Nikon Mount question

[Axel Mertes]

Hi RED,

we today played around with some Nikon vintage lenses and special purpose lenses, such as the Loreo 3D etc.

It appears to us that the Nikon mount, by default, is rotated a few degrees counter clock wise (if looked at from front, so towards the sensor).

Is there any chance to adjust this?

We also have some large gun-style ultra long range lenses these need support (due to their length) but we can't really mount them nicely, as the lense is now not ortogonal to the camera, so its screw mount for the support is no longer vertical but rotated outside the vertical axis.

Or have we overseen something?

Any help highly appreciated!

Best wishes,
Axel

PS: Is it just me or is the Nikon mount from Dough Underdahl, shown in that famouse two youtube instruction videos (remember the balloon!) not having this issue?

 

[Julio Quintana]

I don't know if this helps, but sometimes the Nikon mount has a pretty snug fit, and you have to turn it with a decent amount of force to get it in all the way. But if your saying that it rotates too far rather than not enough, I'm not sure how to fix that.

 

[Mike Thorn]

I would examine the mount to make sure it is seated properly. I've not experienced this issue.

Since the Nikon mount doesn't have any internal wiring (like the smart PL or Birger mounts), it's possible to mount it in any rotational orientation (I don't know why you would, tho). Check to see if the mount is installed correctly. It's a simple process with the right torx key.

 

[Douglas Underdahl]

Yes, Axel, the witness mark on the RED Nikon mount is a few degrees counterclockwise from 12 O'Clock. For your large gun style lenses with the female screw mount thread at the bottom, or 6 O'Clock, what I would do is simply not rotate the lens all the way when you install in in the Nikon mount. The springs in the mount will still hold the lens properly and the screw mount on the lens will, when engaged, keep the lens supported and locked.

 

[Axel Mertes]

Hi Douglas,

thanks for the reply.

Apparently this is really an issue, because when working e.g. with the Loreo 3D lenses, its essential that the lense is in absolute perfect relation to the sensor, so not rotational shift should appear at all, compromising the 3D effect.

The gun lenses are REALLY long, like 0.5m! This combination is in itself looking dangerous to have all the gravity force from both parts, RED ONE and that magnific lenses to join in a small piece of a RED NIKON mount. I bet that not settling it completely into the Nikon mount will result in a very loose lense. But we want to hold it from downside via the rods anyway. Maybe worth a try.

I just thought I may be doing something wrong, but apparently that RED NIKON mount is not really perfect (sorry to say that, but now its quite obvious). IMHO I would have welcomed to skip on screw on the lense mount design (to place the lense release knob on the right position) and therefor instead would have ended up with a perfect aligned NIKON mount, where the witness mark is perfectly at 12:00 o'clock.

I guess no one expected non-circular lenses while designing it?

Mmmh, I guess there is a market for a correct one!?!
Douglas, the lense mount that you did, is that one doing it correctly?
Whats the status on this?

Cheers,
Axel

 

[Alexander Christ]

Axel, perhaps that mount is a solution: http://actionproducts.ch/apshop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=41
You can speak to Daryl from ActionProducts, he is a very helpful.

 

[Axel Mertes]

Hi Alexander,

good tip, this mount seems to be simple, but a lot more clever.

But again, it would require me to make sure the lense is in the right angle. I think its feasable. And the price is fair.

Anyone looking for a once for tests used RED NIKON mount? PM me...

Cheers,
Axel

 

[Denis Buhot]

I'm using monster lenses myself

I'm using monster lenses myself

as Lauri Kettunen, Steve Gibby and other wildlife movies shooters do...no problem of that kind with the nikon mount, I think. I personnally don't like screwing things, because you may force the lens in the wrong position. I just use a cradle that gently supports the telephoto.. sometimes weighing up to 5.6 kgs. No problem and, btw, the nikon mount is pretty sturdy.

 

[brian mcclatchy]

I personnally don't like screwing things, because you may force the lens in the wrong position. I just use a cradle that gently supports the telephoto.. sometimes weighing up to 5.6 kgs. No problem and, btw, the nikon mount is pretty sturdy.

does "screwing things" in this case refer to the Action Products Mount?
Does that mean you prefer original Red Nikon Mount? and what kind of cradle do you use?

I am also looking into a Nikon mount for shooting wildlife. I have been Using a Nikon 500mm and 80-400 with the EX3 pretty successfully, can't wait till our Red will be delivered,
The Nikon mount will take an extra 3-4 weeks and I was considering some other brands.

Also is there any way to compensate for the zoom backfocus on the Nikon 80-400 to get the lens to hold focus for the entire range like a B4 mount lens?

thanks - Brian

 

[Denis Buhot]

Not specifically...I'm referring to any lens

Not specifically...I'm referring to any lens

support designed to screw into the lens handle/bracket. I'm using the original nikon mount from Red. My cradle is an antique piece of machinery from Kinoptik, a now extinct french optical firm that used to produce very heavy cinema lenses back in the fifties, when almost all the weight was.. metal around the glass ! The fact is I have never found lighter, sturdier and more practical. It supports my sigmonster 300-800 mm quite well. The lens "gently" rests on the cradle, way to speak considering its bulk. Not having it screwed or attached is no problem at all : the whole set up looks like a big caliber machine-gun and you won't try to move it when mounted. But no way to find one of these kinoptik cradles these days.

I don't own the zoom you mention. But setting back-focus on my original nikon mount just once went wonderfully, allowing all my nikon or nikon mount sigma zoom lenses to keep focus throughout their range.