Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM problem

Hi, Can anybody help me please. I bought a Canon 40D about 6 months ago, having upgraded from a 400D (Digital Rebel). I find the 40 D a dream to use and it suits my sausage shaped fingers better and the weight of the 40D I find is better and more stable. I bought the standard package with the EF-S 17-85mm f/4=5.6 IS USM lens. I'm really pleased with the results.
I do, however have an issue with the zoom barrel, whilst it's not sloppy and works very smoothly. If I tip the camera forward of carry it with the lens facing downwards the barrel drops to it's full extension. Obviously there isn't enough friction to hold it in place. Is this normal for this lens, none of my other lenses do this ? I'm reticent to send the lens in for service as the slide friction is just perfect for normal operation and I don't want Canon service to over tighten the lens barrel.

Any help please?


Regards

Mike

It's called zoom creep, and is a common problem with some lenses. I recently bought a Canon 70-210 USM and every review said that was a problem with the lens. Sure enough, it dropped like nobody's business everytime it went vertical. I unscrewed the zoom ring and tightened a couple of the screws, and it worked well after.

I haven't heard a lot about that from the 17-85, but I also haven't read a ton of reviews on it. Even if they did over-tighten it, it would probably work back to a reasonable looseness after some time.

That's zoom creep. A lot of lenses exhibit this behavior, especially as they age. My 28-135 and 70-210 does this, but my 17-55 does not (at least, not yet).

My 17-85 doesn't do it. My 70-300 does it. It has a lock to keep it from creeping though.

My 17-85 does this only if Im walking pointing it down.

Thanks agc 1019
Thanks for your reply, it was a great help. At least I now know it not just me.

Thanks again,

Regards

Mike

Josue,
Thanks for your reply, it was a great help. At least I now know it not just me.

Thanks again,

Regards

Mike