Thanks Rob This sucker makes a zippin' whinin' high pitch noise when focusing... and it will not go away. Is this normal...? I've read that some people had issues with this and it would go away after a few uses. Ive been focusing back and fourth for hours and it will not go away!
Did you buy new or used?
I got one from a seller on Ebay back east. Made the same noise so I returned it.
Elijah wrote:
This sucker makes a zippin' whinin' high pitch noise when focusing... and it will not go away. Is this normal...? I've read that some people had issues with this and it would go away after a few uses. Ive been focusing back and fourth for hours and it will not go away!
Beautiful lens... but sorry, I would return it. My VR1 would whine for about 2 zips then go silent the rest of the way... and only IF I don't use the lens for a LONG time. I never hear the whine if I use the lens at least once a week. If yours whine everytime you focus then it's definitely NOT normal. It's also embarrassing when everyone can hear it while shooting a wedding.
Not sure what you exactly mean by zippin' whinin' high-pitch noise. But I should note that the normal focus motor noise in this lens is generally louder than my other lenses. When I received my copy, I also got worried about it based on all I had read. So I recorded the noise and posted this clip: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1247902/4&year=2013#12155288
I then took the lens to Nikon service in LA, and they cleaned and checked it for me under warranty and told me that everything was OK and the noise was perfectly normal.
Hmmm. Thanks for suggestions guys. So you think I should return the lens to the seller? Or should I send it out to Nikon and see what they say? Of course we'd have to work out the cost and all...
If you can work out the cost with the seller, that would be a good arrangement (in my view) because then Nikon would have checked out the lens and fixed it. Of course, this is moot if the lens is not a USA model (in which case APS could be the vendor).
cambyses wrote:
Not sure what you exactly mean by zippin' whinin' high-pitch noise. But I should note that the normal focus motor noise in this lens is generally louder than my other lenses. When I received my copy, I also got worried about it based on all I had read. So I recorded the noise and posted this clip: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1247902/4&year=2013#12155288
I can confirm that my Chub VR1 sounds very similar to Cambyses' when focussing. I've never thought of the noise as a "squeak," but perhaps it could be interpreted as such.
Mine looks and acts in mint condition so I'm a happy owner. I've shot a few pics around the house between my 12+ hours each day at the lab I manage but won't get out and about with it until this weekend.
That is if I'm not putting in another weekend there aqain.
mine makes a high pitched noise, have always thought of it as normal - but then I hear a lot of high pitched stuff that my wife doesn't, so maybe some owners just don't even register it...
I've had my vr1 version since late 2012, and it's never had an af whine. I wouldn't accept it if it was me.
I purchased mine from KEH. Paid a little more, but the thing was pristine and came with a 6 month warranty just in case something creeped up soon after purchasing.
My vr1 doesn't squeak either. If it's no cost to you to have it checked out but otherwise I would agree and try to return. Mine came from adorama and had 30 day no questions asked and came with a 3rd party warranty. I think it's been almost three years and no issues. Hard to determine but I've read the squeaks have just been audible nuances for as long as some owners kept them. Others have said too Nikon repaired it for them.
Any feedback you can share on the differences between the new and older version? I would imagine without VR, razor thin DOF and the weight it could prove challenging to use?
So, after back and fourth of focusing for about an hour, the lens finally stopped making that high pitch noise!
BUT, as soon as I stop focusing for a few minutes and then try to focus again, it will make that high pitch sound again for about 5 times of back and fourth focusing from min to infinity... After that, it's back to normal.
So every time I will pick up this lens, wedding, portrait session, etc., I'm gonna have to do this routine every single time? It just doesn't sound right...
I want it to completyely stop making that sound. So off to Nikon it goes tomorrow!
sanjayg wrote:
If you can work out the cost with the seller, that would be a good arrangement (in my view) because then Nikon would have checked out the lens and fixed it. Of course, this is moot if the lens is not a USA model (in which case APS could be the vendor).
It is a US model and I had worked out a deal with him for the fix. He's a great seller to deal with! I am actually driving to NYC tomorrow to drop off the lens.
Very inconvenient for me, as it is a 3-hour long drive but it's better than shipping the lens and spending lots of money on shipping & insuring it. I just don't want to wait for USPS or UPS to deliver that thing either; I need the lens for the wedding that's coming up.
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low325 wrote:
My vr1 doesn't squeak either. If it's no cost to you to have it checked out but otherwise I would agree and try to return. Mine came from adorama and had 30 day no questions asked and came with a 3rd party warranty. I think it's been almost three years and no issues. Hard to determine but I've read the squeaks have just been audible nuances for as long as some owners kept them. Others have said too Nikon repaired it for them.
Good luck sorting it out Elijah.
Yeah, we'll see what nikon has to say about this.
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Joseph. wrote:
Couple shots from my 200 f/2 AIS
I cannot even imagine shooting with a manual 200/2. I don't know how you can do this... Also, your second shot is OOF. First one looks nice and sharp though
FWIW I've owned two used VR1 versions, you could see / hear focus but no "squeak" the VR would as best say sound like a whirl... My 70-200 VRII developed a squeak, had it for several years, never died, but it was under warranty. I finally sent it in right before the warranty expired. They replaced the motor, no more squeak. Personally I'd return it, too expensive a lens to have to repair, unless you got it for say 2500 bucks and change.
I watch lens on eBay and if I every am serious always asked about focus. You see a few honest sellers that disclose "squeak" I just stay away from even watching those auctions.
chip_master wrote:
FWIW I've owned two used VR1 versions, you could see / hear focus but no "squeak" the VR would as best say sound like a whirl... My 70-200 VRII developed a squeak, had it for several years, never died, but it was under warranty. I finally sent it in right before the warranty expired. They replaced the motor, no more squeak. Personally I'd return it, too expensive a lens to have to repair, unless you got it for say 2500 bucks and change.
I watch lens on eBay and if I every am serious always asked about focus. You see a few honest sellers that disclose "squeak" I just stay away from even watching those auctions. ...Show more →
Like I wrote in my previous message above, we worked out a deal and the lens will be fixed. I just really want to keep this lens, it's in the best shape. I don't think I've seen a cleaner VRI than this one. My 70-200VRII was cosmetically worse.
After it's fixed, you'll see a lot of worthy images from me that this lens deserves. Yes, only at f/2
This sucker makes a zippin' whinin' high pitch noise when focusing... and it will not go away. Is this normal...? I've read that some people had issues with this and it would go away after a few uses. Ive been focusing back and fourth for hours and it will not go away!
My VR1 would whine for about 2 zips then go silent the rest of the way... and only IF I don't use the lens for a LONG time. I never hear the whine if I use the lens at least once a week. If yours whine everytime you focus then it's definitely NOT normal. It's also embarrassing when everyone can hear it while shooting a wedding.
