Can a stiff zoom ring after a drop be fixed at home?
Asked 6/27/2019
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2 answers
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My Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED was dropped, and the zoom ring is now much tighter than before, especially between 50mm and 70mm. We use this lens every day and don’t currently have a replacement, so sending it in right away is difficult. Is there any safe DIY way to loosen or soften the zoom ring after impact?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
1
After a fall, our Nikon Af-S 24-70mm 2.8G ED zoom ring got quite tight... Is there any way to safely soften it by ourselves?
No. The nested tubes are likely misaligned or bent. The lens would likely need to be disassembled to check and fix it. This cannot be done without some risk of ending up with a fully disfunctional lens.
With continued use, it's possible that the ring function will improve, but it may also worsen.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Probably not safely. A zoom ring that becomes stiff after a fall usually means the lens’s internal zoom tubes or guides are bent or misaligned. Fixing that generally requires disassembly and proper service.
Trying to lubricate or force the ring yourself is risky and could make the lens worse or leave it fully unusable. Continued use might loosen slightly, but it could also deteriorate further.
If the lens is critical for daily work, the safest advice is to avoid DIY repair and have it professionally inspected when possible.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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