Canon 100-400 L Jumping

cheech

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Hi All,

Wondered if anyone has come across this.

I have a Canon 7D and when I fit this lens, it clicks into place but there has always been slight rotational play about 1-2 mm. It has not effected the images previously but lately I have noticed the image jumps when I press the shutter down Half way.
If I then twist the lens a little it stops, but then the next time I press the shutter the same again so I twist the lens the other way and it is fine again.

It is becoming a pain, I have tried cleaning the contacts , but only with a blower and brush.

Does anybody know if this 'play' can be taken out, if that is the reason ?
Or is it something else ?

By the way, my other lens clicks into place snuggly so it is not the camera.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Gaz
 
Are you sure its not just the image stabilizer kicking in as that has the effect of making the picture jump and it activates with the shutter button. Try it with the is turned off and see if it still does it.
 
A little play in the lens mount isn't unusual, can happen with any body/lens combination. The viewfinder jump does sound like the IS, but on my 100-400 it isn't very noticeable.

I suppose it's possible that with far to much play, the contacts might not meet very well and it could make the IS go a bit off, but that seems very unlikely to me.
 
As above really, does it jump with and without the IS on ??

Occasionally I see the image jump on my 300 when the IS is switched on, but not frequently or very noticeably
 
I've just tried my 100-400 on my 7D and there's a little bit of play on mine too, and the Sigma 150-500 OS is about the same. My 100-400 makes a little noise when the IS starts but I can't say I've noticed the image jump in the viewfinder at all. Might be a contact problem, but I do remember reading something about the image jumping in the viewfinder in another 7D with IS lenses, but on another forum. Will try and find it but it a good few months ago so not sure.
 
The image will jump on my 100-400 but no other lens
 
It sounds like there's 2 things here.

1 - The 100-400 rotates a little once mounted
2 - The image jumps when the shutter is pressed half way

Providing I'm reading this correctly both seem fairly normal to me. In my experience the 100-400 has always had a slight amount of rotational movement when mounted (some lenses seem to) and the jump is the IS working as it should.
 
Last edited:
Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.
It is the IS that is jumping but it does not settle down until I twist the lens.
It is only happening with this lens.

Cheers
 
Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.
It is the IS that is jumping but it does not settle down until I twist the lens.
It is only happening with this lens.

Cheers

The IS does tend to run on slightly after you've released the shutter, I'm wondering if either when you twist the lens you're breaking the electrical contact or if it's a coincidence, that that is the time when the IS stops - hope this makes some sense :thinking:
 
I think you will find it is only when IS is on, and the jumping is when you let the smallest of pressure off and the IS switches off and settles back down again. The slack on the mount is normal as mentioned, so long as your pics are sharp I should not worry yourself over it too much.
 
Hi ANDY,
Yes that makes sence, but it won't stop jumping until I twist the lens, same when I go for the next shot.
Rich, pics are sharp but I miss a few whilst trying to stop it jumping !!

Cheers
 
cheech said:
Hi ANDY,
Yes that makes sence, but it won't stop jumping until I twist the lens, same when I go for the next shot.
Rich, pics are sharp but I miss a few whilst trying to stop it jumping !!

Cheers

Glad it made sense :-)

It sounds like you are saying It is continuously jumping with the shutter pressed - we've all been saying yes we get a jump from the IS on occasions, but it's 1 at the beginning and 1 after the shutter button is released ?

Do you have access to another body / friend with a Canon to try it on ? Do you have another IS lens so you can compare ?
 
Hi Andy,
Yes continuously jumping until I twist the lens slightly.
It does not happen with my 24-105 which has IS !!!
Cheers
Gary
 
Hi Andy,
Yes continuously jumping until I twist the lens slightly.
It does not happen with my 24-105 which has IS !!!
Cheers
Gary

That does seem a bit odd then, as suggested if you can then try it on another 7D body, you might just be able to take the lens in to a shop and explain they might have a demo camera to check it against.
 
cheech said:
Hi Andy,
Yes continuously jumping until I twist the lens slightly.
It does not happen with my 24-105 which has IS !!!
Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary.

Def try the lens on another body if you can to rule out an issue with communication to your body. It does suggest to me that the IS unit maybe playing up - might be worth a phone call to Canon @ Elstree on Monday to say what they suggest.

Hope you get it sorted ...
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for your help.
I will give them a call as suggested.

Cheers

Gary
 
Where exactly in the Cornwall area are you? I might be delivering down to Falmouth in the next week or two but not guaranteed. I can always PM you if I know I am going down and it may or may not be possible for us to meet up :shrug: I always take my camera with me so you could try it on mine.
Rich
 
Hi Gas.
I had this same thing happen on my XSI w/this same lens.It started to jump when ever i press the shutter half way down,What i did was reset the focus limiter switch, Mine is set to 1.8mm to infinity so i re did it again Seem to work.That was a while ago and it hasn't done it anymore. Hasn't happen w/my 7D and the 100-400.
Also just a note:In case you are not aware.I used to do this,Do not carry this lens (Or any heavy lens)hanging down extended from the camera,
It puts a lot of weight on the camera lens mount,Over time it will loosen the mount and this will cause the lens mount to have excessive play.
Hope it helps the jumping,It worked for me.
Fred
 
Hi Lynne,

Thanks for the offer, would be nice to catch up but unfortunately I am working abroad at the moment, still got a month out here.
Maybe another time when I am home as you would virtually pass our place on the way to Falmouth.#

Hi Fred, thanks for that, I will try the focusing switch and take note, although I always support mine with my handd.

Still havn't phoned Canon, will let you know.

Cheers

Gaz
 
If it's continuously jumping until you twist the lens slightly, then the IS system is knackered and will have to go back to canon for repair, happened to my dads 9 month old 100-400 last year.
 
cheech said:
Hi Mark,

Fine !
Mine is not much older than that !

If its under 12 months old, get it back to Canon and have them check it / fix it.
 
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