? DX lens 18-70mm zoom

[marty_elan]

I recently purchased the D-70 outfit with 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-

S DX Zoom Nikkor. I have a question and please excuse my poor attempt

to describe it. The front part of the barrel (the section in front of

the focusing ring about where the white dot is located for aligning

the shade for attachement) is not rigid but can move when handled.

Not just back and forth while zooming but from side to side there is

play. This is my first Nikon. I have owned Penatx medium format Ricoh

35mm for over twenty years and none of those lenses moved like that.

They were all very rigid. Is the Nikon lens suppose to be like this?

It kinda weird when I have been used to lenses that have a solid

rigid feel.

 

Thank you.

[kenneth_beatty]

There should be some play but not the excessive play you describe. Take it back and get a new one.

[bryan_lardizabal]

Nikon's design for the lens barrel and movement of the actual optics results in a

somewhat loose fitting plastic assembly, which is the nature of many modern zoom

lenses. They function fine, but feel cheap compared to all metal lens assemblies.

[melvin_bramley]

Nikon...ED IF AFS DX!!!Phew sooo many letters. Maybe it you add T/S it will be O.K!

[ShunCheung]

I don't have the 18-70 DX, but my 24-85 AF-S G is pretty similar in construction. It too has some play up front. Obviously it is impossible to know how serious your situation is without handling your lens, but it sounds fairly normal for these $300 consumer-grade zoom. My more expensive f2.8 AF-S zooms don't have this problem.

[aardvarko]

My 18-70 has a touch of wiggle as well. Think of it as free tilt/shift, albeit only 1mm worth..

[eric_ung2]

I have the D70 kit too, I have carefully examined it and yes, there is some play, but the

magnitude isn't severe and very close to my smc 645 45-85mm.

 

Does the play affect the quality of your pics? or it just feels cheap.