hmmm. . .not sure if it bothers me or if it's an issue, but if they offer a fix (service recall), I'll send it in with my annual lube/check/and clean service. . .

Well, I am one more to find that my expensive lens lets light in through unwanted holes :-( I have had this lens for 6 months and my first reaction was the same as the last two "it doesn't show up in the photos I take, so it is not really an issue". But them

1) I realized that it did not show up because I didn't use this lens for long exposures yet... I used the 16-35mm instead, just last weekend, for IR shots, just like the one first used to illustrate the problem in this thread. Some other people have mentioned observing the problem while using ND filters, which I also use, but again, not yet with this lens. And the existence of light leak does make me wonder if the lens would be suitable for shooting star trails, or if after taking a photo for hours you will come back to find out that the lens spoiled your efforts. Sure, all of these are more "specialized" uses and if you don't plan to ever do this kind of thing or some other long exposure shot, you should be fine with the lens as it is.

2) Given Nikon's reputation for high quality equipment and the fact that this is a professional graded (and priced) lens, it is just not right that it has this kind of problem.

Sounds this issue doesn't bother many folk, including me. But it does matter to some folk for their kind of photography, including this guy on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/russbarnesphotography/4766576547/

It amazes me that people actually take photographs of the inside of their lenses with the end caps on. There was a time in photographic history that such a thing was called "user error," but now it seems normal for people to test their equipment in diverse and sundry methods in the hopes of finding some unknown aberrant behavior. And then, when they do, the rest of the world goes nuts gnashing their teeth and rending their clothes. My question to the owners of the fabulous 24-70 who have found light leaks is this: does the problem ever show up during routine photo shoots or is this something can only be noticed when shooting with the lens cap on and a strong light source pouring into the distance window? After using the lens almost every day for about a year now, I suspect that in normal shooting the light leak is undetectable. Does it, in other words, effect the actual usage of the lens when the cap is off? Just curious.

Johndbr said:
Just tried mine on the D700 and yes there is a light leak. Just let the light comming thru the window hit the lens about an hour before dark. I am not happy at all about this. This lens is to pricy for this kind of defect. I am sending mine back to Nikon next week.

*facepalm*

Have tested my 24-70 on my D-700 it got the results but in the real world so what. Why would I bother to do anything further.

Just tried mine on the D700 and yes there is a light leak. Just let the light comming thru the window hit the lens about an hour before dark. I am not happy at all about this. This lens is to pricy for this kind of defect. I am sending mine back to Nikon next week.

Was able to replicate the problem on my D700 and 24-70, I get just the smallest of light smear in the extreme top left. I was using a Fenix with 170 lumens for the light source, can't imagine a situation were this would be a a problem...

Just tried it on my D700 and 24-70 and can get just the smallest of light signature in the extreme top left. Shouldn't show on a DX as it is so close to the top that it would not fall on the sensor of a DX.

That said, I really don't think I will worry to much about it. I can't imagine a situation where it would affect an image that I am likely to shoot with this set-up.

Doesn't sound like any condition that I'll be shooting under but now that I have this lens I will experiment, and see if I can mimic these findings. So far it looks as if the findings are 50/50 on this posting.

I'm thinking about getting this lens. Tried one today and set up the test on my own D300 as per above. No problems.
Also used a shop D700, and replicated this issue. Also did it at 42mm with the burst of light appearing two thirds down from the top of an image.
Strange feature of this lens me thinks.
But, holding my finger over the distance scale window removed the problem.
But for me and my use, this lens would be for sports - mostly during day light. I shalln't be needing to do 8 sec shots, nor do I need to read off the distance scale and so for me some insulating tape is going over the scale - just in case any light bleed may happen to occur - which for my use, is very unlikely.

Still, for an expensive lens, this is a very odd feature that Nikon have let get passed their QC.

My 439717 bought in Canada last month got the problem.

I am not sure I will ever shoot 8 seconds with super bright light shining 1 inch on the lens, at that exposure; I would most likely be in pitch darkness. Not sure how useful the focus distance info is so black taping it sounds OK.

What tape should I use?

Built in Holga!

tell me why this matters?

Tested two 24-70's and both have the problem on the D3

55mm
8"
f/8.0
iso800

serials 376104 388481
purchased respectively in singapore and malaysia

perfect on d90 at those settings.

I also own the lens, and tried testing it on my D3s and D300 bodies with long exposures, small aperture, and strong flashlight on the distance focusing window of the lens, but could not replicate the light leak.

Perhaps it only occurs to some batch of lenses? Maybe we should start gathering up serial numbers of lenses that are problem-free and problematic?

FYI, mine is 238392

I have this lens and a D300 and the problem exists with DX bodies too. Long exposures with ND3.0 (1000x) filter sometimes show the problem e.g. 18secs at f.22 at 48mm, 122secs / f.16 / 42mm etc. etc. etc. It's ruined dozens of images and I'm delighted at last to understand the cause and the fact that I'm not alone. I never noticed any problem with normal exposures and have had this lens for a couple of years. I live close to Nikon UK H.Q. and the lens will be going in for examination and hopefully a repair.

I own this lens and tried to duplicate this but could not. Flash, powerful flashlight touching the window and moved around, multiple f stops and focal lengths and nothing. I purchased the lens within the first 3 months of its release.

adamz said:
another solution, use 50mm/1.4 for long exposures :D
admin - u have any info, either Nikon is repairing this also when the warranty finishes?

Not sure Adam, I will update this thread if I hear something.

another solution, use 50mm/1.4 for long exposures :D
admin - u have any info, either Nikon is repairing this also when the warranty finishes?

I own that lens and the problem is constructible, black tape solves the problem wonderfull.

For long exposures at 55mm just cover up the distance window with a piece of black tape. Problem solved :^)

This is the translation I received from http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=884925. The member garfieldobx found that when he does the following:

1. Keep the lens cap covered
2. Lens zoom at around 55mm / 8sec / f/8 / iso800
3. Use a FX camera (DX camera will not have this problem)
4. Use flash light to hit the "distance scale" window

There will be "Leak of Light" from the left upper corner of the pic through the "distance scale window".

Please chcek the below URL for the photos: http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=884925&page=1#pid10411350

He also tried 2 pieces of 24-70 in Nikon CS and also found the same problem. He did send the lens for repair. He have got the lens repaired recently and the problem mentioned on the repair slip from Nikon HK is "examine the distance scale window".

This member, 98C52, also faces the same problem, and the pic: http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=884925&page=1#pid10413989

chyu007: http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=884925&page=3#pid10424318

Same problem was found for the members, sandwich, gitzo, ronnyvaio, fowen, BarryLKS & STEVENKWOK, but no pic provided.

Some members also allged that using torch instead of flash light, or using ND400 instead of closing the lens cap will also find this problem.

Surely, some members did not found such problem so I think not every lens should have such kind of problem.

Has anyone experienced similar problem (I do not own that lens)?