nikkor 18-200 mm DX lenses

[Losackmd]

is it normal
that a DX 18-200 Nikkor at 35mm if faced directly down mounted on the D300 will open up
to about 100mm by itself it doesnt stay locked in like it does at 18mm?

if i shoot directly upward at 50mm the nikkor lens will start to move downward ( towards gravity )
not at 200mm though

is this normal behaviour

everything else about this baby is sharp and flawless

thanks

[Losackmd]

Our factory representatives have confirmed that it is normal for the 18-200mm DX lens to exhibit some zoom creep when the lens is pointed up or down or at a sharp angle. ("Zoom creep" means the focal length will slowly and continuously change under the weight of the lens elements.) Most of this movement occurs between approximately 30mm and 130mm in the 18-200mm lens. It is also normal for there to be some variation in the resistance of the zoom control ring as it is turned.
It is not possible for Nikon to adjust the friction of the zooming mechanism in the 18-200mm DX lens to eliminate zoom creep, since this would make the lens inoperable at the extremes of the zoom range.