50-200 bendy :-(

[RobEW]

My lovely old non-SWD 50-200 (bought used in February) has in the last couple of days got stiff to focus and to zoom, and then today stopped focussing (MF or AF) altogether (except close up focus). On close inspection it seems to have worn very loose a few millimetres in front of the tripod mount (just behind the zoom ring), so that under gravity the front droops. If I support the front by hand then the focus function works again.

It's been looked after while I've had it; no drops, stored in a padded rucksack;

Does anyone know:
- is this a known problem?
- is it repairable?
- would the cost of an Olympus repair be prohibitive, given the modest second hand cost of these?

(Video of the fault here: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=HNcuiIFf5yA but I've never videoed anything before so it's not good, and never uploaded to YouTube either, so I hope it worked)

[Jim Ford]

Stiff zoom is easy to fix, as I've mentioned a few times on this site.

Get a can of dry silicone spray and squirt a bit onto a tissue. Then wipe the barrel with the tissue, leaving a slight trace of silicone. It will transform the zoom action, restoring it to as new.

I have been doing this for a few years on all my lenses with exposed zoom barrels. I also do it on the hood bayonets.

I'm not sure what the stiff focusing could be though.

Jim

[David M]

I seem to recall it being a known issue years ago. I suspect googling will confirm.

[RobEW]

I tried Google, but perhaps didn't choose useful search terms.

[benvendetta]

You have to start worrying when it falls apart like my Mk1 did when on holiday in the States in 2013.

[RobEW]

I love the old FT HG lenses - good quality optics at much cheaper prices than MFT Pro. and as my last efforts at SLR involved 35mm film cameras, I think of AF as a luxury, and don't expect it to be instantaneous and perfect. SAF + MF with peaking is great. standard kit for general purpose is E-M5 II + 12-60; E-M1 (Mark 1) + 50-200, occasionally with EC-14 or EC-20. Occasionally swap in the (SHG) 7-14. Also love the MFT 60 macro and 75-300 when light is good, for their compactness, quality and even better AF capabilities.

Think I may have to replace my 50-200 as there seems to be no better alternative (and I've invested in EC-14 & EC-20). SWD or non-SWD? The non-SWD seems to be as good optically, a bit cheaper on used market, a bit less bulky (especially hood, and has slightly wider aperture at some focal lengths ...

[Bikie John]

I had a similar-sounding problem with the 4/3 12-60, it turned out that a rubber sealing ring in the zoom mech had become unseated. I think it was a reasonably common problem with that lens, I've not heard of it with the 50-200 but it might be something similar. I got it sorted at Luton Cameras - http://www.lutoncameras.co.uk/ . They are friendly and helpful but in my experience not very responsive to email, better to phone them.

Hope you get it sorted ... John

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Bikie John

I had a similar-sounding problem with the 4/3 12-60, it turned out that a rubber sealing ring in the zoom mech had become unseated.

Because you never periodically lubricated it with dry silicone lubricant!

;^)

Jim

[Bikie John]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Because you never periodically lubricated it with dry silicone lubricant!

;^)

Jim

Very possibly Jim - before I had seen the light

John

[RobEW]

Can I supplement this with an advice question? I sometimes go out (shooting street architecture, landscape etc) with E-M5 II on neck strap with 12-60, and 50-200 mounted on MMF3 & E-M1 in my bag for occasional long shots. If for some reason I leave the E-M1 with 50-200 on neck strap, it hangs with the lens pointing vertically down and swings around a bit as I walk, which seems a little precarious, which is why I normally return it to my bag after the occasional long shot. (Completely different approach if I'm shooting wildlife of course; then the 50-200 is usually on a tripod with EC-14 or EC-20 and camera hanging off the back).

So - could my carrying it around occasionally attached to E-M1 (via MMF3) supported by neck-strap loops on camera be to blame for the problem? Cause or exacerbation? I imagine equipment is designed to cope with this type of usage.

[Olybirder]

I usually carry my E-M1 with the 50-200 SWD lens attached in a Thinktank Digital Holster with the case strap across my body. If I wish to carry it out of the case I have it cradled in my arms to take the load off the camera strap lugs. I don't see how carrying your camera with it hanging from the strap would cause or exacerbate your problem.

Ron

[IainMacD]

I have the Pana 100-400 which is a similar size and bought one of these for the tripod foot to attach a sling strap to. This means the camera (E-M5 II) hangs off the lens rather than the other way around.
Just a thought?

[Bikie John]

I always prefer to hang it by the lens rather than the body if the lens is big enough to warrant a tripod mount, exactly as you say Iain. But as I rarely use a tripod I just screw the strap straight into the tripod foot on the lens.

John

[RobEW]

Yes, if there was an obvious way to securely attach the provided Olympus strap to the tripod mount I would probably do this if / when it wasn't in a bag. I tend to keep the tripod mount (when not using a tripod) sticking out at a right angle rightwards out of the way rather than underneath the lens, so I can support the lens itself from underneath, and also so there's better access to zoom ring.