Originally posted by ragde 
I got my 55-300 with the sale price and it looks new. However, I find that the zoom ring is too stiff and as a result I need to hold the camera too tightly to avoid movement when pointing to a subject; I feel that can't be right. The focus ring in contrast is much looser; however, specially more in one direction than the other, it gives a bit the feeling (sound) of friction against sand trapped in there. I have the 18-135 and its zoom ring is softer and I don't have to hold the camera so tightly to avoid movement while zooming; its focus ring feels very comparable to its zoom ring (with no feeling of sand trapped in there). That is, both rings in the 18-135 feel about the same and in between what I experience with the zoom and focus rings in the new 55-300. The rings in the 18-135 feel normal to me and in comparison those in the 55-300 feel abnormal (zoom is too stiff and focus too loose and sandy). I have made only a couple of test shots, and the 55-300 seems normal otherwise. Even if I decided to live with the stiffness of the zoom ring, the "sandy" focus ring worries me. I'd like to hear from other owners ... Thanks.
Just got my WR 55-300 last Friday. I also was slightly disconcerted by a gritty feeling in the focus ring. My first guess was that it's due to the quick shift mechanism, but this is my first lens with that feature so I had no basis for comparison. Your 18-135 has quick shift though, and is not gritty, so that puts a hole in my theory. Wondering now if I should be worried
Post #1 by Homo_erectus
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