100-400IS - How should it sound?

[FredT]

Well, I just started using the new 100-400IS with my D-60, and I want to make sure everything is OK as it sounds quite different from the only other IS lens I've used. With the 100-400, when the shutter button is depressed, the IS initiates with a fairly pronounced noise, sort od a thunk, then shifts out with a similar sound when released. With the 28-135, there is sort of a whirring noise as long as the shutter button is partially depressed. The lens appears to be working fine, but I just want to make sure. Is what I'm hearing what I should be hearing? Thanks.

[fredlord]

Well Fred:

I'm kind of hearing deprived but my 100-400L IS makes a lot of noise whenever I use it on my D60 with the IS turned on. The small motors that move the prisms seem to be clunking all the time. Now, it doesn't sound like the rear suspension on a clapped out station wagon but it definitely is moving something in there. Without having them both in one spot to try out I can't say if yours is noisier but there is most assuredly noise in mine.

[robertwgross]

I hope you mean motors moving lenses, not prisms.

---Bob Gross---

[martcol]

I'd be worried if a camera lens sounded like you describe but like you say, it's difficult to work it out if you haven't anything to compare with. Can you do that? Nip into a retailer and ask to test another lens.

I'd be interested in tracking this discussion and hope it proves useful to you. Anyone else got a noisy lens?

Martin

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Fred,

I do hear a sound on my 100-400 that sounds :) like what you are describing. I would not say that it unacceptably loud.

Regards,

[neil_r]

Yep I get a sort of dull clunk with mine both on the D60 and the 1N

Neil

[sptxs]

Same with mine. I thought the same thing when I first tried it out. "That sounds odd, hope it is working properly" was the first thing that came to mind. Haven't had any problems with it. It still makes the noises and is still my #1 lens.

[fredlord]

In reply to Bob Gross:
Since I've not seen the insides of one of these lenses I was going by the explanations given on the various websites for the workings inside the typical IS/VR/OS image stabilization lens. I would love to hear how they really work as the explanation I read stated that the motion compensation is provided by small adjustable prizms which are shifted relative to each other in response to signals from the motion sensors.

I find the idea of these sensors the most interesting as I was a ballistic missile technician in the service long ago and the motion sensors then were the size of a basketball. Don't you love the miniaturization of electronics. I think if they had tried to make a EOS-1-Ds with an IS lens in those days it would have been the size of an automobile.

If someone can explain in simple, easy to understand terms how the Canon IS lenses function, I would be delighted to read it.

[charlibob]

Mine also makes the sound you describe. Has been woriking perfectly since I got it 4 months ago.