Nikon zooms lubed?

MPB

MPB

Well-known member
has anyone seen inside a nikon 24-70? i'm wondering if the lens zoom action uses any kind of lubrication. for the first couple months i had the lens the action was really smooth, and then it wasn't. it started sticking at the wide end 'round about the time i did a shoot in Hawaii, which included some beach set-ups and a lot of humidity.

to be clear, the lens isn't malfunctioning. i just can't roll a smooth live zoom now. it binds or sticks just enough to interrupt the zoom. this wouldn't be a problem for stills, but i'd like to regain the ability to do live reframes with it. is it worth taking it to get it opened up, or is it just how the mechanical parts wear?
 
There are special lubes used in lenses and it is worth maintaining it by having it opened.

My Nikkors (see sig) are all de clicked and use grease for "friction".

They need re doing at times (3 yearly -ish) when it dries and so I get the zooms and focus gear checked same time.
 
I can almost guarantee there is sand and salt in there - even if you were super careful at the beach. Sand is a sworn enemy of camera gear, and will find it's way into the smallest opening.

When you zoom, air is sucked into the lens - can't be avoided. What else fills the spaces when the lens barrel extends? Air, and whatever else was in that air - which, if you are at the beach, includes sand and salt.

Get that lens opened up and cleaned ASAP, before more damage is done.
 
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