Canon 35mm f2 took it on the chin: no more AF!

[PaulVI]

I went to the park with my son, and brought my 60D with the 35mm f2 mounted. My son insisted that I go down the tornado slide with him, so I obliged, with my camera slung under my right arm (the strap crossing my body). I'm sure it took some dings, and immediately after, I noticed that the focus mode in the top LCD said "M FOCUS" --- and would not budge from that mode. In the rear LCD menu, M FOCUS was the only option.

I tried turning the camera off, then on again. I also tried removing the lens briefly (as if "breaking contact" would somehow spark a "reset". Hey, I was nearly panicking.

At home, I tried another lens. Autofocus worked.

The 35mm can still be focused manually. The focusing ring moves smoothly. The lens is out of warranty.

So what should I do?
1. Live with it, "old school" (manual focus until the lens finally quits). (Too bad for me, my vision is poor, so I don't fully trust what I see in the OVF --- I'd like AF for a "perfect world"; and focusing with "live view" in the rear LCD --- well, you know what that's like in the midday sun.)
2. Get a pro shop to repair it if possible.
3. Immediately replace the lens with the same model.
4. Immediately replace the lens with a better make/model if there is one --- at this price. The 35mm L is out of the question. It's out of the question, right? Right. I'm pretty sure. Yep, I'm sure.

[RichardTaylor]

Before making a final decision I would check out the cost of repair, either with Canon or a third party to see if it is worthwhile fixing.

[OsmosisStudios]

Did you check the switch on the lens itself?

["Matthew"]

Well the Af motor is probably shot. I would just replace the lens. IMO the 28mm 1.8 is a better lens anyway. If your willing to spend a little more the sigma 30mm f/1.4 is a great lens. Yes you could try to fix the thing but remember that lenses are investments and IMO you will just be putting money in to a lens that you will want to upgrade later. I know that you said that the 35 1.4 is out of your budget. But it should still be considered as it is the top of the line for this range and will stay with you for a LONG time.

Test charts (28 vs 35 2.0) Here

(35 1.4 vs 2.0) here

[Krusty79]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Did you check the switch on the lens itself?

That was my first thought since autofocus works on his other lens.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Did you check the switch on the lens itself?

ding!

[PaulVI]

I even did the 'wiggle': on-off-on-off. Then the 'wiggle of disbelief': it's got to be the switch -- one more try!

[PaulVI]

Matthew, you had to go and tell me to keep the 35L on the table. I had it on my Adorama wish list, then I deleted it. Will I reinstate it? A big barrier to the L lens: the wife will kill me. Thanks for the word on the 28/1.8 and the test data. I'll check it out. I was considering the Sigma 30mm, but at Photozone, the Canon 35/2.0 tested better. Maybe the Sigma has a more durable build? In retrospect the Canon 35 is very plasticky though I had not anticipated the "chasing the kid" scenario.

["Matthew"]

The 35 1.4 is also built better. Ok enough of me sounding like the Canon sales guy Ok the Sigma, I own one, and have used both the 35 2.0 and 1.4 a fair bit. Yes the 30mm is a bit better in terms of build(Not by much though) as a bonus the Sigma comes with a rather nice hood and case. The two things that really make it better are USM (I think Sigma calls it HSM), and F/1.4. I dont know how much low-light stuff you do but 1.4 is TWICE the light as 2.0. (And in terms of IQ, wide open the Canon is better. But stop down the Sigma to 2.0 and it beats the Canon) Also the bokeh from the Sigma is Beautiful.
example from my flickr stream
example#2

[ElCapitanoAwesomo]

i WAS going to recommend the Rokinon 35mm f/1.4, but then i realized its a fully manual lens!

as previously stated, the 28mm f/1.8 is a great lens, and i personally like it a lot more than the 35mm f/2.