Question about the zoom ring on the 70-200 2.8L

i had my 70-200 f4L for about a year and a half before i recently traded it.

however, i found that on my 70-200 2.8L, it takes a lot of effort to turn the zoom ring compared to my f4. like it takes half my pinky strength to rotate it, without any resistance.
but on my 2.8, its not as smooth and has some sort of resistance when i turn it

is this normal? or is it because my 2.8 lens has a UL date code and thats how it was made 13 year ago?


it's not a really big deal or anything. i'm just used to zooming real fast on my f4.

b_ron wrote in post #10770392
i had my 70-200 f4L for about a year and a half before i recently traded it.

however, i found that on my 70-200 2.8L, it takes a lot of effort to turn the zoom ring compared to my f4. like it takes half my pinky strength to rotate it, without any resistance.
but on my 2.8, its not as smooth and has some sort of resistance when i turn it

is this normal? or is it because my 2.8 lens has a UL date code and thats how it was made 13 year ago?


it's not a really big deal or anything. i'm just used to zooming real fast on my f4.

I think its normal... I'm in the exact same situation. My f/4 IS model is nice and loose, while my oldie f/2.8 non-IS takes quite a bit of pressure to zoom.

My f/2.8 non IS version zooms with no problems of any kind, certainly no stiffness.

so i guess the older models are just made like this then?

That's about how mine feels, I wouldn't call it stiff, firm maybe?

Its not stiff, but it feels like it has about 2 lbs of glass moving around on it...


.... and it does

I own a Canon 70-200 2.8 non-IS and the zoom ring work very smoothly.