DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens is noisy when using the power zoom buttons

Started Feb 9, 2016 | Discussions
cantol Junior Member • Posts: 26
Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens is noisy when using the power zoom buttons

Does your Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom lens make any noises when zooming in and out using the power zoom button?  Mine does, and it is really annoying because the video picks up the zoom noise.  I was hoping it would be silent but looks like maybe it is just built this way?  Or do I have a defective lens?

Samsung 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 power zoom
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
OP cantol Junior Member • Posts: 26
Re: Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens is noisy when using the power zoom buttons

cantol wrote:

Does your Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom lens make any noises when zooming in and out using the power zoom button? Mine does, and it is really annoying because the video picks up the zoom noise. I was hoping it would be silent but looks like maybe it is just built this way? Or do I have a defective lens?

Here's an example of the noise that is generated by zooming in and out with this lens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Ilah35pNw

Fast forward to 7:43 to hear the sound.

If this noise is standard across all 16-50mm Power Zoom lens, I would be very disappointed because I was really hoping to use this lens for recording video using my Samsung NX500.

ttbek Veteran Member • Posts: 4,869
Re: Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens is noisy when using the power zoom buttons

I'll tell you what I tell everyone for recording audio for video, use an external mic and preferably an external recorder as well. That is how to get the best most reliable and predictable results. If you don't want to do that, then you might need to go for the 18-200 if you really need quiet zoom (it's pretty quiet as long as you don't zoom to fast) and AF. The 18-200 is made for video and uses a voice coil motor for extra quiet focusing. Still though, that lens is not good for stills and would cost you quite a bit more than a dedicated recorder.

 ttbek's gear list:ttbek's gear list
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS Canon EOS 5D Samsung NX300 Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Samsung NX30 +37 more
Kisaha Senior Member • Posts: 2,300
Re: Samsung 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens is noisy when using the power zoom buttons

I'll tell you what I tell everyone for recording audio for video, use an external mic and preferably an external recorder as well. That is how to get the best most reliable and predictable results. If you don't want to do that, then you might need to go for the 18-200 if you really need quiet zoom (it's pretty quiet as long as you don't zoom to fast) and AF. The 18-200 is made for video and uses a voice coil motor for extra quiet focusing. Still though, that lens is not good for stills and would cost you quite a bit more than a dedicated recorder.

There is no way to have good audio with build in camera mics. The mics are tiny, into camera, have no wind protection (it doesn't have to be windy for atmospheric pressure interfere with sound), have the wrong direction for recieving useful audio, whatever you do on camera affects the sound (press buttons, change dials, change your grip etc).
The mic input helps with adding a small microphone, that helps with some of these issues (better construction mic, above camera with specialized base plates, wind protection etc) but still, 95% of the time, this sound is good only as a lead.
As a 16 years pro sound recordist, my advice is that you can achieve much better sound, with the same equipment, just taking the main mic out of the camera, and into a stick!
For amateur use, in built mics are alright, for a more advanced hobbyist an external mic (you can't have that on NX500) or an external recorder (I have a few Tascams, Zoom brand seems always more orientated to music recordings, rather than video), for semi-pro/pro you need a sound recordist, the audio issues are far too complicated for inexperienced users if you want pro results, or "almost".

Joe Ogiba
Joe Ogiba Veteran Member • Posts: 4,627
Handheld zoom test of the Samsung NX1 with 16-50mm PZ lens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7-ttRaPuqI

I have not noticed it under normal conditions.

 Joe Ogiba's gear list:Joe Ogiba's gear list
Sony RX10 III Sony a7R Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Samsung NX1 Sony a6300 +1 more
OP cantol Junior Member • Posts: 26
Re: Handheld zoom test of the Samsung NX1 with 16-50mm PZ lens

Joe Ogiba wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7-ttRaPuqI

I have not noticed it under normal conditions.

If you don't mind, can you try zooming in and out using the zoom buttons in a completely silent room to see if you hear any noise that is generated from the lens?

I love my Samsung NX500 and was hoping to use it with the kit lens as a one device solution for both photos and videos but the noise that is generated by zooming in and out is really annoying.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads