A question to Nikon 70-300mm VR AF-S owners

[CourierSix]

Hi everyone!

I've bought this lens recently and now I have some time to test it and keep it (or return it back to store). Generally I'm happy with this glass, only questionable moment being that a lens produces strange slight, but audible click when zooming out. A click appears near 80mm position and happens only when zooming out (or by the other words, when collapsing lens tube).

Well maybe there is nothing to worry about, but what if this is a factory/transportation defect and it will grow into something big when warranty runs out?

Our local store and other nearby stores does not have any other samples, so I cannot try them.

Maybe just every 70-300mm VR have the same behaviour? Can you please check yours? Thanks everybody! Sorry for my panic, best regards!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hi everyone!

I've bought this lens recently and now I have some time to test it and keep it (or return it back to store). Generally I'm happy with this glass, only questionable moment being that a lens produces strange slight, but audible click when zooming out. A click appears near 80mm position and happens only when zooming out (or by the other words, when collapsing lens tube).

Well maybe there is nothing to worry about, but what if this is a factory/transportation defect and it will grow into something big when warranty runs out?

Our local store and other nearby stores does not have any other samples, so I cannot try them.

Maybe just every 70-300mm VR have the same behaviour? Can you please check yours? Thanks everybody! Sorry for my panic, best regards!

Is it the 70-300mm VR f4.5-5.6 G?
If so I have that lens. It's as smooth as butter with no clicks at all. I bought it second hand and it's like new tbh.
I'd take it back and exchange if you're not entirely happy with it.

 

[CourierSix]

Is it the 70-300mm VR f4.5-5.6 G?
If so I have that lens. It's as smooth as butter with no clicks at all. I bought it second hand and it's like new tbh.
I'd take it back and exchange if you're not entirely happy with it.

Yep, right, this is a 4.5-5.6G VR..
Would be very sad to return it, I've gotten it for a very bargain price

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yep, right, this is a 4.5-5.6G VR..
Would be very sad to return it, I've gotten it for a very bargain price

Won't they exchange? But if it's just a click and it works fine, I shouldn't worry about it too much. Even if it developed into a worse problem years from now, you could always get it serviced.

 

[CourierSix]

Won't they exchange? But if it's just a click and it works fine, I shouldn't worry about it too much. Even if it developed into a worse problem years from now, you could always get it serviced.

Problem is, they got only one in stock, and I grabbed it right from the store shelf for significantly lower price than all over the country (330$ brand new).
Also, servicing photographic equipment is a total nightmare in Russia, I would lose my lens for a month or two if I decide to send it to repairs.
Tough decision.. have to think
Thanks for reply

 

[Apple fanboy]

Problem is, they got only one in stock, and I grabbed it right from the store shelf for significantly lower price than all over the country.
Also, servicing photographic equipment is a total nightmare in Russia, I would lose my lens for a month or two if I decide to send it to repairs.
Tough decision.. have to think
Thanks for reply

No worries. Mine gets more outings than my 70-200mm f2.8. Mostly because it's a lot lighter.

 

[uvafan1]

No worries. Mine gets more outings than my 70-200mm f2.8. Mostly because it's a lot lighter.

I have had mine for several years. No click but it has been a very good lens.

 

[CourierSix]

Finally brought it back to the store, and picked Tamron SP AF 70-300mm VC. Looks like I just was not satisfied with the Nikkor 70-300mm overall. Tamron's build quality, picture (tones/contrast - especially in 200-300mm range), focus speed and accuracy, image stabilisation - it's just better, for a lower price. Plus a 5-year warranty. Tamron's VC just holds and freezes the viewfinder, Nikon VR has never been any close. The only advantage that Nikkor has over Tamron, except for being a genuine Nikon lens, is the smoothness of zoom ring. Tamron's is much stiffer and kind of uneven, but I can live with that.

 

[simonsi]

Tamron's VC just holds and freezes the viewfinder, Nikon VR has never been any close.

Glad you got it sorted, just wanted to mention that Nikon's VR concentrates on freezing the image you take, not the viewfinder image so other brands may appear slightly more stable in the viewfinder but its what happens when the mirror is up that counts, in that regard I have found Nikon's VR and predictive focus second to none.

Mine also has had no click and I would be very wary of it, it could be any of those zoom cams, guess that might be why it was a bargain, you may not have been the first to not be happy with the click.

 

[CourierSix]

Mine also has had no click and I would be very wary of it, it could be any of those zoom cams, guess that might be why it was a bargain, you may not have been the first to not be happy with the click.

That's exactly what I thought. BTW I have asked two different salesmen at this store and each of them was telling me completely different story about this particular lens. One of them was forcing me to make a purchase, stated that he pulled this lens from a storage area to a shelf just one week ago, while another one showed me their database entry, according to which this lens was on their shelf for 3 months. None of them could tell me if this lens has been sold & returned. If that's true, then I assume that it was damaged by a previous owner, and store personnel haven't noticed the issue when they were receiving a lens from him or her.

 

[jms969]

No click on mine either, my gut tells me you did the right thing getting rid of a dodgy lens...

 

[simonsi]

That's exactly what I thought. BTW I have asked two different salesmen at this store and each of them was telling me completely different story about this particular lens. One of them was forcing me to make a purchase, stated that he pulled this lens from a storage area to a shelf just one week ago, while another one showed me their database entry, according to which this lens was on their shelf for 3 months. None of them could tell me if this lens has been sold & returned. If that's true, then I assume that it was damaged by a previous owner, and store personnel haven't noticed the issue when they were receiving a lens from him or her.

I'd guess that at some stage it became shop stock (so shelf demo), and was damaged but is shop's cost to fix so their answer is to flick it on cheap...