Possible problem with new 70-200 lens

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Name
Steve
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I have just purchased a canon 70-200L F4 IS lens. When I mount it on my camera and half press the shutter button it make a funny grinding noise that I can best describe as like a click... Whirr... click. This is definitely coming from the IS as if I turn IS off the sound goes away. The kit lens does not do this.

Can anyone who also has this lens please advise if this is supposed to sound like this. I am thinking it should not.
 
click, whir, click sounds about right to me. Is this your first lens with IS?
 
That will be the IS working! I don't have canon but the same thing happens on Nikon VR lenses.
 
Thanks all. It is quiet but audible from across the room. My kit lens has IS and doesn't make a sound. Only bought this yesterday and cannot remember noticing it while using it yesterday.
 
Just thinking. Maybe the reason that the kit lens doesn't make a noise is because it has been broken since new :)
 
Just thinking. Maybe the reason that the kit lens doesn't make a noise is because it has been broken since new :)

Heh.

In seriousness, the reason the kit doesn't make as audible a sound as the 70-200 is that it is moving 10 times (perhaps more) less glass :)
 
Heh.

In seriousness, the reason the kit doesn't make as audible a sound as the 70-200 is that it is moving 10 times (perhaps more) less glass :)

Yep, just like AF-D on Nikon; the older long lenses (80-200mm etc) sounded a bit rough when then first engaged the AF but that was because the motor was working much harder than, say, when autofocussing an 85mm f/1.8. :)

Don't worry - just enjoy :)
 
If you're getting sharp pics at slowish shutter speeds, I wouldn't worry....
 
My 70-200 is exactly the same, I too thought it was faulty but when in Jacobs I tried another just to see the difference, exactly the same. Apparently the newer versions of IS on the L lenses make this noise. The kit lens does not, neither does the 28-135.
 
I have two IS lenses and the 70-200 f/4 is considerably noisier than the 17-55, at least you know its working.
 
Don't forget the L lenses are EF not EF-S so they will have much larger pieces of glass to move around. Have a look down the lens when it is off camera - look at how big the aperture is. Now compare that to the kit lens and you'll see a huge difference...
 
Many thanks for all the replies. This is the first L series lens I have bought and I had to save for some time to afford it. I think that the reason I did not hear it when taking pictures yesterday was that it was outside and the ambient noise drowned it out. When I brought it inside I heard the noise and panicked a bit.

You have all allayed my worries. I can now start to enjoy my new toy.
 
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