Canon 55-250 EF-S IS noise

[recrudesce]

For those who have the Canon 55-250 EF-S IS lens, does it make a kinda grinding noise when you have IS turned on ?

Mine does and I want to know if it's normal.

[oglyndwr]

I wouldn't describe mine as making a grinding noise but I can hear the IS working. Mine is more like a fast clicking noise.

[recrudesce]

yeah, that's what i'm getting - hard to describe... kinda like a constant motor noise.

[chris321]

It's normal, it's just the sound of magic pixies working extra hard to keep all the the elements lined up and still :D

I was a little concerned when I first used IS on my 70-300, but you get used to it, it's just the noise IS makes!

Chris

[stokecity_m]

mine sounds abit like the noise when it auto focus'.

[gazedd]

Mine is more of a motor sound, Because IS is a motor right?!?!

[CSB]

Mine makes a noise also, which is fine because it probably has to work quite hard to steady my hands at 250mm :lol:

[recrudesce]

my 18-55 kit lens doesn't do it at full zoom, but the 55-250 does it at any focal length.

[Goody13]

I thought that as well. I've recently bought the 70-300IS and you can hear it whirring after you've pressed the shutter to focus. I thought it was strange as my 18-55IS doesn't do it, but I put that down to larger and noisier motors being needed in the 70-300 to stabilise it.

[Brachytron]

Sounds normal to me.

[wontolla]

From Chrysis.net LINKY (http://www.chrysis.net/photo/canon/tech/technology.htm)

IS (Image Stabilizer) System
One of the causes of a photography failure is always has been the "moved", so the only alternative to a tripod was the use of more sensible films or the resource to a fortune support. Canon therefore has developed an image stabilizing system, using it either in the telecameras and inserting it into the lenses. The vibrations transmitted from the hand to the camera transmit also to the lens and therefore to the optical elements. The lens movement causes the movement of the image formed, regarding the optical axis. If, therefore, the elements could move independently from the system, the problem would be resolved. This idea has been the assumption to the development of Canon's stabilizing system.

The system is based on the connection of two vibrating gyroscopes that detect the vertical and horizontal vibrations and command an equal and contrary reaction of the sophisticated optical group assigned to the correction. The answer time of the correction is in the order of 1/2,000 of a second. It turns out a corrective effect equal to two stops in terms of exposure: the gain is therefore of two stop (equivalents to a 2 stop more luminous lens or to a 2 stop faster film) before a really moved image. The stabilization system is useful also in the panning technique (you follow a moving subject moving your camera). The software detects the movement typical of the technique and switches off the correction in the direction of the panning, keeping on only the correction of the vibration in the other directions.

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/wontolla1/Image_Stabilizer.jpg?t=1256762468


IS Mode 2: this new technology automatically determines that the movement is conscious panning and halts correction in the relevant direction, thereby preventing shake-return. The IS Mode 2 system automatically detects lack of movement / vibration to prevent operation errors when a tripod is in use. IS efficacy increases and lower overall size have been achieved through improvements in the moving contact sections of the IS lens barrel, the IS lens group barrel locking mechanism and the shake-detection gyro.

My two IS lenses 'crackle' very faintly when switched on!
Hope this helps.
Baz.

[Orville]

Mine used to make a lot of noise, and so does my 70-200mm IS. Don't worry about it.

[matthew_rk]

Mine sounds like a very quiet kettle boiling.. never had any problems though and assumed its normal. :)

[recrudesce]

*phew* thought mine was buggered !

[Kiwi Jaz]

:) I was kind of wondering the same thing about my new 55-250 IS too so I am glad to hear that this is normal.