Smoothness of zoom rings

The_Blob · 02-21-2009, 12:59 AM

I have a Nikon AF Nikkor 28-200mm 1:3.5-5.6D (made in Japan), and I just realized that the zoom ring isn't super smooth when zooming and in out. Zooming feels a bit heavy, and it's not like ball bearing smooth like on some low end lenses. It's a used lense so I don't know if it's normal or not. Anyone here have the same issue with their Nikon lenses? I would suspect a smoother zooming feel for this mid ranged priced lense.

asdflkijd · 02-21-2009, 02:21 AM

Hmm, I have a 28-135mm Canon and it feels a little heavier compared to the 18-55mm.. Have you tried testing the same lens at an electronics store? My hunch is that it just feels heavier because of the weight/ material (metal vs plastic)..

rodi · 02-21-2009, 02:31 AM

try the pro lenses (f/2.8 zooms).

TWiTCHY · 02-21-2009, 04:14 AM

I recently tried out a new Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 at a store then bought a used one the day after. The newer ones are noticeably stiffer. It seems like you have to break in the zoom ring and after a couple of uses it should be a bit looser. The used one I bought wasn't as bad as the new one at the store.

The_Blob · 02-21-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

Hmm, I have a 28-135mm Canon and it feels a little heavier compared to the 18-55mm.. Have you tried testing the same lens at an electronics store? My hunch is that it just feels heavier because of the weight/ material (metal vs plastic)..

The Nikon AF Nikkor 28-200mm 1:3.5-5.6D has been discontinued so I couldn't try it at a store selling new lenses. It's one of those heavier metal construction lenses. I guess that could be the case why it's not like ball bearing smooth when I zoom in and out.

The_Blob · 02-23-2009, 12:18 AM

I just read a reivew of a similar lens http://www.bythom.com/18200lens.htm and I know why it's a bit stiff and rough while zooming

"The zoom ring is stiff and has a very different feel at different focal lengths (I should note that some users claim it is loose and subject to zoom creep; that isn't the case on my sample). As you zoom in to 200mm, the zoom ring has a sudden "loose point" just before you get to the maximum focal length. Zooming the other direction is smoother, though still what I'd call rough."

I guess having a fairly stiff zoom ring handling is a good thing to prevent zoom creep when shooting photos upwards or downwards.

However, when I zoom in or out of the lense still creates a very tiny dry screeching noise. Anyone else have a similar issue their lenses while zooming?

02-21-2009, 12:59 AM	#1
The_Blob Second Lieutenant 501 Rep 298 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Smoothness of zoom rings I have a Nikon AF Nikkor 28-200mm 1:3.5-5.6D (made in Japan), and I just realized that the zoom ring isn't super smooth when zooming and in out. Zooming feels a bit heavy, and it's not like ball bearing smooth like on some low end lenses. It's a used lense so I don't know if it's normal or not. Anyone here have the same issue with their Nikon lenses? I would suspect a smoother zooming feel for this mid ranged priced lense.
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02-21-2009, 02:21 AM	#2
asdflkijd Aberry is a scammer 579 Rep 5,507 Posts Drives: SGM E92 335i, AM E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (14) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [10.00] 2007 E90 335i (Reti ... [9.00]	Hmm, I have a 28-135mm Canon and it feels a little heavier compared to the 18-55mm.. Have you tried testing the same lens at an electronics store? My hunch is that it just feels heavier because of the weight/ material (metal vs plastic)..
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02-21-2009, 02:31 AM	#3
rodi . . . 188 Rep 2,391 Posts Drives: your FACE! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta proper iTrader: (-1)	try the pro lenses (f/2.8 zooms). __________________ 2009 135i \| space grey \| sport \| navi \| hifi \| heated dinan stage 2 software \| bmw performance exhaust kw v2 \| hotchkis front sway \| vmr v710
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02-21-2009, 04:14 AM	#4
TWiTCHY Colonel 389 Rep 2,526 Posts Drives: '13 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (6)	I recently tried out a new Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 at a store then bought a used one the day after. The newer ones are noticeably stiffer. It seems like you have to break in the zoom ring and after a couple of uses it should be a bit looser. The used one I bought wasn't as bad as the new one at the store.
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02-23-2009, 12:18 AM	#6
The_Blob Second Lieutenant 501 Rep 298 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I just read a reivew of a similar lens http://www.bythom.com/18200lens.htm and I know why it's a bit stiff and rough while zooming "The zoom ring is stiff and has a very different feel at different focal lengths (I should note that some users claim it is loose and subject to zoom creep; that isn't the case on my sample). As you zoom in to 200mm, the zoom ring has a sudden "loose point" just before you get to the maximum focal length. Zooming the other direction is smoother, though still what I'd call rough." I guess having a fairly stiff zoom ring handling is a good thing to prevent zoom creep when shooting photos upwards or downwards. However, when I zoom in or out of the lense still creates a very tiny dry screeching noise. Anyone else have a similar issue their lenses while zooming?
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