Some 24-70 questions

I'm going to put my 100-400 up for sale or perhaps straight trade for a 24-70, a friend of mine's son has lent me his 24-70 to try before I take the plunge. The pictures are lovely and sharp but I've found that it zooms from 70 to 24 (lens extended) as smooth as silk but when I then go back from 24 it's as though there is some sort of spring loaded detent that has to be overcome before the lens will move back in. Is this normal or are they usually as smooth going both in and out ? That seems like a strange phenomenon as well, it zooms in by retracting the lens and zooms back out by extending the lens

Mick Emmett wrote in post #8470439
I'm going to put my 100-400 up for sale or perhaps straight trade for a 24-70, a friend of mine's son has lent me his 24-70 to try before I take the plunge. The pictures are lovely and sharp but I've found that it zooms from 70 to 24 (lens extended) as smooth as silk but when I then go back from 24 it's as though there is some sort of spring loaded detent that has to be overcome before the lens will move back in. Is this normal or are they usually as smooth going both in and out ? That seems like a strange phenomenon as well, it zooms in by retracting the lens and zooms back out by extending the lens

yes, it's normal.

ed rader

Most lenses and 24-70 is not exception move the lens groups differently when zooming. My 24-70 require some effort to move it from the extreme point. If you look at for example 17-55 the zoom action is even stranger. In the middle of zoom the lens need to start moving a different lens group and it feels like the lens stcuk. So not worry - this is normal.

Yes it's normal. Nuff said.

I don't know about the "spring-loaded" action as you describe, but consider the "reversed" design (wide = full extension) a feature. It is really a clever design and it's a shame more zooms don't use it. The advantage is that the lens hood becomes useful at all focal lengths, not just the widest length. The hood's position is fixed and the lens retracts or extends in such a way as to match the shading provided by the hood throughout the focal length range.

Thanks for the quick reply ED, seems a little odd to me. If I hold the camera so the lens is pointing straight up then it's smooth both in and out with no resistance either way. It just feels like something is worn but If yours does it as well; then I'll take it as normal.

My particular copy is smooth in both directions with no more effort to zoom in or out. If you notice a difference in resistance then there might be an issue with that copy. I am holding mine right now to make sure that there isn't some minor tactile feel to the zoom ring....nope - smooth both directions in all attitudes. At the very end there is a minor increase in force required to "set" the lens. When I say minor I am saying I had to really really pay attention to how much effort I was using.

Rob

Thanks for the replies, once it starts to retract it's smooth the rest of the way in; there just seems to be a little extra resistance at the start. Seems to be normal from what others here are saying.

Mick Emmett wrote in post #8470439
I'm going to put my 100-400 up for sale or perhaps straight trade for a 24-70, a friend of mine's son has lent me his 24-70 to try before I take the plunge. The pictures are lovely and sharp but I've found that it zooms from 70 to 24 (lens extended) as smooth as silk but when I then go back from 24 it's as though there is some sort of spring loaded detent that has to be overcome before the lens will move back in. Is this normal or are they usually as smooth going both in and out ? That seems like a strange phenomenon as well, it zooms in by retracting the lens and zooms back out by extending the lens

You should sell the 100-400 and buy a new 24-70 instead of trading. The 100-400's value used is about the same as the 24-70 new. It will also allow you to send it back if it's not a "good copy". Plus you get the warranty.

Mine also has different amounts of resistance at different points.

I think that there is just a lot of glass moving...it's heavy stuff!

Mick Emmett wrote in post #8470439
I'm going to put my 100-400 up for sale

Not happy with it?

ConDigital wrote in post #8471274
Not happy with it?

I'm happy with it's IQ and the IS is fantastic but I simply don't use it, I bought it for Air Shows but I've lost interest in them now. If you're thinking of getting one and do longish shots I would recommend this lens, although I must say I'm not a fan of it's push/pull zoom action.