Fujinon XF 8-16 mm f/2.8 R LM WR scratching noise?

[Otis]

Hello,

First post here:)

I got an X-T4, with battery grip, 8-16, 16-55 and 50-140 yesterday.

The 8-16 makes a relatively loud scratching noise, even in manual focus. When I pan the camera the noise is heard in every motion. When I move it handheld, the same. When I turn the manual focus ring, the noise is heard constantly. The noise is heard even with the lens cap on. The lens does not appear to have any problems in actual operation.

This noise also exists in 16-55, but it's very soft and I can only only hear it with my ear on the lens barrel. The 50-140 is similar with the 16-55, if not more quiet. I know the noise is normal for this type of lens motor, but on 8-16 it's surprisingly loud. I  can hear it from 1m in a quiet room.

All lenses have the typical "fan noise". I'm not talking about that.

So, is this considered normal?

[Otis]

This is what my copy sounds like when panning handheld in manual focus.

Noise while panning left, then right.wav

[Otis]

New test.

I read that these lenses have one, two, and three linear focus motors respectively. They make a constant sound like water running or a large fan. The 50-140 has this noise. The 8-16 has the same noise, but lower in volume. The 16-55 also has this sound, but even lower. Everything looks normal here.

In photo mode and manual focus setting, when I turn the focus ring, a grinding sound is heard from the 8-16 but the 16-55 and 50-140 have no such sound. That's strange considering they are using similar motors.

When I move the camera, the 8-16 has the grinding noise in the same volume with the manual focus scenario. I believe I hear a trace of the grinding sound in the 16-55 if I actually put my ear on the lens, but it's so low it's masked by the "fan" noise. On the 50-140 the noise is probably masked by the loud fan noise. There is a lot going on in this lens, but it sounds normal.

 

 

 

 

[Otis]

It's normal behavior. I verified with a user and Fujifilm service.