Getting my canon 17-55mm tightened

Hi guys,

Bought my canon 17-55mm second hand and zoom is loose to the point it moves if not held in place. Is it an easy fix or should I send it in somewhere professional to be fixed? Also should I send to local shop or is it possible to send in to canon? How much should I expect to pay? Thanks for any help or incite. Sorry if this is in wrong place. Been on forum for a while but not much of a poster

Don't worry about it. Don't send it in. Don't pay anything for it. Lots of Canon lenses do that. It is called 'zoom creep', or 'gravity zoom'. Just do your best to keep it from slamming one way or the other. It hurts nothing.

BLACKFISH808 wrote in post #17808207
Hi guys,

Bought my canon 17-55mm second hand and zoom is loose to the point it moves if not held in place. Is it an easy fix or should I send it in somewhere professional to be fixed? Also should I send to local shop or is it possible to send in to canon? How much should I expect to pay? Thanks for any help or incite. Sorry if this is in wrong place. Been on forum for a while but not much of a poster

Some copies may be worse than others, but that's the natural state of the 17-55.

I guess I am just monkish but I'd really like it fixed. It doesn't bother me most times but it has totally caused unnecessary adjustments when I'm on the go. Is it not ideal to repair?

So it will always be like that? I bought it second hand so I wouldn't know if it is naturally like that

The lens does not feel rock solid. It's normal to feel a little unnerved by it at first, but it'll be fine. Between the lens creep and the rattling stabilizer, you'd think it was on the verge of crumbling.

I keep rubber bands in my bag for cases like this, the creeping can get annoying. The rubber band fixes it, until you have to change it. Band aid fix really but it gets the job done.

I'm tempted to offer a trade for mine, which has an excessive amount of friction in the zoom mechanism! Not only doesn't it creep, it sticks unpredictably in the middle of the range. It didn't do this originally.

In all fairness, my lens is almost 8 years old and the 17-55 is known to sometimes experience zoom issues. Probably time to send mine in for a look and get some use out of my Gold membership...

My lens is bad. If I do not hold it horizontal it will move. I would hate for it to get stuck tho. Would I send it to canon or would any camera shop that does minor repairs be able to handle it? Also does anyone know approximate price? It has small debris building inside as well. Doesn't affect IQ as far as I know but still. Yah the cheap plastic feel to it leaves much to be desired. Kind of like when you buy a used car and get everything changed out and detailed. I'd like to do the same for the lens although I've had it for some time just never got around to it lol.

I had that lens and my zoom creep wasn't so bad, it taught my to hold my camera in my right hand with the lens pointing skyward, always.
It is pat of the overall lenses design while focusing, the inner barrel extents out. Rubber bands could help.

Im not sue if that lens has the screws that can be tightened that are under the rubber grip like the 24-70 f/2.8

http://www.instructabl​es.com …non-17-55mm-f28-Dropped-/


If you are really annoyed with it and i suspect you are like I was with my 24-70 you should just send it in to canon and tell them whats wrong. There is an adjustment inside the lens.

BLACKFISH808 wrote in post #17808396
My lens is bad. If I do not hold it horizontal it will move. I would hate for it to get stuck tho. Would I send it to canon or would any camera shop that does minor repairs be able to handle it? Also does anyone know approximate price? It has small debris building inside as well. Doesn't affect IQ as far as I know but still. Yah the cheap plastic feel to it leaves much to be desired. Kind of like when you buy a used car and get everything changed out and detailed. I'd like to do the same for the lens although I've had it for some time just never got around to it lol.

Most zoom lens with heavy front elements will develop zoom creep over time. It is very common. Some copies of a specific lens model may develop more creep than other copies. It is rare for zoom creep to be repairable. And even if it was tightened, it would only be a temporary fix. You would likely be wasting your time and money. Sorry

Thanks that's what I wanted to know. I've been shooting with it like that all this time. I could try rubber bands like suggested earlier. There was a 16-35 2.8 for $120 perhaps I should replace while I have a cheap alternative and sell the 17-55 to get some primes

BLACKFISH808 wrote in post #17811285
Thanks that's what I wanted to know. I've been shooting with it like that all this time. I could try rubber bands like suggested earlier. There was a 16-35 2.8 for $120 perhaps I should replace while I have a cheap alternative and sell the 17-55 to get some primes

A 16-35mm f/2.8 for $120? That doesn't sound right.

Yeah, I'd run away from that deal... Fast!