70-200mm L 2.8 IS I

When the stabilizer is in the on mode and I am hand holding the camera very still. Should I be hearing the IS motor running? It does this as long as I hold the shutter half way. Its not the focus motor either. It does it even if its mounted on a tripod. My 100-400 IS doesnt make the sounds this thing is making.
I bought the lens used and I fear its damaged.

That sounds about right. I was just playing around with a very good copy of the f2.8IS version 1 last night and paid careful attention to the IS motor and noticed that it made the noise when I clicked the shutter half way down. When I let off the shutter the IS motor noise went away.

I was told that some of the newer model IS lens can detect when mounted on a tripod thus automatically disabling the IS.


Have you tried turning off the IS and then clicking it half way? It shouldn't make any noise at all.

so it ran as long as you held the shtter botton half way down, like forever if you were so incliined to do so?

rab3rd wrote in post #11378740
so it ran as long as you held the shtter botton half way down, like forever if you were so incliined to do so?

No, if I recall when I kept the shutter click half way down the IS motor would eventually shut off momentarily.

It is normal.
It does this when you hold the shutter half way (ready to shoot) to avoid wasting batteries.

And a hint: let the IS run for 1 or 2 seconds before taking the shot. This maximizes the IS performance.

After reading the OP, I pulled it out and, sure enough, there is a slight noise going on when the shutter is half pressed! I'd never noticed it before.

Yes normal.

johnbergsing wrote in post #11378794
After reading the OP, I pulled it out and, sure enough, there is a slight noise going on when the shutter is half pressed! I'd never noticed it before.

Haha really? How could you not have noticed that noise, it's like a tiger screaming.... very quietly

yeah, its loud. I dont know how you couldnt hear it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel better now.

Too bad it isn't April fool's today.

dandan1 wrote in post #11378821
Haha really? How could you not have noticed that noise, it's like a tiger screaming.... very quietly

It is ever so slight with my copy. I can't hear it at all when looking through the viewfinder. I have to put my ear up to the lens to hear it.

My wife wants me to point out that it might also be the many years of loud rock concerts that have contributed to my slight hearing loss... (She says she thought it was just her voice I can't seem to hear...)

70-200 2.8 mk1 has one of the loudest IS motors I've heard. But it works darn well.