How loud is the IS on your Canon 100mm L

Hi guys,

I bought canon 100mmL a few months back but only now have had some time to shoot with it.
Overall I am very pleased with the performance especially that that is my first L lens, however, I got a bit nervous today when I could clearly hear the IS work. I mean, I know that on some lenses you can hear it more that on the others but... how loud it is on yours?
On mine I have no problem hearing it kicking in standing 4ft from it, especially that it all starts with a short 1/2 sec screeching sound followed by a humming sound ( whilst it's working) followed by a 1/2 sec screeching sound again when it switches itself off.
Is that normal?
Thanks to you all who got a minute replying to my post!

yes its normal.

mine doesn't do that, it's noticeable, but nothing what you describe

tommmy.star wrote in post #12740662
Hi guys,

I bought canon 100mmL a few months back but only now have had some time to shoot with it.
Overall I am very pleased with the performance especially that that is my first L lens, however, I got a bit nervous today when I could clearly hear the IS work. I mean, I know that on some lenses you can hear it more that on the others but... how loud it is on yours?
On mine I have no problem hearing it kicking in standing 4ft from it, especially that it all starts with a short 1/2 sec screeching sound followed by a humming sound ( whilst it's working) followed by a 1/2 sec screeching sound again when it switches itself off.
Is that normal?
Thanks to you all who got a minute replying to my post!

Sometimes mine lets out a hideous screech noise if you end up starting it and then stopping right away and then suddenly starting it again, like it gets caught half way between. A little frightening sounding. Hopefully normal behavior.

rick_reno wrote in post #12740679
mine doesn't do that, it's noticeable, but nothing what you describe

Ok, so do you mean you've got the humming but not the short screeching or the humming and the screeching are barely audible?

Never noticed it.

i think you're being hyper-critical of the noise...

it's TRULY one of the best lenses out there.

I had the same experience with the screeching sound and the viewfinder sometimes jump a bit.
It is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

I have to agree with the others. It is louder than the usual lens, but it's normal for this one. Otherwise, please post a soundsample or movie

tommmy.star wrote in post #12740696
Ok, so do you mean you've got the humming but not the short screeching or the humming and the screeching are barely audible?

i just took it it and i don't have either humming or screeching that i can hear. it just does the focus thing.

Mine is quite silent, I had to listen for IS to hear if it's working or not. I've read a post a while back from the guy who did a lot of IS repairs, accordingly to him no two lenses are alike and depending on minor assembly variations/balancing produce all different kinds of sound.

Mine has the strangest sound, I have used IS lenses before but the 100L is different. Mine screeches and hums depending on how I use it. I notice if the IS engages and I move the lens it screeches more. I hear its normal. Awesome lens none the less.

Tommydigi wrote in post #12745975
Mine has the strangest sound, I have used IS lenses before but the 100L is different. Mine screeches and hums depending on how I use it. I notice if the IS engages and I move the lens it screeches more. I hear its normal. Awesome lens none the less.

exactly the same here, and tht screech thing if you move it while it is starting to spin up or down or if you start it up again before it had time to spin down all the way can be REALLY loud, a literally SCREECH

glad to know that some others have it too

how long have you had your lenses? (hopeuflly doesnt mean those of us who have it will have failed IS units in a few months or a year or something)

wombatHorror wrote in post #12749371
exactly the same here, and tht screech thing if you move it while it is starting to spin up or down or if you start it up again before it had time to spin down all the way can be REALLY loud, a literally SCREECH

glad to know that some others have it too

how long have you had your lenses? (hopeuflly doesnt mean those of us who have it will have failed IS units in a few months or a year or something)

I think its the hybrid IS, mine only gives the "screech" (I describe it as an "electrical sound") when I shift the lens(panning) side to side. If I keep it dead center it doesn't do it.

I've had mine since release...which IIRC is around September 2009?

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #12749449
I think its the hybrid IS, mine only gives the "screech" (I describe it as an "electrical sound") when I shift the lens(panning) side to side. If I keep it dead center it doesn't do it.

I've had mine since release...which IIRC is around September 2009?

OK, good to hear. If it has lasted two years without issue that sounds like it is normal and safe then.