EFS 18-200 lens

Why does my lens fall into total zoom, when the lens is pointed to the ground? Is this normal? I realize the weight of the lens makes the camera lean forward when it's on the strap, but should the lens open like that?

It's called lens creep and happens to a number of zoom lenses in varying degrees. The 18-200 has a lock you can use when it it at the 18 mm position, so that it will not creep while you are walking.

Some people put a rubber band at the edge of the zoom ring to increase the friction, so it doesn't creep. I didn't bother, the lock is adequate for me.

Yep that is normal...and why they put the lock on it. Every time you take a step there is a significant momentum shift when your next foot catches you from essentially falling forward, and the front element, which is the heaviest element in the camera, is on extending part of the zoom and it pulls the zoom out. As long as it is not so loose that you can't use the lens on a tripod at an angle without the zoom shifting then it is pretty much within the normal tolerances.

I handled the 18-200 the other day. Before that I had only read about zoom creep until then. It is awful.

No, it is not normal for well-made, quality zoom lenses to zoom creep.

Abu Mahendra wrote in post #16766114
I handled the 18-200 the other day. Before that I had only read about zoom creep until then. It is awful.

No, it is not normal for well-made, quality zoom lenses to zoom creep.

Yeah, my EF 24-70 MkII is a cheap little piece of junk that shares the exact same design...

No less awful. Perhaps even more awful and unpardonable given the price tag. After all, two wrongs still don't make a right.

It's part of the design which utilizes an extending front element. The only way to eliminate creep for such a design is more friction and I don't want more friction. All it will do is lead to wear and trouble.

I bought the lens(es) (I have both) for their optical characteristics, not using lens creep as a criterion. If you can find creepless lenses, buy them...

Any lens with an external zoom/focus mechanism is going to develop zoom-creep at some point. It is not a design or materials flaw. It is physics. If two parts fit together so tightly that they cannot move, then by definition they cannot move, which would make zooming or focusing pretty difficult. The only zoom I own that does NOT do this is my 15-85. Eventually, it will.

As above any external zooming will eventually produce lens creep.
And some lenses creep more than others.
Even expensive L lenses are prone to creep.

Yes it can be a pain but if wandering around with the lens either lock it or keep a finger on the barrel to stop,it moving, I have had some great images with this lens as it is really handy as a walk around city lens.

Abu Mahendra wrote in post #16766114
I handled the 18-200 the other day. Before that I had only read about zoom creep until then. It is awful.

No, it is not normal for well-made, quality zoom lenses to zoom creep.

Actually it is normal. Every super zoom creeps to one degree or another and that includes Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Tamron! That's why all the latest versions include zoom locks. Even many standard zooms develop some creep including, as examples, the Canon 28-135, the Canon 15-85, the Canon 17-55, and occasionally even the Canon 24-105. They are all quality zooms. However, of all the lenses I'm familiar with, my copy of the Canon 18-200 has by far the worst creep. It collapses from around 150mm to around 20mm in a heart beat when pointed straight up or straight down, Luckily the closer to horizontal you get the less creep you get.

jqworle wrote in post #16768035
Yes it can be a pain but if wandering around with the lens either lock it or keep a finger on the barrel to stop,it moving, I have had some great images with this lens as it is really handy as a walk around city lens.

Any office supply store will sell you a bag of rubber (elastic) bands for a few pennies. Put one over the lens where the zoom ring meets the barrel. No more zoom creep. But you will have a weird looking lens.

SqueekyBoy wrote in post #16768354
Any office supply store will sell you a bag of rubber (elastic) bands for a few pennies. Put one over the lens where the zoom ring meets the barrel. No more zoom creep. But you will have a weird looking lens.

No, just use a red band, and all of a sudden you have an L lens!

Lbsimon wrote in post #16768472
No, just use a red band, and all of a sudden you have an L lens!

like it .a red band it shall be.