16-35mm f/4 IS USM autofocus noise?

[davicorn]

Recently picked up a second hand 16-35mm f/4 mainly because of the IS for video. The lens works great, but I noticed that the focus is a little... noisy? It focuses quick but there's this very subtle click click click sound at the end of the focus shift.

I tried to take a video of it but the sound is so silent that my phone didn't pick it up. With ears it's pretty obvious though.

Does anyone here have one laying around and can check if that's normal? Just want to make sure the lens is ok, given that I bought it second hand after all.

 

[Marquee]

My copy is silent, I hear nothing in operation, even the IS is very quiet to silent. No specific clicking at focus acquisition

 

[Lemming51]

Recently picked up a second hand 16-35mm f/4 mainly because of the IS for video. The lens works great, but I noticed that the focus is a little... noisy? It focuses quick but there's this very subtle click click click sound at the end of the focus shift. ...

Does it make this noise when shooting stills? I think audible noise from Ring-USM lenses when shooting video is "normal", hence the creation of video-friendly STM and Nano-USM.

 

[davicorn]

My copy is silent, I hear nothing in operation, even the IS is very quiet to silent. No specific clicking at focus acquisition

As Lemming51 mentioned, it might be because I’m using it for video. Can you try setting yours to video / live view mode with af and let it do it’s thing?

 

[hotdog321]

Mine makes a very quiet "whit" sound, but I have to put my ear next to the lens.

 

[Offside]

Recently picked up a second hand 16-35mm f/4 mainly because of the IS for video. The lens works great, but I noticed that the focus is a little... noisy? It focuses quick but there's this very subtle click click click sound at the end of the focus shift.

I tried to take a video of it but the sound is so silent that my phone didn't pick it up. With ears it's pretty obvious though.

Does anyone here have one laying around and can check if that's normal? Just want to make sure the lens is ok, given that I bought it second hand after all.

I can hear mine when it changes focus. Not something I have ever thought about. All my lenses have made a sound when refocusing.

 

[Dale Garman]

This is a great lens, but not with IS on for video, as the focusing noise will show up. It works fine in MF, but unless the lens is specically designed with a different AF motor there will be noise.

 

[davicorn]

I managed to record the clicking I am talking about with a rhode videomic pro. Took the footage into FCPX and boosted the volume by a good chunk to make it clear what I'm referring to - https://www.dropbox.com/s/sizx9ujo8io8ovj/lensclicking.mp3?dl=0

In the video itself I was just sitting in front of the camera and whipping back and forth to provoke the AF to focus back and forth constantly. Sure that's not a fair test because it's giving the lens a hard time but still.

Can someone here confirm if theirs is also making this sound?

 

[Marquee]

I listened to the sound file and it does not sound right, the clicking noise seems excessive (I understand you have amplified the captures sound). The softer chugging noise of the AF motor is normal, the abrupt clicking component that come with it is not.

 

[cruff]

I set mine up on the tripod and reproduced your described actions. My lens sounds similar to your recording but without the rattle/click sound.

 

[davicorn]

Thanks guys, I'll head to the store today and bring it up