Hi everybody,
I'm new here. I would like to thank everybody who is contributing to this extremely helpful forum.

I just purchased a Canon 3x lens for my XL2. The thing that I'm concerned about is the noise while zooming. You can hear it while zooming using the button or manual. It has to be quite to hear it. If zoomed fast you hear grrrrrrrrrr... when slower you hear grr grr grr. I don't hear that on the 20x lens.

Is this normal. Please let me know. Especially I would like to hear from people who have both lenses.

Thank you very much!

Miralli, just noticed your post. I have both lenses and don't hear anything on either. You didn't say where you got your lens, but probably not good news if it's a used one.

Is it a new lens or second hand? All the lens I've used seem silent. I had one get sand in once. It made a grinding sound 'till it went to Canon fot a clean out.

I don't think the 3x lens is what they crack it up to be. Great for close up and hand held, but the image is inclined to be rather fuzzy.

I've owned a lot of different Canon 3X lenses and they have all delivered a very good quality image, especially at wide-open-to-mid aperture settings. Not quite on par with my Canon 6X HD lens, but neither is the price. For the price that you can buy a new or mint secondhand 3X lens, it is well worth it in my opinion.

Regarding the noise, there should be some normal very quiet whirring when AF is engaged, but if it is louder and different than your 20X lens you may have a problem. Check the quality of your footage and sharpness (on a tripod, not handheld) and if it is OK, then you may be able to live with it; but if not, then have it checked by a professional repair specialist.

Is it so loud that the onboard mic easily picks the up whirring sound?

I've owned a lot of different Canon 3X lenses and they have all delivered a very good quality image, especially at wide-open-to-mid aperture settings. Not quite on par with my Canon 6X HD lens, but neither is the price. For the price that you can buy a new or mint secondhand 3X lens, it is well worth it in my opinion.


That's encouraging to hear Tony. The one I use I borrow. It may have had a hard life so I stand corrected and shouldn't judge them all on my experience.

If the lens is second hand, borrowed or hired it's hard to know how it's been treated. Canon makes a pretty durable product. I've worked with others on projects. I've seen Canon lenses dropped, left to roll around in the boot (trunk) of a car and they still function perfectly. The xl camera is a solid built item.

Thank you Rainer, Owen and Tony.
Thank you very much for your input.

Yes, the 3x lens I bought is used from ebay. Bought it for $500 then I called the seller and told him about the noise. I got $100 refund. Total it cost me $400.
The lens visually looks brand new. Not even minor scratches are noticeable. I used it few times so far and it works fine. Except, in low light it constantly is searching for focus. Very annoying. The 20x lens is not doing that. I read here on forum that some other users have the same problem. Any of you familiar with this?

Thank you again. :-)