17-40L zooming noise?

[perry_bain1]

I just got the Canon 17-40L, and I have a question for other owners of

this lens: Should the lens make any noise when zooming? Mine is making

a (relatively faint) scraping/squeaking noise throughout the zoom

range. It sounds (and feels) a bit like 2 unlubricated plastic bits

rubbing against each other. I just wanted to find out if this is

normal for the lens, or if I ought to exchange the lens for another

copy. I had expected something a little smoother in an "L" lens.

[ian_hobday]

I can definitely hear the gears moving inside the lens if I listen for it.<br>

<br>

But there is no real "friction" as such, and it isn't making any noises that seem out of place.<br>

<br>

Ian<br>

--<br>

Ian Hobday<br>

Osaka, Japan<br>

<a href="http://hobday.net/photos" target="_blank">http://hobday.net/photos</a> (Opens in a new window.)

[latham_portous]

Mine doesn't make any noise. It would be interesting to find out if others have similar noise coming from theirs. Maybe it's worth going to your local Canon lens dealer and handling a few to see if they are the same. If no other one makes any noise you may have a problem with it as minor as it sounds.If yours is under warranty at least you can have it repaired/replaced if it is faulty. Is it new?

[gerry_szarek]

No noise in mine at all.

[perry_bain1]

Yes, it is a new lens. I don't have a local photo dealer with lenses of this type, so I can't try others in a store. So, I will either keep this one (if I can convince myself that this is normal) or send it back for a replacement. I'm leaning towards sending it back.

[Greg M]

Mine is very smooth. Definitely no loud noise. If I put it right up to my ear I can hear the mechanism moving very smoothly as I zoom. If yours is any different I'd get another one.

[gabrielma]

When I purchased the lens, I made a series of tests; I exchanged it for another one for it seemed to constantly front-focus at every focal length.<BR>

The second one (the one I now own) is silent, unlike the first one, but also the full-time-manual focus ring is a little tighter than the first one which was too smooth (it would turn at the slightest touch).<BR>

<BR>

You may have on your hands what some of us call a "Monday morning QA production item"; in other words, sounds like you got a bad copy.<BR>

My lens does not make any noise while zooming, and hardly audible when focusing. You may want to exchange it, if it's still under warranty or ask your camera dealer.

[ntiberius]

I purchased a 17-40L two weeks ago, and it's near-silent. Zoom ring is a bit looser than the focus ring, but not by much. G'luck getting yours checked out.

[perry_bain1]

OK, I'm returning the lens in exchange for another copy. Maybe the friction would not have caused a real problem, but considering the way people rave about how smooth the zoom action is (or should be), I'm not going to take a chance. Thanks to all who commented for the advice.

[PuppyDigs]

If you're in a quiet place, you can hear the zoom mechanism of any Canon AF zoom. However, it should be pianissimo. As it ages, it will get looser and slightly softer. The zoom and focus mechanisms of my old Nikkor AI MF lenses are even softer.

[ceradini.net]

I have bought the 17-40L after a short experience with a sigma 17-35 2.8. That Sigma was really noisy! and not only it bothered me a lot but it also gave me the idea of being about to crash any minute. The canon is noiseless and quite fast. I love it.