[WOODY]

Hi All, Sorry Have Not Posted For A Long Time, I Hope I Am Still Welcome.

I Think I May Have A Problem With My 18 - 200 Vr Lens.
When I Am Pointing Upwards Or Downwards The Lens Slips Either Forwards Or Backwards. As I Cannot Hold The Camera And The Lens, This Is Causing Me
A Problem.

Is This Normal With This Lens, Or Is There A Problem With It.

Thanks

[orangepeel]

taken from: -

Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED DSLR lens full review Cameralabs features

"The Nikkor lens didn't have a lock, but again could also be pointed directly up when zoomed-in to 200mm without falling back. If you were to zoom to a mid-way focal length on the Nikkor though, such as around the 100mm mark, the barrel can retract or extend under its own weight if pointed directly up or down; we have a demonstration of this in our Nikkor 18-200mm video tour. It can be annoying, but again only really affects the lens when pointed directly up or down from a mid-way focal length, and to be fair, it's par for the course for a lens with heavier internal components."

[Sonsey]

Hi Woody, good to see you back again, hope your doing well... of course your welcome here!

In regards to your issue, it is a problem commonly known as lens creep and it is known to affect various lenses. Not being a Nikon man I don't have any info as to whether the 18-200 VR is a known sufferer but I'm sure the Nikon brigade will be along soon to give you some more info.

*Edit* - OP beat me to the post button!

[xanda]

Yeah i have that lens and that does tend to happen, nothing you can do about it really apart from smearing a load of thick grease over it or creating some amazing heath robinson contraption out of elastic bands.

[VinnyP]

I am assuming that you can't hold lens and body because of your disability? This is an old problem with some lenses and has blighted photographers for years. I don't own this lens so can't help with specifics. I don't really have good news as, from my experience, as time goes on they get worse. My only suggestions are to find a Nikon repair centre in your area and see if they can stiffen things up or try the Sigma alternative which may not have the same problem as it has a zoom lock. It's by all accounts almost as good as the Nikon but a half stop slower at 200mm which is, of course, a big downside. Good luck and I hope you get it sorted.

[P-E]

Good to see you around Woody

[Dabhand16]

Nice to hear from you again Woody - was only thinking the other day that we had not heard from you for a while.

Sorry it seems that there is no obvious answer to the problem, but it might be worth a call to Nikon to see if they can suggest anything, as VinnyP said, it might be they can tighten it for you, but it might then gradually do the same again.

Perhaps a bit of gaffer tape lightly tacked across the zoom ring would hold it in position?

[WOODY]

THANKS EVERYONE, FOR YOUR HELP AND ADVICE.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

THANK YOU

[nichpr]

Woody, I have the same lens and also have the same problem. I have decided to "put up with" the problem as this lens is so versatile and rarely leaves my camera. I have thought about a wide elastic band that I could roll down to where the barrel and lens housing meet , but have yet to find a suitable one.
Let me know if you hear of a solution.
- Paul

[WOODY]

HI PAUL, I HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, I THINK IT'S AS
YOURSELF AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT.

I THINK PUTTING AN ELASTIC BAND ROUND IT WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS,
AS YOU WOULD HAVE TO KEEP MOVING IT ALL THE TIME, WHEN CHANGING FOCAL LENGTH.

EVEN ASKING NIKON TO TIGHTEN UP, AS I THINK DABHAND SUGGESTED, WOULD ONLY
SOLVE THE PROBLEM SHORT TERM, AS IT IS BOUND TO LOOSEN UP AGAIN AFTER A WHILE.

BEST OF LUCK WITH IT. IN THE MEANTIME JUST ENJOY USING THE LENS.