Daniel Max Loc: Melbourne Australia

Hi Guys,
Have recently purchased Olympus 12-40 mm f2.8 Pro lens. A wonderful
product but as I use the manual zoom, the lens makes a soft whirring
grinding type noise. Otherwise it works just fine. I am advised that his
noise is common with this lens but my Lumix 12-35 mm f2.8 lens is
completely silent while using manual zoom. Can anyone shed any light on
this? Is this normal for the Oly lens to do this?
Best regards to all.
Sent from my iPhone

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

My lens doesn’t make any noise

sroc

Mine doesn't make any noise either. You may want to contact Olympus America to see if repair is needed.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I have the same lens and there’s no noise.

Hip Coyote

Maybe I'm confused...with the exception of the Ez lens isn't every zoom manual? I have a few Oly pros and there is no power zoom. There is a clutch on the lenses that allows the user to quickly shift from manual focus to auto focus. And in each case, if the camera body is set to the in-body image stabilization (5 axis) then you will hear a slight whirrr and the image stabilize as the camera does its stabilization. Try turning off the image stabilization and you might notice the lack of noise.

If that is not the answer then I strongly suggest you send that lens in asap. Fixing an Oly lens can get quite expensive if not under warranty. Sent in an Oly Pro 7-14 where the manual clutch stopped working...Oly wanted in excess of $400 to repair. So get yours fixed and/or replaced asap.

BurneyHuff

No noise in mine.

IsoBob Loc: Hamilton, NJ

No noise in mine either.

Leitz Loc: Solms

Not uncommon with off-brand equipment.

IsoBob Loc: Hamilton, NJ

What equipment is “off brand”

Hip Coyote

I am a dedicated Oly shooter, but danged if Oly didnt sell their imaging company to another entity...so it just might become some off-brand. However, the technology in the cameras are unsurpassed. Oly does a few things that no other camera brand does. Think of Live Composition and Pro capture mode. Amazing feats of technology.

The Oly Pro lenses are unsurpassed for sharpness. I have a few of them, had "white" lenses from other companies, and can say they Olys are as good as anything made. But, alas, the race to more pixels, even though most of us just print out limited size images (or put on the web) may doom the m 4/3 system. And Oly just might become a "has been" in the industry. That's too bad.

Daniel Max Loc: Melbourne Australia

Daniel Max Loc: Melbourne Australia

Your response has absolutely nothing to do with my inquiry

Hip Coyote

Well, Dan, perhaps my earlier response on the fact I doubt there is a manual zoom on pro lenses, and that they only have manual zooms might apply to your question. You did not respond to that on-point direct discussion and instead responded to this one. The second post was simply friendly conversation with a fellow enthusiast. I was responding to someone talking about Oly becoming an off brand...us oly guys are sensitive! In any event, so far as I know, only the Ez series lenses have a power zoom. Pro lenses do not. Their zoom is only activated by someone doing it manually. One pushes and pulls just like the old days. There is no zoom motor to make a noise. The noise you hear is the camera doing its magic on the axis stabilization. Pro lenses do work in concert with the Oly bodies stabilization mechanism. Perhaps that is the whirrrr you hear? Suggest you try a different lens to see if you hear a similar noise. Or go to the camera store and try the same lens on the camera. If not, then, I suggest you send the lens back for repair and/or replacement to avoid the high cost of out-of-warranty repairs that I experienced. Given my first comments on warranty repair, my intent was to save you, perhaps, some money and grief on lens repair. I am kind of regretting that friendly gesture at this point.

Daniel Max Loc: Melbourne Australia

Now that you have explained, I understand. I think you are correct because the 12 - 50 mm “kit” lens with powerzoom makes a similar noise. Furthermore there is a forum on dp review which deals with this issue and expounds exactly that which you have explained. So thank you for your input.

WYMAN69

I have been shooting Olympus 4/3 from the start. I don’t think they are going any where. Just maybe JIP will pursue those times Olympus put on the back burn. Olympus OM-D cameras are awesome as are their lens. Just purchased the 100-400mm , love this lens.