24-70 f/2.8L II internal click noise (single click)

[Triggyman]

Hi everyone:

I know the subject about the 24-70II's clicking noise has been extensively discussed in another thread, but in my case there is an audible single click that seems to be coming from inside the lens when I turn the zoom ring from wide to long and the zoom ring passes the 35-70mm mark.

Has anybody experienced this issue with a copy of theirs? When the lens was new out of the box, it had the clicking sound like in the other thread (resembling the sound of turning a safe combination wheel). That noise is 90% gone but the click started about 5 days into my ownership of the lens.

Please check this youtube link to see what I mean - the click starts approximately 4 seconds into the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i63EwLvLnh0&feature=youtu.be

The zoom ring itself is noisy/scratchy, but I'm not concerned with that. I'm concerned with that little click that might be a harbinger of a bad defect through time.

What are your opinions about this? I'm thinking of taking it back to the shop tomorrow.

 

[mwh1964]

Never had any click or noise coming from my lens. Return your copy if your are not satisfied.

 

[Triggyman]

Never had any click or noise coming from my lens. Return your copy if your are not satisfied.

Thanks for the advice. You are quite right, the sensible thing to do is to return the lens. For a $2000 lens this is very disappointing. I'm on the fence to whether ask for an exchange or ask for a refund. The shop that I bought it from charges 10% restocking fee. I will take the hit if I have to.

By asking for an exchange I will have to do new tests for the lens. I am not really that optimistic about getting a satisfactory copy - I returned the 24-70II I bought last year because of a de-centering issue.

 

[Viggo]

It's at least worth having checked out. My nice copy suddenly started with that loud sound when turning the focusing ring, it's only at 70mm and I remember a guy here complaining about that sound when shooting video. It should have none of these issues.

And for a 2470 lens they should make sure it's the best possible build.

 

[Triggyman]

It's at least worth having checked out. My nice copy suddenly started with that loud sound when turning the focusing ring, it's only at 70mm and I remember a guy here complaining about that sound when shooting video. It should have none of these issues.

And for a 2470 lens they should make sure it's the best possible build.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I agree - I do not know what makes that sound, but it sure could be a start of a big problem down the road.

Did you have yours repaired or did you just get a new copy?

 

[Viggo]

It's at least worth having checked out. My nice copy suddenly started with that loud sound when turning the focusing ring, it's only at 70mm and I remember a guy here complaining about that sound when shooting video. It should have none of these issues.

And for a 2470 lens they should make sure it's the best possible build.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I agree - I do not know what makes that sound, but it sure could be a start of a big problem down the road.

Did you have yours repaired or did you just get a new copy?

The first "clicker" I had I replaced within days, when I posted in a thread here and people said theirs didn't make that sound. But the "Boooarp" sound mine now makes at 70mm when manual focusing, I just ignore. I don't use mf nor video, so it's not a practical issue.

 

[Triggyman]

It's at least worth having checked out. My nice copy suddenly started with that loud sound when turning the focusing ring, it's only at 70mm and I remember a guy here complaining about that sound when shooting video. It should have none of these issues.

And for a 2470 lens they should make sure it's the best possible build.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I agree - I do not know what makes that sound, but it sure could be a start of a big problem down the road.

Did you have yours repaired or did you just get a new copy?

The first "clicker" I had I replaced within days, when I posted in a thread here and people said theirs didn't make that sound. But the "Boooarp" sound mine now makes at 70mm when manual focusing, I just ignore. I don't use mf nor video, so it's not a practical issue.

Oh man, this doesn't look promising...for a $2000 + tax item, getting a good build (along with IQ up there among copy variances) seems like winning the lottery. I guess I'm better off taking the restocking fee hit than lug around a lens that I do not trust would be issue-free for the next ten years.

Bad thing is I quickly sold my 35mm f2 IS the same night the clicking started.

 

[Viggo]

It's at least worth having checked out. My nice copy suddenly started with that loud sound when turning the focusing ring, it's only at 70mm and I remember a guy here complaining about that sound when shooting video. It should have none of these issues.

And for a 2470 lens they should make sure it's the best possible build.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I agree - I do not know what makes that sound, but it sure could be a start of a big problem down the road.

Did you have yours repaired or did you just get a new copy?

The first "clicker" I had I replaced within days, when I posted in a thread here and people said theirs didn't make that sound. But the "Boooarp" sound mine now makes at 70mm when manual focusing, I just ignore. I don't use mf nor video, so it's not a practical issue.

Oh man, this doesn't look promising...for a $2000 + tax item, getting a good build (along with IQ up there among copy variances) seems like winning the lottery. I guess I'm better off taking the restocking fee hit than lug around a lens that I do not trust would be issue-free for the next ten years.

Bad thing is I quickly sold my 35mm f2 IS the same night the clicking started.

Well, to be fair I have shot at least 20.000 shots with it, and the IQ all over the frame and AF has been nothing but epic. It never fails.

But save the money from the 35 f2 IS and the 24-70 II and wait until the 35 L II comes along

 

[Triggyman]

Thanks, Viggo.

Well I got home with a replacement lens - the store manager told me she gets the same concerns mostly for the 24-70 II (since it relatively costs more than any other standard zoom) - normally she reserves their right to refuse returns or exchanges but since I was not happy with the lens and one of their rental lenses had been damaged beyond repair by a customer, she offered an exchange. She showed me a Nikon 24-70 that had a louder click similar to my canon 24-70 II but still works flawlessly, so I don't know what to make of it. The same thing: put the lens upside down, no click. Upright: it clicks.

The new lens's zoom ring is stiff and makes that "safe lock combination" clicking sound, and I'm back to square one testing the IQ and focus. I hope I don't get two clicks next time LOL.

On a side note: The 16-35 f4L IS I played around with at the store was awesome. Never ends!