my solution for zoom creep (on CZ16-80mm)

[weishengg]

hi all, i face some barrel creeping issue with my CZ16-80mm.
The zoom barrel seems pretty heavy and there is no proper zoom-lock to keep it in place when i walk around with it. quite unforgiveable for a lens of this price i feel, but heck.
so after hanging or slinging it around for a short while, i usually realized that its already zoomed out to 80mm, no good no good.

i realized that putting a simple rubber band on the gap of the zoom ring seems to solve the problem, not too sure if it would work for you or your lens, but it does an amazing job for myself. quite an easy "activatation" and "deactivation" too, just slide the rubber bands forward or backwards. The rubber band doesn't even have to follow the line of the gap exactly for it to work!

so just to share my solution, here are the pictures.
*1 or 2 rubberbands, they both seem to work. although using 2 rubberbands is easier to operate*

My lens with zoom creep problem

The 2 rubber bands i use

zoom lock "off" position

zoom lock "on" position

taadaar! no more creeping! even if i shake the lens!


i hope it helps =)

[mysilentkaopei]

bro make sure u take out the rubber band after a while... sekali kena rubber melt/burn/fuse den u got the rubber band sticking to the lens...

u noe what i mean rite?

[10-Dee-Q]

wow it looks like canon's L lens :P

[mysilentkaopei]

Originally Posted by 10-Dee-Q wow it looks like canon's L lens :P

Same idea as pointing to L lens and say ''wow it looks like sony's CZ lens :P''

lol i dunno what i typing...

[pai]

i use the army type of thick black rubber band for my 18-200. a little less obvious

but may be overkill for the CZ lah.

[weishengg]

haha all it needed is just that little bit of friction for it to stop moving la, army black rubber band overkill sia... how about bicycle hook? hahah

anyway thanks for the heads up on the rubber-melting thingy, hadnt thought about that yet. well, guess will just change the bands once in a while, cheap cheap la!

[DuckRice]

so jialet and so loose one meh??

like tat, the sony kit lens doesnt have this problem leh....or only those longer range zoom ones got this problem?

i'm new to dslr, so is it "normal" for it to be tat loose??

newbies here..

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by DuckRice so jialet and so loose one meh?? like tat, the sony kit lens doesnt have this problem leh....or only those longer range zoom ones got this problem? i'm new to dslr, so is it "normal" for it to be tat loose?? newbies here..

Many zoom lenses have this problem. It's common among all makers, but also a matter of luck.

[ileaf]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Many zoom lenses have this problem. It's common among all makers, but also a matter of luck.

hmm, but for CZ lens, it'll be "unforgivable" to have such problem.
able to get it repair or replaced under warranty?

[weishengg]

Originally Posted by ileaf hmm, but for CZ lens, it'll be "unforgivable" to have such problem. able to get it repair or replaced under warranty?

yeah its quite "unforgiveable" to have such problems for an $$$ CZ-branded lens.
but well i bought the lens having known of such issues before hand, so not too badly concerned with it.
it kind of irritated me in the beginnning, but a simple rubber band fixed the issue for me and i'm quite satisfied with it =)

anyway yeah, some zoom lenses do have this zoom creep problem, regardless of brand or make or model. depends on luck and usage and age of the lens i guess.

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by ileaf hmm, but for CZ lens, it'll be "unforgivable" to have such problem. able to get it repair or replaced under warranty?

Well, that may be because the 16-80 uses Zeiss optics in a cheap kit body. It's essentially designed to be an upgraded kit lens, and the construction quality is a far far cry from the "real" Zeiss lenses like the 85mm or the 24-70.

It *should* really only cost about 500-600. Sadly, it's premium glass in a kit body... Like having a B&O soundsystem, calf leather seats with built-in massage function and 4 LCD monitors in a cheap Proton car.

[synapseman]

I upgraded from a kit lens to a Sigma 17-70 then finally to a CZ16-80mm. While I am generally happy with its optical performance, there are a few shortcoming about this lens, which like some have mentioned, is unforgivable for the money you are paying for it.

My first big issue is the focusing ring. Too much play! Very difficult to get a precise focus manually. If it can be done with the old cheapo manual focus lenses, I don't see why CZ/Sony cannot do it. Even Sigma's lens focusing ring feels better than this!

Yup, build quality is a concern. Should've been a metal body, lah.

Vignetting is a serious problem. I have concluded that no 62mm filter can be fitted on it without worsening the problem, including their own CZ filters. (Although interestingly, some have found mounted 62mm filters w/o any problems)

Thank goodness I didn't pay full price for it.

[yokechye]

possible that only FF lens with better quality?

Originally Posted by Rashkae Well, that may be because the 16-80 uses Zeiss optics in a cheap kit body. It's essentially designed to be an upgraded kit lens, and the construction quality is a far far cry from the "real" Zeiss lenses like the 85mm or the 24-70. It *should* really only cost about 500-600. Sadly, it's premium glass in a kit body... Like having a B&O soundsystem, calf leather seats with built-in massage function and 4 LCD monitors in a cheap Proton car.

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by yokechye possible that only FF lens with better quality?

Yup. FF = pro. The 16-80 was more like a compromise on CZ's part to get them to make an entry-level CZ.

[Trigger Happy]

just remember to take the rubber bands out before storing your lens in the dry cab, if storing for a long period. rubber bands become brittle (dry) very easily. the army type (erm... i believe they are used inner tyre tubes haha) are stronger though. but hey, regular red bands make it look like a canon L haha..