Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

80-200 Question

Rick Darge

Rick Darge

Banned
Joined
Dec 29, 2006
Messages
3,775
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
44
I picked up an 80-200 AF-D lens from Samys last week. I had them de-click the lens like they did my 17-35. The aperture ring is now extremely loose with no tension at all. My 17-35 feels very much like the Red 18-50. The 80-200 on the other hand is quite loose. I noticed something else. While focusing, whenever I turned the barrel one way and then back the other, I noticed a small image shift from left to right. My older Nikkor 28 and 35 suffered from this problem as well.

Is this something that can be corrected by a lens tech or is it just the nature of this lens model or maybe the nature of my specific lens.

Just wondering what my options are. As a variable prime its great, but I would like to rack without image shift if possible.
 
  • Thread starter
  • Banned
  • #3
This isn't 'breathing' though.. The image is actually sliding left to right.. It only happens when you reverse the barrel direction (ie focus to the foreground then back to the background)
 
It could be breathing, just a really bad case of it. The piece of glass isn't sliding forward and back like it normally should, it is sliding forward and to one side possibly.
 
Richard is correct. This lens may exhibit breathing, but what he described is not breathing at all.
It is in fact part of the mechanical design. It's simply the nature of a still lens. Sorry.
As for the aperture ring being loose, I don't know how Samy's does their mods... Normally you would have to lubricate the aperture ring to create "drag" or give it a viscous feel. Samy's might have just removed the click stops and left the lens "dry". I would bring it back to them if you can. See if they will finish the job they started.
 
I experienced this image shift on a couple of my Nikon primes that had 'loose' focus rings. The firmer ones (with more drag) don't have the image shift problem.
 
Richard, its the way that lens is, I have the same issue. The 17-35 does not have the same issue.
 
Your "sliding image" problem is called a tracking error. Somewhat common in still camera zooms as they are not of sufficent mechanical quality to be a true zoom lens as there is no point for it on a still camera. When you had your aperture ring declicked they should have put a somewhat stiff grease on the ring so it wouldn't slop around.
 
chuck colburn said:
Your "sliding image" problem is called a tracking error.
Click to expand...

Sorry Chuck, I don't mean to argue with anyone..
But this is not a tracking problem either. If the tracking were off, then the center of the image would float slowly in one direction, progressively over the range of the zoom. Tracking error is caused by mis-aligned optics, usually in the rear of the lens. However, Richard's image shift is simply a fault of design inside the lens mechanics, characteristic image shift or SLR lenses.
 
Right you are. I misread his post and in my mind I saw it as a continuous error while zooming. Damn speed reading course. lol
 
Matthew, is this something that can be fixed?

I talked to Samys and they said that they could fix it, but they would have to replace the zoom mechanism inside the lens and it would cost between $100-$200. I'm trying to see if this would be covered by Nikon since the lens is refurbished and they do offer a 90 day warranty
 
rgdfilmsRED said:
Matthew, is this something that can be fixed?

I talked to Samys and they said that they could fix it, but they would have to replace the zoom mechanism inside the lens and it would cost between $100-$200. I'm trying to see if this would be covered by Nikon since the lens is refurbished and they do offer a 90 day warranty
Click to expand...

I'm very interested about this, our 80-200mm exhibits the same shift, but it was my understanding that it was a design issue and could not be fixed. It would be great if this is not the case.
 
They can replace every part in the entire lens... It's not going to change the fact that an SLR still lens is designed to focus, hold, release the shutter.

Image shift is of no concern to still photographers. off the top of my head, I can't recall any Nikon or Canon "still" lenses that do not shift when focusing or zooming.

It's not that they are poor manufacturers, they just don't worry about it because it doesn't effect a still photograph.

When these still lenses are converted for cine use (ideally) the re-house design fixes that image shift by adding more sophisticated mechanical components.

You can't expect an SLR lens to perform at the same level as a pro cine lens. It's like buying a Ferrari and instead of putting lightweight wheels and Pirelli performance tires on it, you put bicycle wheels on it.. Sure they're cheaper and easier to get a hold of... But you can't expect the same performance. Sure, it'll work. But they just aren't made to do the same thing.

I'm not saying RED is the equivalent of a Ferrari by any stretch of the imagination... If I had to choose, I would say RED is the Hyundai of cameras. And if you think that's an insult, take a look at what Hyundai has been up to lately. (2009 Genesis)
 
Matthew, my 17-35, 50 and 85 do not shift when I pull focus. They breathe, but they don't shift.

I'm not asking an SLR lens to perform at the same level as a pro cine lens. I'm just asking for the same kind of movement as my other lenses..

I gave the lens back to Samys camera today. They are sending it into Nikon for repair. I looked at the newer 80-200 and they do have a slight image shift, not nearly as bad as what mine was..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top