Let's clarify RF 24-105 design once and for all

Folks,

I am very puzzled by the design of the RF 24-105.

My brand new RF 24-105 f4 has these two things:

1. A bit of a loose barrel close to the front

2. Rattling, wobbling and some moving of parts inside when you carry it or shake it

I found this video and this is how it behaves in my case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RhsLPSSu_0

I have contacted Canon CPS and got an answer that my lens was tested and it behaves as designed. They say it is the design of this lens and it is normal.

So let's assess. Do all RF 24-105 owners have it? If yes, it is indeed normal.

This video is no good example because most of the sound comes from IS and would disappear if the lens is sitting on the camera which is switched on.

It is annoying to have the loose barrel and rattling but if your lens performs well then you should just learn to live with it.  In 2018, I bought an EOS R with the 24-105 f/4 and my copy of the lens has that condition.  Over the next few months, I would play with other 24-105 lenses when I was in camera stores or Best Buys and I would say roughly 2/3 of the lenses I looked at had some level of play and rattle although some were worse than others.   It seems that Canon's design tolerances creates the potential for play and really poorly done for a L type lens.   I have since sold my R but I have kept the 24-105 and it continues to take great images.

Rather than respond to your survey with a more accurate answer, mine has zero noise when shaken and when it is zoomed out to 105mm There's maybe 1/8" of wobble but no more.

Are you satisfied with the images your lens produces?

If most answers are similar to mine, I'd put some pressure on Canon to repair/replace yours.

Kent

Light Pilgrim wrote:

Folks,

I am very puzzled by the design of the RF 24-105.

My brand new RF 24-105 f4 has these two things:

1. A bit of a loose barrel close to the front

2. Rattling, wobbling and some moving of parts inside when you carry it or shake it

Mine has none of these features but since it is the 24-105 stm people will attack it for being lousy kit lens and that the L is much better.

I found this video and this is how it behaves in my case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RhsLPSSu_0

I have contacted Canon CPS and got an answer that my lens was tested and it behaves as designed. They say it is the design of this lens and it is normal.

So let's assess. Do all RF 24-105 owners have it? If yes, it is indeed normal.

No wobble on mine, faint clunking if you shake it, but nothing you can hear just carrying it around on a strap over your shoulder.  Clunking is the IS elements moving a bit.  Supposedly, I have read, this is normal.  Pictures are great.

yes, mine has lots of wobble.
Works great though, I'm very happy with it. I only use my 24-70 f/2.8 when I need the extra photons.

Light Pilgrim wrote:

Leigh A. Wax wrote:

Mine has a bit of barrel play at the long end, and has a faint sound of a moving, internal component when slowly rotated, but nowhere near like the one in that Video.

When you say Canon considered it "normal", was that merely over a back & forth chat,

or a Factory Service Inspection? If it was the former---seek the latter!

So what I did is this. I have contacted people from Canon that I know. They asked me to send the lens to the official Canon service and I did. I have CPS Platinum. They have inspected the lens and confirmed that:

1. Loose barrel at the front

2. Moving parts (not IS)

IS A NORMAL BEHAVIOUR of this design.

Mine exhibits neither of these - I've owned it for getting on for three years. Now my old EF 24-105 f4L Mk I DID exhibit both of these, as did pretty much all my previous Canon lenses of similar construction - 28-80 USM Mk I, 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM, 24-85 USM, and 28-135 IS USM. I have had repairs to the 28-105 and 28-135 because of zooming failure, and the EF 24-105 for IS unit and ribbon cable failure, but so far, the RF lens has been remarkably solid in every way. Besides, I've no reason to believe that this sort of behaviour actually led to lens reliability, longevity or performance issues, so ultimately, I'm not entirely sure what the issue is.

I don't own it but the Lens I borrowed from Canon had both a rattle and a loose barrel.  It didn't affect the image quality though, it was still great.