FS7: Lining up a long lens

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Publimix

Veteran
I bought this nice vintage 'as new' Nikkor 500mm P F4.0 with 1,6 extender. Lens is ultrasharp, even with the extender. But now I have two questions:

1. How does one balance the camera (any suggestions? I don't have Extension unit and large batteries), lead, bricks and ducktape or a better way?
2. How to line up the lens with the camera, both extender and mount and adapter result in a little slack. I can use a screw to lift the lens. But is there a way do this properly?

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I would get a tripod mount that attaches to the rails so I could slide it for better balance. I'd guess that you are at least 10 cm away from the center of gravity which is out in the middle of the rods.
 
Your Guess is right need another 10 cm. Thanks for the tip will search for such a mount (Sachtler touch and Go with rods?). My old tripod had a nice long baseplate, but now I am stuck with a Sachtler quick release plate.

Now for the next question,lining up long lenses with the sensor. The front of the lens can move up en down 2-4 mm due to slack in lens mount and converter (and the cameramount).
 
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Awesome glass :)

To find the cofm flip the rig and hold it by the rods

That's easy a typical 15mm plate will do it.

As for alignment- probably you are on your own - build someth from shims and washers.

I don't think perfect alignment is as critical as with a wide.
 
Hi Morgan, Thanks for the answer.

It is a big lens, sadly the 1.6 extender doesn't work with the 50-300mm nikkor. The 500 mm can focus beyond infinity and the 50-300 doesn't.

But it was a bargain, 950 euro for a F4.0 500mm lens including box and extender. Lens is as new. And with 1,6 extender, it becomes a F5,6-ish 800mm lens.
A bit unpractical though. Finding and filming little birds with this lens is not that easy :-)

Not sure if I keep this gem.
 
Publimix said:
Your Guess is right need another 10 cm. Thanks for the tip will search for such a mount (Sachtler touch and Go with rods?). My old tripod had a nice long baseplate, but now I am stuck with a Sachtler quick release plate.

Now for the next question,lining up long lenses with the sensor. The front of the lens can move up en down 2-4 mm due to slack in lens mount and converter (and the cameramount).
Click to expand...
I added a second quick release plate to my Zacuto Unversal base/shoulder plate...allows for fore and aft movement to balance things out and the added benifit of some much needed height to accomodate fitting a FF...a $70 solution on Amazon that works really well...some cautious initial alignment is necessary but everything works seamlessly now.
 
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