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Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

Started Feb 18, 2015 | Questions
Mr F48 Regular Member • Posts: 111
Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

I have just bought Canon's 70-300L zoom from Amazon.de. I am a little bit concerned regarding the noise from the IS mechanism. When active, the IS emits a hiss that is similar to the one from my previous 55-250 IS. That’s OK. What really worries me is the noise that the IS emits shortly when it’s activated and then deactivated. It’s actually a very loud buzz. This noise is produced only when the IS kicks-in and then when it stops. During operation, the IS sounds ‘normal’.

I was wondering if this strange behavior is normal. My other IS lenses do/did not produce this sound. Did somebody have a similar experience with this lens?

Otherwise, the lens is built like a tank. I am really looking forward to this weekend, to test it out.

 Mr F48's gear list:Mr F48's gear list
Canon EOS R6 Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM
ANSWER:
ASR45
ASR45 Forum Pro • Posts: 37,343
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)
3

I have the 70-300L for about 2 years now, fantastic lens, it does make a noise from the IS when activated and stops, its perfectly normal, ounce you start shooting with it and see the results, you will say to yourself noise, what noise.    

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Alan.
Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.
- Peter Adams
You don't take a photograph, you make it. - Ansel Adams.

 ASR45's gear list:ASR45's gear list
Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon 6D Mark II Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM +10 more
selected answer This post was selected as the answer by the original poster.
OP Mr F48 Regular Member • Posts: 111
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

That is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Thank you for your feedback. I'll be able to sleep better tonight 

 Mr F48's gear list:Mr F48's gear list
Canon EOS R6 Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM
ASR45
ASR45 Forum Pro • Posts: 37,343
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

fortuna_m48 wrote:

That is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Thank you for your feedback. I'll be able to sleep better tonight

Wish i could.  

-- hide signature --

Alan.
Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.
- Peter Adams
You don't take a photograph, you make it. - Ansel Adams.

 ASR45's gear list:ASR45's gear list
Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon 6D Mark II Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM +10 more
fwampler Senior Member • Posts: 1,782
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

fortuna_m48 wrote:

I have just bought Canon's 70-300L zoom from Amazon.de. I am a little bit concerned regarding the noise from the IS mechanism. When active, the IS emits a hiss that is similar to the one from my previous 55-250 IS. That’s OK. What really worries me is the noise that the IS emits shortly when it’s activated and then deactivated. It’s actually a very loud buzz. This noise is produced only when the IS kicks-in and then when it stops. During operation, the IS sounds ‘normal’.

I was wondering if this strange behavior is normal. My other IS lenses do/did not produce this sound. Did somebody have a similar experience with this lens?

Otherwise, the lens is built like a tank. I am really looking forward to this weekend, to test it out.

I've owned my 70-300L IS for about 3 years now. I haven't really heard a buzz. Mine sounds what one would expect from the IS. Not totally silent but not loud either.

-- hide signature --

Fred

 fwampler's gear list:fwampler's gear list
Canon PowerShot G1 Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS M3 Canon EOS-1D X Mark II +19 more
dgumshu
dgumshu Veteran Member • Posts: 4,623
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

fortuna_m48 wrote:

I have just bought Canon's 70-300L zoom from Amazon.de. I am a little bit concerned regarding the noise from the IS mechanism. When active, the IS emits a hiss that is similar to the one from my previous 55-250 IS. That’s OK. What really worries me is the noise that the IS emits shortly when it’s activated and then deactivated. It’s actually a very loud buzz. This noise is produced only when the IS kicks-in and then when it stops. During operation, the IS sounds ‘normal’.

I was wondering if this strange behavior is normal. My other IS lenses do/did not produce this sound. Did somebody have a similar experience with this lens?

Otherwise, the lens is built like a tank. I am really looking forward to this weekend, to test it out.

The IS on mine is loud too and difficult to describe, but it's not a buzz.  At first, I too was concerned, but it's been working fine.

 dgumshu's gear list:dgumshu's gear list
Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 OM-1 +52 more
OP Mr F48 Regular Member • Posts: 111
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

I have recorded the noise with my phone and posted it to youtube. The sound is clearly audible at the end of the video, when the IS shuts down.

Here is the link:

70-300 L IS noise

 Mr F48's gear list:Mr F48's gear list
Canon EOS R6 Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM
dgumshu
dgumshu Veteran Member • Posts: 4,623
Re: Canon 70-300L (loud IS starting/stopping noise)

fortuna_m48 wrote:

I have recorded the noise with my phone and posted it to youtube. The sound is clearly audible at the end of the video, when the IS shuts down.

Here is the link:

70-300 L IS noise

Mine sounds similar to yours, but yours may be a little bit louder.  It was hard for me to determine the proper volume on my computer to hear it as it should be.  However, mine reacts the same as yours, but the sounds may be a little different.  Mine sounds more like a muffled screeching noise which I presume is normal.  I haven't had any difficulty with it at all.

 dgumshu's gear list:dgumshu's gear list
Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon EOS R5 OM-1 +52 more
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