Panasonic 12-35, Aperture Noise?

EspressoJunkie

EspressoJunkie

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I got a Panasonic 12-35 off eBay last week ( lens is immaculate and seller is 900+ postitve feeback so I doubt it's been damaged). It's a fantastic little lens, but I seem to have an issue where by the aperture makes an audible click when zooming in and out, and when changing aperture. It only happens when the lens is attached and the camera is on.

It's also much louder when the camera's in manual mode. I've contacted Panasonic who say that it shouldn't be happening, but I've found multiple reports online of people who have had several of these lenses all with the same issue. This is literally the only thing 'wrong' with it, everything else is perfect.

I've contacted the seller for a refund, and I'll most likely send it back, but I'm just wondering if anyone here has experienced it before. Part of me thinks I should just ask for a partial refund rather than send the lens back, especially if I risk having the same thing if I buy another one!
 
Mine clicks but I just thought it was normal :D

Here's what mine does...

Mine gives 4 soft clicks as you go from 12 to 35 and 4 as you go back again. These can be soft clicks (hardly perceptible) or a bit more perceptible, it depends what the camera is pointed at. This (what the camera is pointed at) really does make quite a difference.

If I zoom with the shutter button pressed half way down the clicks can be more pronounced. If the scene is "click friendly."

When changing the aperture it's silent.

With shutter effect on and zooming the clicks are pronounced. When changing the aperture with the shutter effect on the clicks are just the same, more obvious.

It'll be interesting to know what others think but I thought it normal... something to do with maintaining display brightness or something to do with focusing maybe or maintaining the aperture at different focal lengths?... pretty sure it's normal.

PS.
I tried Googling the issue and some people claim theirs doesn't do it but they may be a bit deaf or not pointing the camera at a scene that would require the aperture to change more loudly for whatever reason it changes more loudly. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's normal :D

PPS.
I've just tried my 14-42mm mega ois and it too clicks but quietly and I'm sure most people wouldn't know it did it :D
 
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The clicks when zooming (which are exactly as you described) on mine are barely audible when in any other mode except manual. Also it's only in manual that there's any clicks when changing aperture, its fine (or at least too quiet to notice )in any other mode.

But Panasonic support said that the zoom shouldn't make any noise at all. I hadn't noticed the clicks when changing aperture so I haven't asked about that.

I'm really in two minds as to what to do, the lens is perfect otherwise but I'm concerned about further issues developing and potential re-sale value.
 
Have you tried pointing the camera at different subjects with different light levels? I've found that this makes a difference and may be why people are reporting that their lens doesn't do it... if it is indeed normal as I believe it probably is.

I bought mine used from this site. In anything but a very quiet room the noises probably wouldn't be noticed by most people using the lens.
 
With my G7...

There's a difference in the perceptibility of the clicks between testing now in good light and last night under much lower artificial lighting. Last night they were louder.

Anyway right this minute...

In manual with constant preview on it clicks when changing aperture and when zooming.

In manual with constant preview off it doesn't click when changing aperture but it does click very quietly and almost imperceptible when I zoom.

In aperture with constant preview off or on there are no clicks when changing aperture and only almost imperceptible clicks when zooming. With shutter speed effect on the clicks are more pronounced both when zooming and when changing aperture.

IMO although I may be wrong and stand to be corrected I think this is normal. My teeny tiny 14-42mm does the same thing but quieter and even my primes can be heard clicking in some circumstances. Exactly what's happening (beyond the obvious and that being the aperture changing because we're changing it) I don't know but it may be a mix of hearing the aperture change in constant preview and hearing it change when the camera wants it to for reasons of keeping the display bright or adjusting the aperture for focal length. Maybe. Possibly. :D

I vaguely remember internet rumblings about a lens chattering but I can't remember the details. I think there might have been a firmware update... but as I said I can't remember the details or even if this was Panasonic.

I think it's normal.
 
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For the system I think it's outstanding. It's sharp, the f2.8 throughout the range allows me to get a FF like look as with FF much of the time I'd be shooting at f4-8/10 and it focuses very close and is usable for casual close up shooting.
 
My PL25 1.4 suffers aperture chatter, I think quite a few of the older Panny designs do it.
 
With the PL25mm, I found that shooting under certain led lights made the chatter worse....didn't affect performance though.
 
There's still the question of is this is normal... or not :D

It is a very good lens.
 
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