24-105 SOS - is it normal for the front of the barrel to rattle?

Canon 24-105 L SOS! Hello, I just took delivery on a very clean 24-105 L lens that I paid good money for. While I own about 7 Canon zooms my only other L lens is a 17-40 (no IS) The 24-105 is very clean but I noticed when you move the front of the lens up and down or right to left, it’s seems like the elements on the front rattle or are a bit shakey, or clunky, basically movement. My other a canon lens are very tight including the L 17-40. However they all weigh significantly less. Is this normal or typical for the 24-105? I took 6 pics so far and it seems to work fine. Will test further later. Any response will be greatly appreciated since I have a few day window where I can return the lens. Thanks

You shouldn't hear a 'thunk', but it is normal to hear faint rattling or 'moving bits' inside the lens. I believe it's the IS unit which kinda floats around until the lens is powered up. Many stabilized lenses will do this.

thanks for your reply. The rattle occurs if the lens is slightly shook, regardless If off or on camera. Also powering on or off makes no difference. I did take 50 photos on 2 cameras in a variety of configurations and they were all excellent. I heard from the seller and he offered to lower the price to 150 from 325. I decided to take the risk and keep it for 150. Other than the rattle it looks great. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

howellls wrote:

Canon 24-105 L SOS! Hello, I just took delivery on a very clean 24-105 L lens that I paid good money for. While I own about 7 Canon zooms my only other L lens is a 17-40 (no IS) The 24-105 is very clean but I noticed when you move the front of the lens up and down or right to left, it’s seems like the elements on the front rattle or are a bit shakey, or clunky, basically movement. My other a canon lens are very tight including the L 17-40. However they all weigh significantly less. Is this normal or typical for the 24-105? I took 6 pics so far and it seems to work fine. Will test further later. Any response will be greatly appreciated since I have a few day window where I can return the lens. Thanks

I bought a second hand 24-105L MK2 and noticed a lens barrel that moves slightly when extended, never had a problem with any other lens, but using it makes no difference to the photos all sharp and on point, so perhaps worrying about a non issue. Its just annoying if anything else.

howellls wrote:

thanks for your reply. The rattle occurs if the lens is slightly shook, regardless If off or on camera. Also powering on or off makes no difference. I did take 50 photos on 2 cameras in a variety of configurations and they were all excellent. I heard from the seller and he offered to lower the price to 150 from 325.

Wow, that is some reduction (even if the currency is British pounds, 150 seems like a very low price) - is that a red flag ? The original EF 24-105L (some of them, I think earlier copies) had an issue with the control ribbon failing causing camera error.

I decided to take the risk and keep it for 150. Other than the rattle it looks great. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I had an original V1 lens for a number of years and now have the V2 lens for about 4 years - I don't remember any significant movements or rattles with either of them. I never had the ribbon issue with my V1 lens.

Colin