HELP NEEDED > 70-200 f/4.0 L focussing noise

I just got a 70-200 f/4.0 L and have noticed that the USM focussing is a little noisier than my other USM lenses, L and non-L. When compared to the 17-40L or even my 28-105 USM, the 70-200 seems to be 2 times noisier when focussing. Is this because of all the glass the lens has to push around or do you guys think my copy could be problematic?

Thanks,

Pradeep

Very interesting.. I own this lens and it's the only one with USM. I thought compared to my Tamron that the focus was damn near close to silent. It's noticeably quieter than the 28-135IS that I owned...

Compared to a non-USM lens, my 70-200 f/4 sounds downright fantastic, but compared to other USM lenses, not so good.

^

Any chance of comparing it to another?

Doesn't sound right. My 70-200L was as silent as my 100-300 USM and 28-105 USM.

Dante, I don't have another 70-200 L and no one I know locally has one either. I am the only photography geek amongst my friends. The lens performs well, just don't know about the noise. The noise itself is not serious, the gross movements of glass when it focuses at full zoom sounds normal. It is the when it is making final quick adjustments to lock on focus that the lens is making a noise like an element vibrating as it is travelling across a surface that is not lubricated properly....almost the sound of a faint turkey call, especially the one's where you rub a stick-like item on a flat surface. The lens focuses and performs as expected.

Best of luck Pradeep sorting out this problem...The anticipation of getting this lense only to be let down is a bummer....hope you get it sorted out!


Dan

I have the 70-200f4 and the noise is 'significant'. This is a relative comment and has been compared to my 85mm prime. The prime is much quieter, however the glass element has not got to move very far and it's a much smaller lens physically and it only takes a fraction of a second. With the zoom you feel it move and clunk into position. USM has the reputation of being silent, so you may be having false expectations. I would say the noise is equivalent to you speaking under your breath (talk about relative!).

I know if you just got it, you would want to return it in a hurry and get it sorted, but it may actually be normal. Perhaps contact the seller and have it on record that you feel it may be noisy but want to try it and see if it gets quieter, so you are covered if you need to return it.

Graham

OK, I've just compared my 70-200F4 to my 17-40 and 100-400 in conditions that could cause the lens to hunt through the whole range.

The 17-40 was near silent, certainly the quietest.
The 100-400 was fairly quiet
the 70-200 was also fairly quiet, but marginally noisier than the 100-400

So rather than the 70-200 being noisey I think the 17-40 and 28-105 are exceptionally quiet. My 17-40 is very quiet!

My 70-200L f4 is noisier than my 17-40L. You really have to listen for it though. It bothered me at first. After being away from photography for 20 years I have found that they do not make things like they used to. My old Nikon lenses felt much different than the newer Nikon or Canon lenses, same with the bodies.

Mike

Pardeep, that is very troublesome. I don’t have that lens, but I do understand your frustration. It is very disappointing when you get a new toy and the thing just doesn’t perform the way you think it should.
I know you said that it does take good pictures, but could you send it back to where you got it for an exchange? I know you will be without the lens for about 7 to 10 days when you return something, but at least you could see if it was just that lens.

Pradeep, did you notice if the lens got noisier as the days go by? I'd send it back for a fix/replacement if it did. I compared my 70-200 with my 17-40, and both are really quiet. The noisiest lens I have is my 50mm 1.8, but then again it isn't USM.

Thank you everyone for your input and thoughts. I bought the lens from a good person who got it as a birthday present last December, so it is still under warranty, and he is willing to provide me the original receipt for warranty work. He had only a 50 f/1.8 to compare it to, so he thought it was fine. The noise has not gotten progressively worse as far as he and I can diagnose it. To tell you the truth, if this thing wasn't under warranty, I'd just chalk it up as being one of life's little gifts and force myself to not think about it. Eventually I'd forget it and never think about it again. But with a warranty still on it, I am going to send it in to Canon for them to check it and re-lubricate it if needed. I'll let you guys know how it turns out after getting it back from service.

Thanks,