14-140mm lens stickyness

Z

zm15

Well-known member
Should the lens be completely smooth throughout the extension of the lens. Or should it take a little bit of effort? It's not that bat, it's just not as smooth as my nikon 18-55 kit lens. I guess I was under the impression that it should be as smooth as the focus ring, which is effortless. Am I wrong here? Or is that how these longer throw lenses are?

I got it used, it appears to be in mint condition, just not the smoothest when extending and retracting it.

Is this normal?
I'm brand new to all things panasonic.
 
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This lens is sticky by design. I think it's to prevent it from extending inadvertently while you're walking around with the camera hanging down. If you work it back n forth for a a while it should loosen up a bit, that, or you just get use to how much effort you need to turn the ring.
 
htinla said:
This lens is sticky by design. I think it's to prevent it from extending inadvertently while you're walking around with the camera hanging down. If you work it back n forth for a a while it should loosen up a bit, that, or you just get use to how much effort you need to turn the ring.
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Gotcha, thanks. Has this been your experience with it?
 
Yes, I've had mine for a couple of months now. The zoom ring definitely seems to have a bit less drag than when I first got it. I guess it just needs a break-in period.
 
I think the reason the zooming has more inertia, is because it is meant to be more of a VIDEO lens, and the inertia stops you zooming too quickly, which can be very annoying if you are watching the video
 
My kit lens was sticky in the telephoto range. Plus the rubber zoom ring had become quite loose. I sent it in to the Panasonic Service Facility in southern Germany, and they fixed it (apparently replacing most of the lens in the process -- it came back with the old firmware).

Zoom action was smooth but tight, so I worked it back and forth while watching TV. It is now possible to perform fairly smooth zooms while filming (something I never do however). The down side is that now, held vertically, the lens will slowly extend. This is not an issue for me, because I carry the camera with the lens in a horizontal position (don't trust the neck strag lugs, so I use a hand strap screwed into the tripod mount. By the way, by twisting the strap around my right wrist and pulling the camera with my left hand I can steady the camera quite effectively when doing hand-held shots.)

Hope this helps.
 
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