Nikkor 85mm f1.4 question

M

meauounji

Well-known member
So question:

I'm in the process of acquiring some Nikon AIs lenses. I notice that Nikon has an 85mm f1.4 that rates very well optically BUT the focus ring appears to move back and forth when it is turned, from what I can tell in the pictures. Is this true? How are people using the lenses dealing with this when they're using a follow focus unit with it?
 
Do you mean it moves back and forth along the axis of the length of the lens. i.e. travels down the length of the lens?
 
I have an 85 f2 and I think its basically the same housing, I measured the focus ring's length of travel along the axis is 4mm. If the f1.4 is also around that distance then it would depend on the thickness of the lens gear your using. But i've seen some gears to be more than 7mm thick so it should cover the travel distance.
 
That's weird. I have a Nikon AIS 85mm f2 and I don't notice any travel on the length of the lens from the focus ring. I also have a late non ai 85mm F1.8 which also does not travel.

As already stated, it's better to use a thick gear for those types of lenses - even some cine lenses have focus rings that travel down the barrel a bit.

But the best solution is not two thick gears, it's one thick gear on the follow focus, and one very rigid thin gear (aluminum usually) on the lens. Two thick gears will put up too much resistance as the focus ring moves and will grind or slip a lot.
 
Mine moves only a few milimeters, but it is not a type of zoom that extends in inches like some zoom lenses do.
 
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