Panasonic 14-140 ii Blowing Air Through Viewfinder

Hello,

I got an used new looking G7 plus the 14-140 ii from Ebay and was surprised to feel air blowing into my eye through the viewfinder when the lens returns from full zoom to wide. Coincidentally, there was a dust blob which only shows looking through the VF. The blob was not present when framing through the LCD or in the final picture.

I tried the lens on my other G7 camera and it was doing the same thing. So either the G7 has very loose assembly tolerances or the lens sucks lots of air when expanding and then blasts it inside the camera when contracting.

I've used quite a bit of lenses through the years and have never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else run into this issue with the 14-140 ii (the 2013 model # H-FS14140) and G7 or other camera?

Thanks!

Interesting.

I guess there could be some issue with G7.

It is the risk on buying used because some problem could not be judged from how new the camera will apparently looking like. Loose component inside could be one, also corrosion of the electronic inside is also very commonly seen that is a cancer of electronic product.

If I can return it, I shall do so.

georgievv wrote:

Hello,

I got an used new looking G7 plus the 14-140 ii from Ebay and was surprised to feel air blowing into my eye through the viewfinder when the lens returns from full zoom to wide. Coincidentally, there was a dust blob which only shows looking through the VF. The blob was not present when framing through the LCD or in the final picture.

I tried the lens on my other G7 camera and it was doing the same thing. So either the G7 has very loose assembly tolerances or the lens sucks lots of air when expanding and then blasts it inside the camera when contracting.

I've used quite a bit of lenses through the years and have never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else run into this issue with the 14-140 ii (the 2013 model # H-FS14140) and G7 or other camera?

Thanks!

The G7 is not weather sealed, hence I do not think there is anything wrong if the body can breathe.

That lens looks like an air pump to inflate a mattress. Think about it: all that air that is being displaced has to go somewhere. And worse, it has to come from somewhere. If the body blows out air through the viewfinder when the lens retracts, where do you think that air comes from when you expand the lens? This would explain the dust in the viewfinder. Maybe not the ideal lens to use during a dust storm....

On the upside, exercising the lens will keep the viewfinder fog-free in cold weather:

alcelc wrote:

Interesting.

I guess there could be some issue with G7.

It is the risk on buying used because some problem could not be judged from how new the camera will apparently looking like. Loose component inside could be one, also corrosion of the electronic inside is also very commonly seen that is a cancer of electronic product.

If I can return it, I shall do so.

Yes, I returned the lens and camera. There were some other issues as well but this was the most striking.

hindesite wrote:

All my zooms breathe air through the G7 viewfinder, this is completely normal.

The air has to leave the lens somehow, and since the rear of the lens is open, the air transfers to the camera body.

It has never been a problem for me, the ultrasonic cleaning seems to work fine; maybe the air being sucked back into the lens helps clean the sensor as it goes past

Thanks for the reply. Which other zoom lenses do that on your G7?

I've been using my G7 with primes, the kit lens and 9-18mm so I never noticed that. I don't think it is normal for a lens to blow the air at the back when contracting. There is a glass element at the very back of the lens - it is not open to the innards.

The air is sucked mostly through the barrel, it should escape from there as well. It cannot be good for the camera to get blasted with so much air coming through the lens, especially outdoors with dust flying around. The main control wheel of the camera was very stiff to the point of almost getting jammed. That was probably related to the dust sucking as well. The camera and lens looked brand new on the outside but who knows the amount of dust inside.

I have a Sony SLT-A57 with several high zoom lenses that does not blow air into my eye. Neither the lenses, nor camera are weather sealed. No dust spots anywhere for the past 6 years.

hindesite wrote:

georgievv wrote:

It is - all my zooms including the 45-150 have an element at the back, with a circular shroud that is spaced very slightly off the glass around the periphery, the air enters and leaves through there. It may be intended to make the air sweep the rear element clean.

Hold the rear of your lens close to your face, zoom and see for yourself.

Yes, you are right. My bigger DSLR lenses do that, too but apparently the Sony A57 is much more tightly put together so it does not blow air into my eye.

The main control wheel of the camera was very stiff to the point of almost getting jammed. That was probably related to the dust sucking as well.

I doubt it - if you mean the mode dial, it is more likely to be heavier dirt or grit getting into the dial from the outside, might not even be in the camera.

It was not the mode dial - it was the real control dial (the one with a small button in the middle). I've had a G7 for 3 years (bought new) and that dial has always been very smooth.

The camera and lens looked brand new on the outside but who knows the amount of dust inside.

I have a Sony SLT-A57 with several high zoom lenses that does not blow air into my eye. Neither the lenses, nor camera are weather sealed. No dust spots anywhere for the past 6 years.

So, are you actually seeing dust spots?

Not in the photos. The dust spot was only inside the viewfinder and somewhat distracting when framing. The main reason for returning the camera was the jamming rear control dial.

hindesite wrote:

georgievv wrote:

alcelc wrote:

Interesting.

I guess there could be some issue with G7.

It is the risk on buying used because some problem could not be judged from how new the camera will apparently looking like. Loose component inside could be one, also corrosion of the electronic inside is also very commonly seen that is a cancer of electronic product.

If I can return it, I shall do so.

Yes, I returned the lens and camera. There were some other issues as well but this was the most striking.

What other issues? Mine has a couple - level not being accurate (and you can't calibrate) and external flash not working correctly.

I explained in my other reply. The main issue was the jamming rear control dial. I've had a G7 for 3 years and it has been working great, I do not use the level though. My external flash is working fine in both TTL and manual. I've taken quite a bit of portraits with fill flash and haven't noticed any problems. Maybe your flash is not fully compatible. I use MEIKE MK-320P.

I used Nikons dslrs for a long time, in Ken Rockwells reviews of Nikon Zooms he called it eyeblow.Beware of eyeblow he often stated. Having said that I used the Nikon 18-200mm and never noticed it.

georgievv wrote:

Hello,

I got an used new looking G7 plus the 14-140 ii from Ebay and was surprised to feel air blowing into my eye through the viewfinder when the lens returns from full zoom to wide. Coincidentally, there was a dust blob which only shows looking through the VF. The blob was not present when framing through the LCD or in the final picture.

I tried the lens on my other G7 camera and it was doing the same thing. So either the G7 has very loose assembly tolerances or the lens sucks lots of air when expanding and then blasts it inside the camera when contracting.

I've used quite a bit of lenses through the years and have never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else run into this issue with the 14-140 ii (the 2013 model # H-FS14140) and G7 or other camera?

Thanks!

FYI, you state its the 14-140 mk2 but the H-FS14140 is not the mk2 ,this has been batted around the forum several times. The mk2 is H-FSA 14-140 the WR/ Dust Proof version (so called  imho) because a respected dealer was recently advertising a used one ,stating it had a small amount of dust inside it that would not effect the images.I phoned about it and was told virtually all lenses have some dust inside them but you need a loupe to see it??. I bought a new Nikon dslr some yrs back that had a large lump of crud inside the vf, I had to send it back, it was ok from then on.