[hyyz]

I just picked up a DA 17-70mm, but I feel the zoom ring has higher friction than I would like. I'm OK with it, but wondering if it is normal. How is your experience?

FYI, the zoom ring on my 17-70mm has about the same friction as the focus ring on DA 14mm, just a it smoother.

Thanks.

---

Last edited by hyyz; 11-15-2010 at 06:45 PM.

[blackcloudbrew]

Hmm...I've never really noticed the friction on the DA17-70's zoom ring. It's always seemed just about right. However, I just tried your comparison on my DA 14 and I'd say the DA14 is just a bit more resistant than the 17-70. My only observations on the DA17-70 (a lens which I really love). Is that the zoom tends to creep when I hike with it and the quick shift ring moves very easily and can mess up the focus on a tripod at times. However, based on your comparison, I'd say our two sets of lenses behave very much the same. So I'd guess you have a normal copy.

[hyyz]

That makes me feel better. My copy is a store return. At first, I thought there might be issue with SDM. But it turns out the SDM is working correctly - silent & fast. Then I noticed the zoom ring friction. (It is definitely not as light as the zoom ring on DA*50-135mm.)

BTW, I doubt my 17-70mm copy can have zoom creep giving the friction it has.

Thank you for sharing your experience with this lens. It is a wonderful lens, IMO.