Nikon 35-70 f2.8 zoom sticky???

[porsche917k]

My Nikon 35-70 f2.8 zoom is a bit sticky, especially sliding from 70 out to 35, it's not the end of the world, but it's not as smooth as it used to be. It's a great lense, sharp, crisp, very useful, what, if anything, should I do about this? Anyone else experience this?

Thanks!

Paul

 

[Ka]

Actually, I have the same problem... only I have dropped mine a couple of times, and I did fall in a river once... (Nikon had it in repair after that), but it still sticks, like it's gummed up or something.

Dunno why, really.

anyone else have advice?

ka

 

[porsche917k]

wow...but mine has never been dropped, on the ground or in river! I was out shooting today and in the cooler weather it seems to be a tad worse...

 

[glbeas]

Most lenses with helicals have some form of grease in the threads to smooth the operation as well as providing necessary lubrication. The cheaper lenses have coarser helicals with thicker grease that after a few years works out and the focussing gets floppy. I'm sure most of you have seen some of these. With any after years of use there may be minute amounts of dust (or more!) work into the helicals and get imbedded in the grease. This is great considering it goes no further into the lens at that point but will make the action stiffer and sometimes uneven. Also some of the greases used will harden over the years and make for a stiffer action. If you value the lens highly a trip to the repair shop for a good cleaning and relube should return the action to a "new" feel. It won't be cheap so I wouldn't even bother for the mid range to low end 35mm lens. Be cheaper to buy a new one.

 

[porsche917k]

Roughly what is that cost? This is a lense that sells for between $400-$600...I can't imagine it would cost that much to dismantle, clean, re-lube, and re-assemble one of these?

 

[glbeas]

Most camera repair places would charge about $100 to $150 best guess. You have a local repairman you can consult? My local shop is this:
http://www.peachtreecamerarepair.com/
They can give you an estimate if you tell them the lens and what you want done.