Tamron 18-270 f3.5 Di II VC

Hi guys, bit of an odd question and I know I am going to either get laughed at or shouted at but here goes nothing lol.

I bought a Tamron 18-270 f3.5 Di II VC a few weeks ago and today I noticed when shooting something that is directly on the ground my lens decides to extend fully. As if the magic of gravity is pulling on it. Now I have noticed a small lock button on the lens but the only seems like it works with the lens fully closed and even then I have never locked it as it is too hard and fiddly to do.

I hope I have made sense of what I am saying lol

I don't understand why a lens would extend open when shooting things on the ground (or pointed vertically downwards)

Do I have a faulty lens or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance :)
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Some zoom lenses do this, and it is due to gravity. I imagine that is why the lock is there, because they new it would do this. But I don't know why it won't lock partly extended. I'm not sure that anything can be done that will stop the gravity slip other than the lock you mentioned either.
 
Thanks for the quick response Bill. So I haven't got a faulty lens or anything? It seems weird why any lens would do this. I mean if one is shooting something from directly above then it seems odd that you would have to physically hold the lens in place whilst taking the shot to insure the subject stays in focus.

Thanks again Bill. :)
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Your very welcome. :) No I don't believe your lens is faulty. Some zoom lenses are better than others, but it's caused by the weight of the lens. I think they have rubber grips that can be slid over the lens barrel and once you've adjusted your zoom you then slide the rubber grip at an angle on the lens barrel to keep it from slipping. But I haven't tried one, so I can't say how well it works. The lock on yours should do that function, and I'm not sure why it doesn't.
 
Is your lens doing something like this?
Nikon 18-200 VR II Lens Creep - YouTube

This is how you fix using a lens band... Otherwise it's just a band that you can pick up at any store.. just like a "Livestrong" band that used to be years ago..
Testing lens band on Tamron 18-270mm PZD VC super zoom lens - YouTube

THANK YOU!!!
Yes that is exactly what it does.. More so on the second video though being that is it a lot quicker to creep (my new word I just learnt haha) when pointed up or down.

It's nice to know that my lens isn't faulty.

I am going to invest in one of them lens band right now. :)

Thanks again Skene.

:eagerness:
 
Your very welcome. :) No I don't believe your lens is faulty. Some zoom lenses are better than others, but it's caused by the weight of the lens. I think they have rubber grips that can be slid over the lens barrel and once you've adjusted your zoom you then slide the rubber grip at an angle on the lens barrel to keep it from slipping. But I haven't tried one, so I can't say how well it works. The lock on yours should do that function, and I'm not sure why it doesn't.

Thanks Bill, I am going to buy a lens band, hopefully that will fix my problem. :D
 

JohnFrench

Senior Member
Late reply. I too have a 18-270 Tamron, when new, it did not extend by itself, but after two years, it has the "lens creep" like yours. It is disconcerting to look down and see the lens fully extended, so I use the little lens lock button to keep it retracted. I have another brand lens that does this too, and the lens lock is on the opposite side, so actually the Tamron one is easy to engage/disengage.
 
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