Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
p.4 #1Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Peire wrote:
Douglas, is yours creeping on the Tight setting? Or only on Smooth?On Smooth setting. As soon as I turn the lens vertically, it creeps from 400mm to 100mm in about 6 seconds, you can watch the zoom ring turn. I just tried the Tight setting for the first time few minutes ago, kind of too tight. I think I will stick with the Smooth setting. I have used the lens to shoot some flowers and planes, it didn't seem to bother me but I didn't hang the lens vertically much though.My copy of the GM 100-400/4.5 behaves excactly the same way.And I also regard "tight" position as too tight.Also the lens feels too large for what it is and not overly lightweight.Yet pictures are so sharp and crisp from wide open and across the frame.It is the sharpest zoom of this kind I've ever had.
Could you share your partial serial number 180_ _XX?
Although I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
Douglas L wrote
Ross Martin wrote
Douglas L wrote
1806664, received brand new a week ago, creeping like ice cream in hot sunCould you share your partial serial number 180_ _XX?
Although I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
Jul 09, 2026 at 07:37 AM
p.4 #2Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Douglas L wrote:
Douglas, is yours creeping on the Tight setting? Or only on Smooth?On Smooth setting. As soon as I turn the lens vertically, it creeps from 400mm to 100mm in about 6 seconds, you can watch the zoom ring turn. I just tried the Tight setting for the first time few minutes ago, kind of too tight. I think I will stick with the Smooth setting. I have used the lens to shoot some flowers and planes, it didn't seem to bother me but I didn't hang the lens vertically much though.
My friend's copy takes only 2s to go 400 to 100 (he sent me a short video). I haven't timed mine yet but I think maybe 3-4s.
There is so much variability. This would also correlate into how you feel yours is too tight on tight where as I feel mine is okay to use on Tight.
EDIT: Mine is taking 5-6s. It just takes a second to really start creeping. Looking at my friends video his maybe more like 3-4s as I can’t tell when he lets go and if it has a slow start then it may be longer than 2s. But it is only 2s once it starts to move. Certainly looser than mine.
Edited on Jul 09, 2026 at 08:02 AM · View previous versions
Ross Martin wrote
Douglas L wrote
1806664, received brand new a week ago, creeping like ice cream in hot sunMy friend's copy takes only 2s to go 400 to 100 (he sent me a short video). I haven't timed mine yet but I think maybe 3-4s.
There is so much variability. This would also correlate into how you feel yours is too tight on tight where as I feel mine is okay to use on Tight.
EDIT: Mine is taking 5-6s. It just takes a second to really start creeping. Looking at my friends video his maybe more like 3-4s as I can’t tell when he lets go and if it has a slow start then it may be longer than 2s. But it is only 2s once it starts to move. Certainly looser than mine.
Edited on Jul 09, 2026 at 08:02 AM · View previous versions
Jul 09, 2026 at 07:39 AM
p.4 #3Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
arbitrage wrote:
Douglas, is yours creeping on the Tight setting? Or only on Smooth?On Smooth setting. As soon as I turn the lens vertically, it creeps from 400mm to 100mm in about 6 seconds, you can watch the zoom ring turn. I just tried the Tight setting for the first time few minutes ago, kind of too tight. I think I will stick with the Smooth setting. I have used the lens to shoot some flowers and planes, it didn't seem to bother me but I didn't hang the lens vertically much though.My copy of the GM 100-400/4.5 behaves excactly the same way.And I also regard "tight" position as too tight.Also the lens feels too large for what it is and not overly lightweight.Yet pictures are so sharp and crisp from wide open and across the frame.It is the sharpest zoom of this kind I've ever had.Could you share your partial serial number 180_ _XX?
Although I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
The number is 1807568.
Peire wrote
Douglas L wrote
Ross Martin wrote
Douglas L wrote
1806664, received brand new a week ago, creeping like ice cream in hot sunAlthough I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
The number is 1807568.
Jul 09, 2026 at 07:42 AM
p.4 #4Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
arbitrage wrote:
Douglas, is yours creeping on the Tight setting? Or only on Smooth?On Smooth setting. As soon as I turn the lens vertically, it creeps from 400mm to 100mm in about 6 seconds, you can watch the zoom ring turn. I just tried the Tight setting for the first time few minutes ago, kind of too tight. I think I will stick with the Smooth setting. I have used the lens to shoot some flowers and planes, it didn't seem to bother me but I didn't hang the lens vertically much though.My copy of the GM 100-400/4.5 behaves excactly the same way.And I also regard "tight" position as too tight.Also the lens feels too large for what it is and not overly lightweight.Yet pictures are so sharp and crisp from wide open and across the frame.It is the sharpest zoom of this kind I've ever had.Could you share your partial serial number 180_ _XX?
Although I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
Mine travels in 6s.Like Douglas's.
Creeping aside,the smooth mode seems just right for regular zooming.
Peire wrote
Douglas L wrote
Ross Martin wrote
Douglas L wrote
1806664, received brand new a week ago, creeping like ice cream in hot sunAlthough I don't know if Europe numbers are in the same sequence as N. America??
Mine travels in 6s.Like Douglas's.
Creeping aside,the smooth mode seems just right for regular zooming.
Jul 09, 2026 at 07:44 AM
p.4 #5Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
arbitrage wrote:
Mine is taking 5-6s. It just takes a second to really start creeping. Looking at my friends video his maybe more like 3-4s as I can’t tell when he lets go and if it has a slow start then it may be longer than 2s. But it is only 2s once it starts to move. Certainly looser than mine.
I can see it now on the Buy and Sell forum: "This lens is a 4.1 second creep lens from the factory with little change..."
Get your stop watches...
Mine is taking 5-6s. It just takes a second to really start creeping. Looking at my friends video his maybe more like 3-4s as I can’t tell when he lets go and if it has a slow start then it may be longer than 2s. But it is only 2s once it starts to move. Certainly looser than mine.
I can see it now on the Buy and Sell forum: "This lens is a 4.1 second creep lens from the factory with little change..."
Get your stop watches...
Jul 09, 2026 at 08:23 AM
p.4 #6Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
CPWarner wrote:
I can see it now on the Buy and Sell forum: "This lens is a 4.1 second creep lens from the factory with little change..."
Get your stop watches...
arbitrage wrote
Mine is taking 5-6s. It just takes a second to really start creeping. Looking at my friends video his maybe more like 3-4s as I can’t tell when he lets go and if it has a slow start then it may be longer than 2s. But it is only 2s once it starts to move. Certainly looser than mine.Get your stop watches...
Jul 09, 2026 at 08:45 AM
p.4 #7Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
FWIW the poster on BCG who had a release day copy that didn't creep at all on Smooth is now seeing very slight movement from his lens after a few weeks of use. It still doesn't do a full creep like most of our lenses do. But it is loosening up a little after a month.
He is UK based and serial in the 18044XX
I still have no idea how Sony assigns these serial numbers and if they have different sequences in Europe, Asia and NA. Also no idea if these sequences are just for the 100-400 or for a mix of products??
He is UK based and serial in the 18044XX
I still have no idea how Sony assigns these serial numbers and if they have different sequences in Europe, Asia and NA. Also no idea if these sequences are just for the 100-400 or for a mix of products??
Jul 09, 2026 at 12:27 PM
p.4 #8Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
My fault, but an irritant; I am used to zooming from near to far. The stiff setting is so solid; I thought I was zoomed in, but I was actually set to 100mm with 2x TC, missing an ID shot. Walking with this lens, stiff is the only practical setting.
Jul 09, 2026 at 12:37 PM
p.4 #9Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
Jul 10, 2026 at 08:39 PM
p.4 #10Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Pixel Perfect wrote:
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
I was just thinking about that today. I have both of the versions of this lens.
While I typically either loosen it all the way or tighten it all the way, it is a continuously variable ring that you turn rather than a switch.
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
I was just thinking about that today. I have both of the versions of this lens.
While I typically either loosen it all the way or tighten it all the way, it is a continuously variable ring that you turn rather than a switch.
Jul 10, 2026 at 09:23 PM
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p.4 #11Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Pixel Perfect wrote:
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
Yeah, same as Sony’s 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. I’ve owned both EF Canon 100-400s, the RF 100-500 and the FE 100-400 that have such a ring. But as Dan says I typically had it fully at one end or the other.
I find these rings to be not quite tight enough at tight and not loose enough on loose/smooth.
As I’ve said previously the new 100-400GM is equal or even nicer to zoom on its Tight setting than those other lenses are on their Loose setting.
But the 200-600 is nicer to zoom than the new 100-400GM on Smooth. Although even though the 200-600 doesn’t creep, it is very loose and can easily be off 600mm if you don’t keep an eye on it just from your hand moving it inadvertently.
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
Yeah, same as Sony’s 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. I’ve owned both EF Canon 100-400s, the RF 100-500 and the FE 100-400 that have such a ring. But as Dan says I typically had it fully at one end or the other.
I find these rings to be not quite tight enough at tight and not loose enough on loose/smooth.
As I’ve said previously the new 100-400GM is equal or even nicer to zoom on its Tight setting than those other lenses are on their Loose setting.
But the 200-600 is nicer to zoom than the new 100-400GM on Smooth. Although even though the 200-600 doesn’t creep, it is very loose and can easily be off 600mm if you don’t keep an eye on it just from your hand moving it inadvertently.
Jul 11, 2026 at 03:48 AM
p.4 #12Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
My Sony lens creeps rapidly from 400mm to 100mm when it is stationary on a desk. I have taken 2 videos but the system does not appear to allow me to upload it to this forum. A camera technician examined the lens & stated that the zoom is faulty & should not spin that rapidly on its own free will. I have never seen lens creep like this before.
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
Sep 05, 2026 at 09:58 AM
p.4 #13Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Andy Oliver wrote:
My Sony lens creeps rapidly from 400mm to 100mm when it is stationary on a desk. I have taken 2 videos but the system does not appear to allow me to upload it to this forum. A camera technician examined the lens & stated that the zoom is faulty & should not spin that rapidly on its own free will. I have never seen lens creep like this before.
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
You can upload the video to Youtube and then post the link here.
My Sony lens creeps rapidly from 400mm to 100mm when it is stationary on a desk. I have taken 2 videos but the system does not appear to allow me to upload it to this forum. A camera technician examined the lens & stated that the zoom is faulty & should not spin that rapidly on its own free will. I have never seen lens creep like this before.
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
You can upload the video to Youtube and then post the link here.
Sep 05, 2026 at 10:14 AM
p.4 #14Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Mine has creeped from day 1 but TBH I don't notice it anymore. It will be interesting to see if this is something Sony covers under warranty. I doubt I'd send mine in even if Sony offers a recall fix. I'm surprised Sony hasn't at least issued a TSB stating this is inherent to the lens.
Sep 05, 2026 at 10:46 AM
p.4 #15Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Andy Oliver wrote:
My Sony lens creeps rapidly from 400mm to 100mm when it is stationary on a desk. I have taken 2 videos but the system does not appear to allow me to upload it to this forum. A camera technician examined the lens & stated that the zoom is faulty & should not spin that rapidly on its own free will. I have never seen lens creep like this before.
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
This is only on the Smooth setting though right?
If on the Tight then you have a problem.
Doing this on Smooth is to spec as per Sony Pro Support 2nd hand reports.
Even the rare person that had one that didn’t creep on Smooth when first purchased is now seeing some creep.
I still feel that because the lens is still fairly easy to zoom when on Tight (and not totally locked on you) that having it creep on Smooth is acceptable in order to allow one to have a smoother zoom when they need to. Otherwise Tight on the new lens zooms as easily as the old 100-400GM does on Smooth. The old 100-400GM quickly creeps on Smooth also. But I guess that is more accepted being an external zoom as I never heard anyone complain about it.
That all said, we do know there are some lenses (small minority) that don’t creep on Smooth. So Sony should be able to tighten something to make it behave like those rare copies.
But be careful what you wish for because if Smooth doesn’t creep, then Tight is going to be significantly stiffer also.
Don’t expect a new lens to be any different. Everyone I know who has this lens has it creeping at varying speed. Almost everyone on this thread is the same.
Maybe your lens is on the extreme loose end of the spectrum and then maybe they will tighten it but will they get it so tight that it won’t creep at all on Smooth? I don’t know?
Personally I’d rather have the loosest lens possible as long as it didn’t creep on Tight. If it is going to creep to some degree on Smooth than might as well maximize the smoothness of the zoom when on Smooth. Maybe I’ll send mine to Pro Support and have them loosen it up a bit more
My Sony lens creeps rapidly from 400mm to 100mm when it is stationary on a desk. I have taken 2 videos but the system does not appear to allow me to upload it to this forum. A camera technician examined the lens & stated that the zoom is faulty & should not spin that rapidly on its own free will. I have never seen lens creep like this before.
I am waiting for a reply about my warranty claim
This is only on the Smooth setting though right?
If on the Tight then you have a problem.
Doing this on Smooth is to spec as per Sony Pro Support 2nd hand reports.
Even the rare person that had one that didn’t creep on Smooth when first purchased is now seeing some creep.
I still feel that because the lens is still fairly easy to zoom when on Tight (and not totally locked on you) that having it creep on Smooth is acceptable in order to allow one to have a smoother zoom when they need to. Otherwise Tight on the new lens zooms as easily as the old 100-400GM does on Smooth. The old 100-400GM quickly creeps on Smooth also. But I guess that is more accepted being an external zoom as I never heard anyone complain about it.
That all said, we do know there are some lenses (small minority) that don’t creep on Smooth. So Sony should be able to tighten something to make it behave like those rare copies.
But be careful what you wish for because if Smooth doesn’t creep, then Tight is going to be significantly stiffer also.
Don’t expect a new lens to be any different. Everyone I know who has this lens has it creeping at varying speed. Almost everyone on this thread is the same.
Maybe your lens is on the extreme loose end of the spectrum and then maybe they will tighten it but will they get it so tight that it won’t creep at all on Smooth? I don’t know?
Personally I’d rather have the loosest lens possible as long as it didn’t creep on Tight. If it is going to creep to some degree on Smooth than might as well maximize the smoothness of the zoom when on Smooth. Maybe I’ll send mine to Pro Support and have them loosen it up a bit more
Sep 05, 2026 at 11:38 AM
p.4 #16Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Pixel Perfect wrote:
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
arbitrage replied:
Yeah, same as Sony’s 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. I’ve owned both EF Canon 100-400s, the RF 100-500 and the FE 100-400 that have such a ring. But as Dan says I typically had it fully at one end or the other.
IIRC, at some point in this thread there was some speculation about whether the Canon lens we are talking about here (in my case the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-f/5.6L IS v.2) creeps when you twist its friction ring to the unlocked position. (BTW, the older version of the lens did have an issue with the friction ring — wear would eventually cause it to not work as it did when new.)
Mine does not creep at any adjustment point. I just checked it with the lens at 100mm and pointed down — no creep. I also checked it at 400mm with the lens pointed up. No creep. This is a lens that I have owned and used a lot for years.
I'm interested in a specific link to what Sony has said officially about this — a direct link/quote, not a reference to a post saying that they said something. :-)
I suppose that it is possible that either of two situations are the reality her:
1. Sony intentionally designed the zoom with so little friction that creep is intentional on the low friction setting. (E.g. "We designed it that way to make zooming as smooth as possible on the low friction setting.")
2. Sony did not intend the lens to creep in either setting, including the low friction setting, and the creep at the low friction setting is a design//manufacturing issue. (E.g. "No, you rlens should not 'creep' in normal use at either friction setting.")
(It would also be useful to know if Sony intends the "tight" setting to be the equivalent of a zoom lock, or if they designed it anticipating that users would leave it on that setting even when zooming. On the Canon lens mentioned above, the assumption has always been that you loosen the ring in use and tighten it to secure the zoom mechanism when not actively shooting. That is also how zoom lock switches typically work on every lens I've used that has one.)
It would be really easy for Sony to put this question to rest.
Edited on Sep 05, 2026 at 12:12 PM · View previous versions
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.
arbitrage replied:
Yeah, same as Sony’s 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. I’ve owned both EF Canon 100-400s, the RF 100-500 and the FE 100-400 that have such a ring. But as Dan says I typically had it fully at one end or the other.
IIRC, at some point in this thread there was some speculation about whether the Canon lens we are talking about here (in my case the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-f/5.6L IS v.2) creeps when you twist its friction ring to the unlocked position. (BTW, the older version of the lens did have an issue with the friction ring — wear would eventually cause it to not work as it did when new.)
Mine does not creep at any adjustment point. I just checked it with the lens at 100mm and pointed down — no creep. I also checked it at 400mm with the lens pointed up. No creep. This is a lens that I have owned and used a lot for years.
I'm interested in a specific link to what Sony has said officially about this — a direct link/quote, not a reference to a post saying that they said something. :-)
I suppose that it is possible that either of two situations are the reality her:
1. Sony intentionally designed the zoom with so little friction that creep is intentional on the low friction setting. (E.g. "We designed it that way to make zooming as smooth as possible on the low friction setting.")
2. Sony did not intend the lens to creep in either setting, including the low friction setting, and the creep at the low friction setting is a design//manufacturing issue. (E.g. "No, you rlens should not 'creep' in normal use at either friction setting.")
(It would also be useful to know if Sony intends the "tight" setting to be the equivalent of a zoom lock, or if they designed it anticipating that users would leave it on that setting even when zooming. On the Canon lens mentioned above, the assumption has always been that you loosen the ring in use and tighten it to secure the zoom mechanism when not actively shooting. That is also how zoom lock switches typically work on every lens I've used that has one.)
It would be really easy for Sony to put this question to rest.
Edited on Sep 05, 2026 at 12:12 PM · View previous versions
Sep 05, 2026 at 12:02 PM
p.4 #17Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
I have posted a link to the video on YouTube but as I have only just registered for this forum they don't allow you to post links within the first 24 hours.
If you search YouTube for "Sony 100 400mm F4.5 GM lens zoom fault" it will come up.
If you set it to tight then it is too tight, if you set it to smooth then it automatically zooms out back to 100mm as soon as you tilt the lens or put it down.
If you search YouTube for "Sony 100 400mm F4.5 GM lens zoom fault" it will come up.
If you set it to tight then it is too tight, if you set it to smooth then it automatically zooms out back to 100mm as soon as you tilt the lens or put it down.
Sep 05, 2026 at 12:09 PM
p.4 #18Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
have been using the lens over a month with setting at "tight". no issues what-so-ever with zooming in/out on fast BIF. Not sure what really the big deal is on this topic - maybe it is an issue for those shooting video with the lens?
Sep 05, 2026 at 12:31 PM
p.4 #19Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
gdanmitchell wrote:
IIRC, at some point in this thread there was some speculation about whether the Canon lens we are talking about here (in my case the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-f/5.6L IS v.2) creeps when you twist its friction ring to the unlocked position. (BTW, the older version of the lens did have an issue with the friction ring — wear would eventually cause it to not work as it did when new.)
Mine does not creep at any adjustment point. I just checked it with the lens at 100mm and pointed down — no creep. I also checked it at 400mm with the...Show more →
Sony has made no official statement about the creep. Only 2nd hand info of people contacting Sony Support or Sony Pro Support.
I’ve now held 4 copies of this lens in my own hands. All of them creep about the same but not at identical speeds.
99% of owners on this forum and BCG forums report their lens creeps on Smooth.
So my guess is that Sony designed it this way. But I can’t prove that.
IME I do not feel that Sony designed this lens to be locked on Tight. I feel they designed it to not creep on Tight but still be very useable to zoom with.
I’ve owned the EF100-400II, RF100-500 and the original Sony 100-400GM. All of those use a Tight setting that is much closer to a full lock and really don’t feel like they should be zoomed when on the tight end of their tension rings. I’ve also owned a couple zoom lenses that have a “lock” switch to totally lock them. The switch on the new Sony 100-400 is not that at all.
This new Sony 100-400GM feels like it is designed to be used on the Tight setting if one so chooses. I use it on Tight 80% of the time. I only go to Smooth if I know I’m going to be rapidly zooming in and out to acquire a very fast BIF over and over again. It is smoother on Tight than the Canon and Sony external zooms are on their Smoothest setting.
Pixel Perfect wrote
I like how the zoom friction worked on my old Canon 100-400L, it wasn't an all or nothing control ring. The friction should vary smoothly through the range IMO. By no way a deal breaker, but I would find it annoying.Earlier quote
arbitrage replied:Yeah, same as Sony’s 100-400 f/4.5-5.6. I’ve owned both EF Canon 100-400s, the RF 100-500 and the FE 100-400 that have such a ring. But as Dan says I typically had it fully at one end or the other.Mine does not creep at any adjustment point. I just checked it with the lens at 100mm and pointed down — no creep. I also checked it at 400mm with the...Show more →
Sony has made no official statement about the creep. Only 2nd hand info of people contacting Sony Support or Sony Pro Support.
I’ve now held 4 copies of this lens in my own hands. All of them creep about the same but not at identical speeds.
99% of owners on this forum and BCG forums report their lens creeps on Smooth.
So my guess is that Sony designed it this way. But I can’t prove that.
IME I do not feel that Sony designed this lens to be locked on Tight. I feel they designed it to not creep on Tight but still be very useable to zoom with.
I’ve owned the EF100-400II, RF100-500 and the original Sony 100-400GM. All of those use a Tight setting that is much closer to a full lock and really don’t feel like they should be zoomed when on the tight end of their tension rings. I’ve also owned a couple zoom lenses that have a “lock” switch to totally lock them. The switch on the new Sony 100-400 is not that at all.
This new Sony 100-400GM feels like it is designed to be used on the Tight setting if one so chooses. I use it on Tight 80% of the time. I only go to Smooth if I know I’m going to be rapidly zooming in and out to acquire a very fast BIF over and over again. It is smoother on Tight than the Canon and Sony external zooms are on their Smoothest setting.
Sep 05, 2026 at 02:35 PM
p.4 #20Sony 100-400 F4.5 Internal Zoom Creep ?
Andy Oliver wrote:
I have posted a link to the video on YouTube but as I have only just registered for this forum they don't allow you to post links within the first 24 hours.
If you search YouTube for "Sony 100 400mm F4.5 GM lens zoom fault" it will come up.
If you set it to tight then it is too tight, if you set it to smooth then it automatically zooms out back to 100mm as soon as you tilt the lens or put it down.
I found your video and will post it here for others.
Okay…yeah…yours is way out of spec. It should not zoom that fast. Mine takes a few seconds to go from 400 to 100 doing that same test.
So I do agree with the tech you spoke to….it should be fixed.
I still think you will end up with a lens that will creep on Smooth but it should be much slower than that.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5PdH4HSDU9k
I have posted a link to the video on YouTube but as I have only just registered for this forum they don't allow you to post links within the first 24 hours.
If you search YouTube for "Sony 100 400mm F4.5 GM lens zoom fault" it will come up.
If you set it to tight then it is too tight, if you set it to smooth then it automatically zooms out back to 100mm as soon as you tilt the lens or put it down.
I found your video and will post it here for others.
Okay…yeah…yours is way out of spec. It should not zoom that fast. Mine takes a few seconds to go from 400 to 100 doing that same test.
So I do agree with the tech you spoke to….it should be fixed.
I still think you will end up with a lens that will creep on Smooth but it should be much slower than that.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5PdH4HSDU9k
Sep 05, 2026 at 02:39 PM