"Blueprint" a lens?

[Frank Kolwicz]

Is there anyone who can rebuild a lens to get the maximum performance?

I think my 500/4.5 is adequate, but only just, and I wonder if it is on the low side of factory specs or worse. It would be worth some money to me to get as much performance out of it as possible.

[Bob Atkins]

I imagine the best people who have the knowledge and necessary equipment would be Canon. Perhaps you could find a 3rd party shop, but nobody I know of specializes in such a procedure.

Canon would probably do a "clean and adjust" on the lens, though I don't think they have all the parts anymore to repair it if something is wrong. I know they have to equipment to check for alignment. They could certainly take it apart and put it back together, but whether it would end up any sharper than it is now I don't know - and neither do they until they've done it. If it's not out of alignment now, rebuilding it won't make much difference.

I'd certainly talk to Canon first and see what they will offer to do. If they can't help then I'd maybe call someone like Precision Camera Repair (www.precisioncamera.com) and see what they can do to help.

[Frank Kolwicz]

Thanks, Bob.

Canon doesn't want anything to do with my modified lens. All they say is that it is "unsupported".

Frank

[Bob Atkins]

I didn't realize it was modified. I can understand Canon's position if they don't want to work on a lens that has been modified by a 3rd party. I'm guessing it's a FD500/4.5 modified to an EOS mount?

You'd certainly have more luck with a 3rd party repair shop in that case, though even there I wouldn't be surprised if there is some reluctance to work on anything that's non-stock.