Sound of IS in a 500 f4

Can someone tell me what the IS unit in a 500 f4 is supposed to sound like? I recently bought my first IS lens (my first Canon, for that matter), and had the IS unit fail immediately. It's back from the repair shop, supposedly with a new IS unit, but I'm not sure its working right yet.

John--

Is this one of those Zen questions? You know-- "What is the sound of an IS clapping?", or "if a Canon lens autofocuses by itself in the woods, does it make any sound?"


Kent in SD

I don't know what it's supposed to sound like, but is there a camera shop nearby that sells this lens? If so, go down and pretend to be interested in the lens. Ask to put it on a camera and test it out in the store.

It's more likely the sound of my paranoia speaking. It's probably okay. I was only able to use it for a few days before the IS started grunting, grinding and jerking the image around, and 95 percent of that was outside in a noisy environment where I couldn't hear the lens at all. I think it's louder and higher pitched, but then again, I didn't live with it very long before it broke, so it's likely just my imagination.

It is something like hearing the Long Island Sound!

I haven't shot with the 500 for awhile, but my 100-400L IS makes an audible click when the IS engages, and there is a hum/whine sound, quiet but there.

You should hear a faint click or thud when the gyros start followed by a soft whirring sound while it works. There should be no grinding or grunting - just low pitched steady whirring.

Hope this helps.