Zoom creep any DIY suggestions

[mike_hawley]

<p>Hi, <br>

I've had a 75-300 mm USM lens for ages and I am happy with the results, but the annoying feature of this lens is that it creeps, so I walk around with the camera on a hand strap holding the lens back with one finger firmly on the barrel. <br>

A couple of months ago I bought a 18-135 mm on eBay (having read the reviews which all say no sign of zoom creep) and guess what .. it creeps too.<br>

A zoom lock would have been the answer but Canon didn't fit one (unlike Sigma).<br>

Does anyone have a suggestion for a simple and inexpensive DIY solution? <br>

Thanks <br>

Mike</p>

 

[JDMvW]

<p>My personal solution on essentially the same lens (with IS) is to ignore it, but mine is still somewhat stiff</p>

<p>Some people have tried things like a broad rubber bands, but both the focus and the focal length selector on this lens extend the front tube, so where do you start?</p>

<p>This is one of the older lenses in the Canon listing, maybe some future lens will fix the problem --<br>

I know, you can buy the new EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS lens! It's only about 10 times more expensive. ;)</p>

[phule]

<p>I just ignore it as well. Sometimes, when carrying the camera over one shoulder I'll steady the body and lens by holding the lens barrel, if I don't need both hands for other things. But otherwise, I ignore it.</p>

 

[jim_j2]

<p>A Rubber Band is the first thing that comes to mind. Yes, a locking ring would have been a nice attribute.<br>

The locking/friction ring on my 100-400 is great, but it's a push-pull design.</p>

[mike_hawley]

<p>Thanks for the comments chaps - I guess I'll have to live with it and wear my finger out. I'll put a band on the 75-300. Usually carry camera on my hand strap or in a bag.</p>

<p>Cheers</p>

<p>Mike </p>

[HenryUK]

<p>Have a look at this:<br>

http://www.eosdoc.com/manuals/?q=ZoomCreep<br>

I don't recommend trying this unless you have the right tools, are mechanically adept and have a lot of patience.<br>

It does, however, show what can be done.</p>

<p>Henry</p>

[mike_hawley]

<p>Henry</p>

<p>Thank you for the website contact - as I have two lenses with this problem I may well give it a go with the older one which I use less frequently and then if that works we will try the new one.</p>

<p>Cheers</p>

<p>Mike</p>

[jto1]

<p>I don't have a solution other than what's already here, just a comment.</p>

<p>I've shot Canon for about ten years through a 10D, 30D, and now a 7D. I've had a variety of their mid-range zooms (not their cheapest zooms, and not their 'L' lenses either), and I'm always disappointed by the quality and smoothness of the zoom mechanisms, particularly on the 28-135.</p>

<p>Either they creep, or they bind somewhere through the zoom range, etc. But I've rarely ever used one that's smooth when zoomed slowly from end to end like you would do when you're trying to tightly and carefully frame something. Very annoying...</p>

<p>I now own two Tamrons in addition to my Canons, their older SP 17-35 and the newly released SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD. The new Tamron 70-300 USD is VERY heavily damped (takes some getting used to), but......it's smooth and there's no zoom creep at all.</p>

<p>I think Canon has some good mid-range zooms, particularly some of the EF-S lenses, and I would like to try them out to see if these might use better quality mechanisms than those used on the 28-135. But as long as Canon can't solve these issues with their mid-range zooms, I'll continue to look at Tamron and perhaps Sigma for options as long as image quality is comparable because from what I've experienced they've got their zoom mechanisms down pat. </p>

<p>John</p>

[jto1]

<p>In the opposite direction of this post (but still related), <a href="00XzwV">I've posted this question in the Canon Lens category</a> looking for some suggestions if anyone has them. Thanks for any help!</p>