good care of it. I even use a UV filter on it to protect my lens against dust and scratches.
This morning, I spotted the dust on front glass, and it seemed to be like a scratch. I then attempted to remove the dust on front glass carefully with using a microfiber cloth and distilled water. Unfortunately, the coating of the glass faded immediately. I was literally surprised on the quality of Canon lens, how could a lens that costs such high price will have such poor quality? Also, consumers buy lens from Canon considering on its global brand and high reputation. Therefore, we as a consumer, always expect Canon’s products to be the best and the products’ qualities are always ensured.This lens has been with me for only few months and the quality of lens becomes worse. This brought up a concern about the quality of Canon’s products. Is Canon taking shortcuts in the manufacturing process and using cheap raw materials to save the cost and make more profit? I spent approximately RM13,000 to purchase this lens, and expecting a better quality from this product itself but as you can see, it turned out to upset me.
- November 2022 – ND: So my 28-70 is losing its optical coating. Has anyone else had this issue and gotten it fixed. I’ve read a couple instances on canon forums and reddit but nothing about a fix. I’ve owned 6 other L series lenses over the years and have never had this issue. I haven’t cleaned it weird or sprayed anything on it. Just looking for others that also have this issue on a $3k lens.
Picture of the coating though it’s worse in person. And is now showing in some photos.Thank you.November 2022 – KM: I had that happen to mine had to send it in $750 or something. Now the second one is doing it too.
- August 2023 – RD: Anyone else had an issue with the front element coating coming off on the 28-70 F2. Lens is 2 weeks old – and in all my years having lots of lenses never had an issue like this.
Google shows a few on various sun forums with the issue, but be useful to see if it is more common to have a real moan at canon about it.
- December 2023 – RS: Yes, Canon’s new coating is weak. 3200 dollars and cleaning the front with a cloth, this suddenly appeared… very disappointed
- December 2023 – AW: I have the same lens and nearly the exact same spot.
- December 2023 – GP: This happened to me! Didn’t use any liquids, just a cloth and this happened. It’s a huge issue with this lens, not the first post I’ve seen about it. Call canon immediately.
- March 2024 – I acquired this 28-70 very cheap from someone who neglected it. Rip. Little marks do feel like scratches, but the smear may be the coating coming off.
- March 2024 – I have the same problem, I did not neglect it but did try to clean it more often which probably worsened the problem. Also considering none of my other lens look like this is a sign it might be a bad copy of the lens.
- October 2024 – Has anyone had issues with a lens doing this? It looks like smudge marks but won’t come off. I’m wishing I’d put a filter on it. It doesn’t really affect the photos but why is the glass doing this. I’m not scratching it or hitting it on anything and always keep a lens cap on when not shooting.
- October 2024 – Hi! This is my 28-70 lens, it’s been incredibly well taken care of and never stored without a lens cap inside a case. Over the past few months these micro scuffs have started showing up on the lens surface. Almost looks like the lens coating is coming up? Can this be repaired or do I need to get a whole new lens?
- October 2024 – this happened to me twice I sent it in to canon and they replaced the glass.
- October 2024 – I tried to clean a greasy stain that a kind person left on the front element and it removed the coating when I tried to clean it off.
- I sent it to CPS and they said that I needed a new front element – it was a long wait for a replacement and seriously expensive but def repairable.
- October 2024 – Currently dealing with the same issue. I’ve only had mine for 3 months. Sending it in for warranty repair.
RF 24-70/2.8L USM
