Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 Light Leak Defect

[Raoul Isidro]

Anybody own this lens?
Aparently, the light comes in from the focus distance indicator window on top of the lens.
You can do this simple test yourself if you have this lens and see for yourself if it's true.
Nikon's provided solution: put a gaff tape over the window.... ???
Oh, Nikon... tsk tsk tsk

The Test:

[sk66]

Dang, now I'll have to factor in another 4 bucks for tape when budgetting for that $2k lens.....

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Raoul Isidro

???
Oh, Nikon... tsk tsk tsk

You sound just like the old curmudgeons at DPReview. They reported this a few weeks ago, but its not a big issue. It's only if you have A) a fairly long exposure, B) a bright light shining directly into the focus distance scale and C) bad luck.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You sound just like the old curmudgeons at DPReview. They reported this a few weeks ago, but its not a big issue. It's only if you have A) a fairly long exposure, B) a bright light shining directly into the focus distance scale and C) bad luck.

I don't know about all that...iso 400, 1/250, in a studio setup....(Ok, he was really close to the lights) But I don't know how much it would be apparent if there was actually an image captured as well.

[kirbinster]

He was really close to the light, AND was shooting with the lens cap on. In the real world how often do you take pictures with the lens cap on? DOH !!

When you have normal light coming in from the front of the lens and don't have a bright light one inch from the focus window it is probably not an issue.

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

In the real world how often do you take pictures with the lens cap on? DOH !!

Hahaha, so true. This is why you have to be carefull with benchmarks / test.

[ericwong328]

I have tried the following. All taken by D3 body, ISO 4000, 30sec, f5.6. NR all off.

1. Nikon AFS 24-70 f2.8, some white patches (not as serious as shown on youtube)
2. Nikon AFS 50 1.4, same result
3. Nikon AIS 50 1.2 (manual lens), same result
4. No Lens, only body cap on body, same result

Change shutter speed to 1/125, all clean.

I guess is not lens problem. Will try my son's Canon EOS later tonight.

[OsmosisStudios]

Eric: in those examples, the colour on the edges and middle is actually long exposure heat creating noise. Normally the camera would do a dark frame exposure and correct for it. The white on the top, however, in the second example IS the issue. However, as you've seen it's a little on the ridiculous side: nobody shoots with the lenscap on, at 4000iso and for 30seconds.

[ericwong328]

Yes, i agree with you. Under such shooting conditions, the noise problem is more noticeable. Nobody shoots with lens cap on -> very true. Maybe scientist does, photographers don't.

[ravncat]

Nikon will fix it for you if you take it in to them...