Sticking

Is there anything you can apply to lens bodies to make them roll 'smoothly' when moving? My EF 75-300 seems to 'drag' when manually operating it.

Are you focusing or zooming?

You think about something like grease?
No!
The modern [cheap] mechanics has this "special" feeling. Try old manual focus lenses (not Samyang), they work more smooth.

This puts me in mind of the really well-built zoom lenses of 40 years ago. We can argue until the cows come home about the optics, but, the silky smoothness of focusing or zooming the likes of Vivitar's (Tokina, mostly) best Series 1 lenses will still make you wonder what the hell is wrong with your very expensive Canon "L" lens.

TSchrief wrote in post #14834641
This puts me in mind of the really well-built zoom lenses of 40 years ago. We can argue until the cows come home about the optics, but, the silky smoothness of focusing or zooming the likes of Vivitar's (Tokina, mostly) best Series 1 lenses will still make you wonder what the hell is wrong with your very expensive Canon "L" lens.

Well, consider the weight. Durability is important. But extra weight just for extra smoothness might not be a good trade.

pwm2 wrote in post #14834655
Well, consider the weight. Durability is important. But extra weight just for extra smoothness might not be a good trade.

I am confused. My Vivitar SERIES 1 70-210 f/3.5 is less than half the weight of an EF 70-200 f/2.8 and more or less the same as a 70-200 f/4, AND it feels better. The focus and zoom are much smoother and better damped. Are you saying that the extra weight and less smoothness of the current Canon's makes them 'not a good trade'? I am sure several people would disagree with that. IS and AF do come in quite handy now and again.

That sloppy feeling in your 75-300 is just a feature they all share. They are entry level zooms so the build quality isn't top o the line or anything. I have my Yashica lenses and while a little older, feel very smooth. It's just the nature of the mass production business model we live in these days.

TSchrief wrote in post #14834711
I am confused. My Vivitar SERIES 1 70-210 f/3.5 is less than half the weight of an EF 70-200 f/2.8 and more or less the same as a 70-200 f/4, AND it feels better. The focus and zoom are much smoother and better damped. Are you saying that the extra weight and less smoothness of the current Canon's makes them 'not a good trade'? I am sure several people would disagree with that. IS and AF do come in quite handy now and again.

I said extra weight for extra smoothness. Your quote claims me to have said extra weight and less smoothness.

I believe that extra smoothness of older lenses often comes because more weight could be allowed for the mechanics. With a modern lens, the glass weights a lot. So making modern lenses smoother risks making them even heavier than they are now. The next thing is that some of the mechanics can't be too dampened in an AF lens, since you don't want too much resistance for the AF motor to fight with. Grease comes a long way making something feel smooth, but do introduce a lot of extra resistance.

pwm2 wrote in post #14835058
I said extra weight for extra smoothness. Your quote claims me to have said extra weight and less smoothness.

I believe that extra smoothness of older lenses often comes because more weight could be allowed for the mechanics. With a modern lens, the glass weights a lot. So making modern lenses smoother risks making them even heavier than they are now. The next thing is that some of the mechanics can't be too dampened in an AF lens, since you don't want too much resistance for the AF motor to fight with. Grease comes a long way making something feel smooth, but do introduce a lot of extra resistance.

I did say extra weight and less smoothness, in reference to the current crop of L lenses. Your points about the glass and grease, or other lubricants, are well taken.

ZoneV wrote in post #14834577
You think about something like grease?
No!
The modern [cheap] mechanics has this "special" feeling. Try old manual focus lenses (not Samyang), they work more smooth.

The lens in question is a Canon 75-300; when I'm operating it manually it does feel like its sticking or binding. I know it isn't but can't help but feel some sort of lubricant' would ease the movement?

I know the "feeling" you describe and miss in modern lenses. I have a collection of Kodak Retinas from the 1950's. The lenses of course don't zoom, but they all have a very smooth "silky" feel to them when the barrel is rotated for focusing. I once disassembled a damaged lens and the key I think was the near exclusive use of brass for virtually everything.

Tonymc wrote in post #14895013
The lens in question is a Canon 75-300; when I'm operating it manually it does feel like its sticking or binding. I know it isn't but can't help but feel some sort of lubricant' would ease the movement?

The lubricant will most likely go deep inside and you will find it on the lenses itself, or on the iris (no longer operating). This could take days, weeks or even longer. But I think lubricant will damag your lens.
And I am not sure if it would help at all.

Old manual lenses would be a better way to achive this.