It seems there are some common defects for some lenses and cameras!

For some older photographers it is well known that some few lenses and cameras have typical defects or problems.
This could be the soft front lens on some lenses, or a camera capacitor that breaks after decades. But newer lenses have sometimes frequent problems as well.
For example I have read about some Canon EF super tele lenses with fungus (1, 2, 3 ) . This could probably be a result of a special coating, or more likely these lenses are more often used under humid enviroment than the cheaper lenses most amateurs use.

Here some first ideas about common problems, with some references.
This is not a scientific proof of bad work or at the manufacturer - some things only appear after decades!

Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM
Broken ribbon cable - iris not working: 1, 2, 3,

Canon EF-S 18-55
Autofocus defective, only works in one direction: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,

Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
Much dust inside: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
Mechanics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,

Canon 35mm f/1.4 L USM
Fokus mechanics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

Canon EF 60mm f/2.8 Macro
f/2.8 Bokeh not circular: 1, 2,

Canon EOS 30D, 40D, 50D
Shutter button: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Front element pop out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
AF defect and sticky focus: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
Focus: 1, 2,

Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L
Most likely lens eparation (some think it is fungus, probably it is in some cases): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Canon AE-1, A1
Shutter squeak: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Kiron / Vivitar 28mm f/2.0
Stuck iris: 1, 2, 3

Leica Elmarit 135mm f/2.8 R
Separation: 1, 2,

Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8
White spots on / in front lens / coating: 1, 2,

Nikon Nikkor AF 35mm f/2.0
Sticky oliy aperture blades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,

Nikon Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.4 D
Hot Spot an DSLR : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Nikon Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 Micro
Sticky oily aperture blades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 AF
Delamination: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,

Phottix / Pro Optic Extension tubes
Killing the fuse in a Canon EOS 5D camera: 1, 2,

Rodenstock Rodagon enlarger lenses (decades old)
Separation / Delamination: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

Samyang 8mm f/3.5:
Focus inncorrect: 1, 2,

Samyang / Bell + Howell / Rokinon / Walimex Pro/ Falcon / Polar / Bower / Opteka / Vivitar 14mm f/2.8:
Distance scale not matching real distance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
Bad build quality: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Samyang 35mm f/1.4
Stuck iris: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Wooly bokeh: 1, 2, 3,
Build quality: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,

Samyang / Rokinon / Walimex / Falcon / Polar / Bower / Opteka / Vivitar 85mm f/1.4
Stuck iris: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
Wooly bokeh: 1, 2, 3, 4,
Build quality 1,

Schneider lenses (~40-60 years old)
"Schneideritis" - bright dots on blackend lens surfaces: 1, 2, 3, 4,

Sigma lenses with ZEN rubberized finish
Zen finish gets sticky / peels off: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO 72mm filtersize
Bubbles / haze in lens: 1, 2, 3,

Sigma 600mm f/8 Mirror
Fungus (?): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM
Points / bubbles in frontlens: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

Sony Zeiss ZA Sonnar 135mm f/1.8
Front element wobble: 1, 2, 3, 4,

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Wooly / irregular onion ring bokeh: 1, 2,

Tamron 90mm f/2.5 Macro 52B & 52BB
Hot Spot an DSLR: 1, 2, 3, 4,

Tokina 12-24mm Pro DX
Broken ribbon cable - iris not working: 1, 2, 3, 4,

Yashica FX-D, Contax 139,
Plastic leatherette defective: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

 


At the moment I want not to list the very common defects like Canon EOS 5D mirror, Sigma iris problem with old lenses and new cameras and such. Some of the references may not show the pictures to non-forum-members, sorry for this.

There is a list off Lens Rentals with their 5600 lenses and the lens repair data 2010, 2011, 2012!

Please visit my other tinker work, or my DIY directory with ~1700 DIY links to other photo tinkering sites.