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Is my lens breathing? or just in need of maintenance?
I just attached a Nikkor (35mm f/2) via the Fotodiox Pro to a Canon 60D.
Focusing issue: when I rack back and forth, I see a shift in the image. It doesn’t really look like breathing, but the image definitely shifts.
A necessary digression on “setting the lens”: On a studio video camera, operators sometimes “set the zoom,” i.e. they prepare for a zoom-in by setting to a little wider than they need, zooming in slightly; and then when the director takes their camera, they can zoom in smoothly because the zoom motor has already taken up the slack.
Back to the old Nikkor: when I “set the lens” on the Nikkor by very slightly starting the focus in the direction I will need to go, I see no image shift at all when I make a focus shift.
The question, at last: Do I have a Nikkor that “breathes,” and therefore is unsuitable for critical video work (at least work that requires smooth rack-focusing)? Or do I have a Nikkor that needs a visit to a shop? And if the latter, where should I send it? I’m on the East Coast.
Thanks.
Bob C
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2 Replies
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[Bob Cole] “The question, at last: Do I have a Nikkor that “breathes,” and therefore is unsuitable for critical video work (at least work that requires smooth rack-focusing)? Or do I have a Nikkor that needs a visit to a shop? And if the latter, where should I send it? I’m on the East Coast.”
Welcome to the wonderful world of using photo lenses for video work!
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style! -
Right on, Jason. I think I’ve already decided that of all my Nikkors, the only two I’m going to use are the special purpose ones (55mm Micro-Nikkor and an ED-400mm). I don’t want to have to “focus” on another variable when I’m shooting.
I think I’ll test a few Canon EOS lenses, knowing going in that there are all sorts of issues with the focus ring. I think a Zeiss is in my future. To tide me over until that ship comes in, what do you think of the 17-55mm Canon zoom?
And thanks for welcoming me to the club. I appreciate that!
Bob C
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