Nikon Lens: Plastic mounts?
Lolo LaSida
Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
experiences with those lenses will also help.
TIA,
Lolo LaSida
lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
Anthony Galt
I can't speak from experience with these lenses from use or ownership,
but I held one in my hand yesterday for the first time, and the first
word that came to mind was "toy" and I don't mean in the sense of
"photographers enjoying their toys." I found it unspeakable! I know
Nikkor, and this was no Nikkor. It felt so light and flimsy. How many
lens changes would it take to wear out the bayonet? The older lenses
were heavy monsters, but they hold up.
Tony Galt, ga...@uwgb.edu
Lee Choong Hsen
Lolo LaSida (lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com) wrote:
: Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
: offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
: experiences with those lenses will also help.
Plastic mount lenses are meant for users with lower end cameras who do
not change lenses often . Stories of bad experiences .. ? Haven't you
pre-empted the responses already? Can they be anything but bad ones then? :)
Rich Zuchowski
Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
Jim MacKenzie
Rich Zuchowski wrote:
>
> Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
Yes, in Canada.
Jim
--
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David Johnson
In article <Pine.A32.3.93.961005...@dingler.dev.infomkt.ibm.com>, Lolo LaSida <lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com> writes:
|>
|> Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
|> offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
|> experiences with those lenses will also help.
The ones I know about are the:
35-80 f4-5.6D Note, there is a version of this with a metal mount
28-80 f3.5-5.6D
80-200 f4.5-5.6D
All of the plastic mount Nikkors I have seen have a very thin manual focus
ring.
I, personally, do not want a plastic mount lens, especially after I
saw a lens in a store with a pretty high degree of wear on the lens mount.
The store is not one which I would expect would put the lens through a lot of
mount/dismount cycles.
--
David Johnson
XLNT Designs, Inc. (XDI)
da...@xlnt.com
mike...@austin.ibm.com
In article <53b3g5$9...@newton.pacific.net.sg>, fox...@singnet.com.sg (Tan Kit Sun) writes:
>
> I've heard arguments for and against plastic/polycarbonate/carbon
> mounts but no one has yet reported failure breakage of these mounts.
> Can anyone with actual experience please speak up?
>
> I ride a motorcycle and polycarbonate-carbon reinforced parts are
> supposed to be stronger. The Honda NR750 uses a molded carbon
> reinforced body on the frame. The 'plastic' supports the rear lights,
> rider and acts a cover for the air filter.
>
> To cut a long story short anyone out there can vouch for the longevity
> or not of plastic mounts?
>
I think we suspect the plastic parts, because of many things we use everyday have
been changed to plastic construction. The most blaten failure of plastic parts is
the plastic valves put on hot water heaters. In my area we have to drain the
hotwater heater about once every two months to flush the minerals out of it. Two
times and the valve started leaking. I closed it with a brass cap, and a month or
two later it started leaking around the threads going to the the hot water heater.
We were on vacation and it ruined a lot of stuff. Replaced with brass valve. The
reason they didn't put the brass one in to start with was to save money.
Plastic molded parts on my John Deere mower are all beat to hell from my son
running into stuff. They reccomende not replacing because they don't last long
anyway.
These reasons are why some of us suspect the camera manufacturer of giving us
cheap goods, and raising prices every year.
--
Michael (Mike) C. Dean
IBM - RISC/6000 Division
Austin, Texas.
Disclaimer - The opinions expressed in this append are mine alone.
nob...@nowhere.umd.edu
I too am a fan of real precision metal cameras and lenses as a Leica and
Rollei owner. Nikon FM too. But...I have a 80-200 Canon lens for EOS that has
a plastic mount that has survived five years of none-to-gentle service without
a problem. I KNOW these all plastic lenses look and feel cheap, but the do
seem to work. Hey, my one Nikon E lens is going strong after many years too.
Bill
In article <5390jd$2...@wiscnews.wiscnet.net>,
ga...@gbms01.uwgb.edu (Anthony Galt) wrote:
>I can't speak from experience with these lenses from use or ownership,
>but I held one in my hand yesterday for the first time, and the first
>word that came to mind was "toy" and I don't mean in the sense of
>"photographers enjoying their toys." I found it unspeakable! I know
>Nikkor, and this was no Nikkor. It felt so light and flimsy. How many
>lens changes would it take to wear out the bayonet? The older lenses
>were heavy monsters, but they hold up.
>
>Tony Galt, ga...@uwgb.edu
>Lolo LaSida <lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
>>offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
>>experiences with those lenses will also help.
>
>>TIA,
>>Lolo LaSida
>>lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
>
>
>
Si Cao
Lolo LaSida wrote:
>
> Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
> offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
> experiences with those lenses will also help.
>
> TIA,
> Lolo LaSida
> lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
The Nikon lens with plastic mounts:
Nikon 35-80 f/4.5-5.6 D (The old version is not)
Nikon 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 D
Nikon 80-20 f/4.5-5.6 D
If you change lens often stay away from them or bring a ducktape along,
you may need it to keep a lens stay in the body (I keep one in my car's
trunt).
James Grove
In article <Pine.A32.3.93.961005...@dingler.dev.infomkt
>offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
>experiences with those lenses will also help.
>
>TIA,
>Lolo LaSida
>lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
>
The mounts are made from Poly-Carbonate very very strong, even
though these lenses are not made in the factory in japan, they are in
fact made in Korea and some rumours have said Hong Kong and others have
said that Nikkon don`t even own the company that makes them! Any way
believe what you like,,and i am sure that there are some conflicting
stories on these plastic mounts but:
1. Opptically speaking they are just as good in lab tests
2. They are lots lighter
3. Yes they are not as durable as metal BODIED lens`s ie plastic
will chip metal bends!
4. Some of my climbing/mountaineering gear is made from poly-
carbonate and it has never given me problems, also some of my
firefighting equipment is made from poly carbonate as well ie
Helemts,visors buckles face masks on air masks etc.. there are loads of
good points..
The really question to ask is a cost what are you going
to do with the lens.
I hope this helps
--
James Grove
West Midlands Fire Service UK
Ja...@jgrove.demon.co.uk
Tan Kit Sun
ga...@gbms01.uwgb.edu (Anthony Galt) wrote:
>I can't speak from experience with these lenses from use or ownership,
>but I held one in my hand yesterday for the first time, and the first
>word that came to mind was "toy" and I don't mean in the sense of
>"photographers enjoying their toys." I found it unspeakable! I know
>Nikkor, and this was no Nikkor. It felt so light and flimsy. How many
>lens changes would it take to wear out the bayonet? The older lenses
>were heavy monsters, but they hold up.
>Tony Galt, ga...@uwgb.edu
>Lolo LaSida <lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com> wrote:
>>Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
>>offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
>>experiences with those lenses will also help.
>>TIA,
>>Lolo LaSida
>>lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
F. Xia
In article <325937...@cableregina.com>,
> Rich Zuchowski wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
>
> Yes, in Canada.
In the UK also.
A public service warning: 8-)
This is not a lens to order via mail sight unseen
based on the specifications only. You must have
actually handled it to decide whether you like
the way it handles. In short, it zooms itself at
near vertical positions so the only stable FL
when pointing up is 24mm and the only stable FL
when pointing down is 120. [In other words, if
carried around on a light camera body with the
lens pointing downward (likely stable position if
you do not constantly take care to avoid this) it
quickly zooms to the 120 position. At this
position the lens takes the shape of a donkey's
ding-dong half extended. Would you like that to
be in front of your stomach all the time?]
Focusing from inf. to 0.5m is only a 1/5 turn of
the ring, making MF tricky.
Regards, Fei
thirdperson
Lolo LaSida wrote:
>
> Can anybody post a list of Nikon lenses with plastic mounts? Can anybody
> offer a good argument of their sturdiness? Hence, stories of bad
> experiences with those lenses will also help.
>
> TIA,
> Lolo LaSida
> lo...@dev.infomkt.ibm.com
There are currently three lenses with plastic mounts. The 35-80/4.0,
the 28-80/3.5, and the 80-200/4.5. Expect to see more. It's a function
of the value of the yen against the dollar and the competitive pressure
from, mostly, Canon, who started the move to plastic about five years
ago. (Canon also was responsing to the value of the yen. All consumer
electronics from Japan have undergone this transformation, BTW.)
It's not so much the plastic mounts that bother me as it is the plastic
helicoids. Nikon, incidentally, uses plastic helicoids in only these
three lenses, far fewer than any other major manufacturer. I am quite
sure they are not as durable as other Nikkors.
BTW, I just saw "the new" Nikkor AF 50/1.8 the other day. This lens had
been on complete backorder for over six months. It has re-emerged now,
and it's made in China. The march of progress.
kenn...@minerva.com
From what I've seen, I would NEVER buy a lens with
plastic mounts. A friend of mine dropped his
camera on the ground in such a way that the lens
snapped off, leaving bits of plastic left on the
camera. All pro cameras have stainless steel mounts.
Plastic is for amateurs/point-and-shooters.
Khai
In article <1996Oct...@alder.cc.kcl.ac.uk>, ude...@alder.cc.kcl.ac.uk (F. Xia) says:
>
>In article <325937...@cableregina.com>,
>Jim MacKenzie <dusyk&bar...@cableregina.com> writes:
>> Rich Zuchowski wrote:
>>>
>>> Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
>>
>> Yes, in Canada.
>
>In the UK also.
And Norway.
>A public service warning: 8-)
>
> This is not a lens to order via mail sight unseen
> based on the specifications only. You must have
> actually handled it to decide whether you like
> the way it handles. In short, it zooms itself at
> near vertical positions so the only stable FL
> when pointing up is 24mm and the only stable FL
> when pointing down is 120. [In other words, if
> carried around on a light camera body with the
> lens pointing downward (likely stable position if
> you do not constantly take care to avoid this) it
> quickly zooms to the 120 position. At this
> position the lens takes the shape of a donkey's
> ding-dong half extended. Would you like that to
> be in front of your stomach all the time?]
> Focusing from inf. to 0.5m is only a 1/5 turn of
> the ring, making MF tricky.
>
Besides this, how's the optical quality? Costs? Here in Norway it costs around
5890,- NOK ($1 = 6.5 NOK)
Khai
george Bailey
In article <53b44c$6...@dfw-ixnews10.ix.netcom.com>,
rz...@ix.netcom.com(Rich Zuchowski ) wrote:
> Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
I've seen it listed in Nikon's USA site, but I haven't heard of the price
yet. Have you cantacted B&H Photo-Video yet? They carry the new
24-50mm. So it shouldn't be too long.
Best,
Geo--
Rich Zuchowski
B&H says they have received no word on it yet. However, several people
have notified me that it is available outside of the U.S.A. Wonder how
we got so low on the totem pole?
Rich Zuchowski
In <gbaily-0810...@205.160.185.100> gba...@n-jcenter.com
F. Xia
In article <53e465$5...@ratatosk.uio.no>,
>>
> Besides this, how's the optical quality?
> Costs? Here in Norway it costs around
> 5890,- NOK ($1 = 6.5 NOK)
If I want to buy it now I can get it for
pounds 550 but the RRP is 599.
Regards, Fei
Marsdon S. Burns
Tan Kit Sun wrote:
> a F3T would be more suitable. I've seen metal mounts
> break off when the camera is dropped as well.
>
> Again what is the quantitative data for durability or not of plastic
> mount lenses?
Have seen lots of both metal and plastic lenses damaged by impact over
the years, but the plastic lenses are subject to more damage with the
same amount of force. As for impact damage, most impact is caused when
someone is carrring a camera on a strap around their neck and they hit
it against a cabinet or doorframe, usually without even noticing it.
Even so called metal lenses are subject to more damage these days as the
focusing helicoid is in many cases much smaller, and the metal is much
thinner, thus being sensitive to any impact (a good example of that is
the Nikon 35-80). Lets face it, even if you drop a Leica lens, you can
do serious damage.
As for why they went to plastic - hey, how many yen to the dollar these
days? You have any idea how much more it costs to machine rather than
injection mold? If they were still making the Nikon F2 these days I
suspect it would cost more than the F5!
Stan -technician
Tan Kit Sun
thirdperson <third...@slip.net> wrote:
>Lolo LaSida wrote:
>
>It's not so much the plastic mounts that bother me as it is the plastic
>helicoids. Nikon, incidentally, uses plastic helicoids in only these
>three lenses, far fewer than any other major manufacturer. I am quite
>sure they are not as durable as other Nikkors.
What quantitative proof on the durability? How many percent of
plastic mount lenses do not last past say 5 years withe proper care?
Anyone know?
Tan Kit Sun
Lee Choong Hsen
thirdperson (third...@slip.net) wrote:
: from, mostly, Canon, who started the move to plastic about five years
: ago. (Canon also was responsing to the value of the yen. All consumer
: electronics from Japan have undergone this transformation, BTW.)
Incorrect, Canon started the move to plastic around 1977.
The AE-1 was actually aluminium coated poly carb shell :)
Not unlike the current EOS Elan II.
: helicoids. Nikon, incidentally, uses plastic helicoids in only these
: three lenses, far fewer than any other major manufacturer. I am quite
: sure they are not as durable as other Nikkors.
: BTW, I just saw "the new" Nikkor AF 50/1.8 the other day. This lens had
: been on complete backorder for over six months. It has re-emerged now,
: and it's made in China. The march of progress.
Well... Canon's 50/1.8 is now made in Taiwan.. even the last one was
actually, despite it being metal-mount.
Lee Choong Hsen
kenn...@minerva.com wrote:
: From what I've seen, I would NEVER buy a lens with
: plastic mounts. A friend of mine dropped his
: camera on the ground in such a way that the lens
: snapped off, leaving bits of plastic left on the
: camera. All pro cameras have stainless steel mounts.
: Plastic is for amateurs/point-and-shooters.
Precisely the point - that is who it is meant for!
People who would otherwise never buy an SLR, now will because of lower cost..
and therefore this will increase the economies of scale, making the
slightly better models slightly more affordable for the rest of us.
However, APS might just kill all of this...
dannyg1
Lee,
Actually, you're 'incorrect' on this point as well. It was Minolta that started the mass
move to advanced plastics. The Xe5/Xe7 were the first with a poly prism housing and
the X700 continued on to hybrid casting (after the idea was momentarily abandoned
for the impressions of Leitz, I presume; on the XD11/R4).
Danny Gonzalez
Lee Choong Hsen wrote:
>
> thirdperson (third...@slip.net) wrote:
>
> : from, mostly, Canon, who started the move to plastic about five years
> : ago. (Canon also was responsing to the value of the yen.
> Incorrect, Canon started the move to plastic around 1977.
David Johnson
>As for why they went to plastic - hey, how many yen to the dollar these
>days? You have any idea how much more it costs to machine rather than
>injection mold? If they were still making the Nikon F2 these days I
>suspect it would cost more than the F5!
>Stan -technician
Maybe that is why Nikon stopped making spare parts for the F2.
Were it not for the lack of spare parts, I would probably buy
an F2AS. It was my dream camera since I was in my late teens.
Paal Jensen
dannyg1 <dan...@idt.net> wrote:
>Lee,
>
>Actually, you're 'incorrect' on this point as well. It was Minolta that started the mass
>move to advanced plastics. The Xe5/Xe7 were the first with a poly prism housing and
>the X700 continued on to hybrid casting (after the idea was momentarily abandoned
>for the impressions of Leitz, I presume; on the XD11/R4).
Both these Minolta cameras were put on the market after (about
2 years) the Canon AE-1.
Paal
Jim MacKenzie
Lee Choong Hsen wrote:
>
> : BTW, I just saw "the new" Nikkor AF 50/1.8 the other day. This lens had
> : been on complete backorder for over six months. It has re-emerged now,
> : and it's made in China. The march of progress.
>
> Well... Canon's 50/1.8 is now made in Taiwan.. even the last one was
> actually, despite it being metal-mount.
My AF 50/1.8 bought new in October, 1994 shows "MADE IN JAPAN"
on the barrel.
dannyg1
Paal,
Not to throw it back in with any unintended force but... The XE5/7 was a
contemporary of the Canon EF, not the AE1.
Danny
Todd A. Phipps
In article <53iv25$q...@nuscc.nus.sg>, fba4...@leonis.nus.sg (Lee Choong
Hsen) wrote:
> : BTW, I just saw "the new" Nikkor AF 50/1.8 the other day. This lens had
> : been on complete backorder for over six months. It has re-emerged now,
> : and it's made in China. The march of progress.
>
> Well... Canon's 50/1.8 is now made in Taiwan.. even the last one was
> actually, despite it being metal-mount.
>
I've never seen a metal-mount 50/1.8 EF that wasn't made in Japan. Mine
was, and a plastic-mount 50/1.8 EF that I had prior to that one was also
made in Japan. I'm looking for another old metal-mount 50/1.8 BTW...
TP
--
Todd A. Phipps and his silly dog Obie
Board of Directors, the Michigan American Pit Bull Terrier Club, Inc. (UKC)
Organist/keyboardist for Zband and New Life Baptist Church
http://www.battle-creek.com/nl.htm
Internet: b3...@madison.tdsnet.com Great Lakes Free-Net: Todd_...@glfn.org
--
Stop the hegemony! http://evangelist.macaddict.com
Todd A. Phipps
In article <53lq55$q...@news0-alterdial.uu.net>, da...@xlnt.com (David
Johnson) wrote:
>
> Maybe that is why Nikon stopped making spare parts for the F2.
> Were it not for the lack of spare parts, I would probably buy
> an F2AS. It was my dream camera since I was in my late teens.
>
> --
I used to have one of these - man was it a tank. I traded it for an F3HP
which is presently non-functional. I may have it fixed but I mainly shoot
EOS now so it's not a high priority, though I would like to get it working
again as I was rather fond of it.
As for spare F2 parts, many repair houses have them around, and old F2's
they can cannibalize from. I wouldn't be afraid of a clean used F2AS as
long as it was in good shape and well-cared-for. They are an enjoyable
camera to shoot with, and can double as a self-defense weapon if the need
arises... :-)
Look in the Shutterbug, there are places that specialize in older Nikon
repairs, as well as places that have good F2AS's. Not cheap though. Just
make sure the meter head works properly. Mine withstood cold and heat and
never uttered a whimper. Tough camera.
Good luck and happy shooting,
Magnus Ostvall
In article <53iv25$q...@nuscc.nus.sg> fba4...@leonis.nus.sg (Lee Choong Hsen) writes:
-> Incorrect, Canon started the move to plastic around 1977.
-> The AE-1 was actually aluminium coated poly carb shell :)
-> Not unlike the current EOS Elan II.
->
My first camera (still using) was a Canon AV-1 - smaller and lighter than
the AE-1 but basically the same layout (mechanically).
I never knew it was a 'plastic' camera, until I fell ontop of the camera
and FDN 50/1.8. I was riding my bike and the camera was in my backpack.
Ice on the road, and I slided atleast 5 meters across the asphalt,
on my back, on the camera and lens.
The thing is, it's still working. The lens cap and skylight filter were smashed.
The camera got very bad scratches. The lens has always been a little stiff
to focus after the incident.
So in the end, the plastic parts of the camera held up better than
the metal in the lens. I have used the camera extensively after the
incident and it works very well.
I'm not saying plastic is better than metal, I just say that you can't
draw conclusions of perhaps one or two incidents.
Use what you've got, and if it breaks, get some new equipment.
--
Magnus....@epk.ericsson.se
~~~~~~~~~ Frameworks - EPK/TF ~~~~~~~~~
Ericsson Software Technology AB, Sweden
Jay
In article <53b44c$6...@dfw-ixnews10.ix.netcom.com>, rz...@ix.netcom.com(Rich Zuchowski ) wrote:
>Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
>
Jay
Nettie
Mark Allaye-Chan
> >Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
> >
> Yes it is.
>
> Jay
Does anyone have any experience as to how well the Nikon 24-120
lens performs?
Michael Rys
In article <55c2dc$6...@news2.snfc21.pacbell.net>, j...@pacbell.net (Jay) writes:
> In article <53b44c$6...@dfw-ixnews10.ix.netcom.com>, rz...@ix.netcom.com(Rich Zuchowski ) wrote:
> >
> Yes it is.
Does anybody know how it compares qualitywise with the 28-85AF (non-D)?
Does it have limited macro capabilities (1:3)?
Cheers
Michael
Bob Neuman
In article <ALLAYE.96...@bmerh8a1.bnr.ca>, all...@bnr.ca says...
>> >Has anyone heard if the Nikkor 24-120 lens is available yet?
>> >
>> Yes it is.
>>
>> Jay
>
>Does anyone have any experience as to how well the Nikon 24-120
>lens performs?
Yes, check out my post in r.p.e.35mm, "24-120mm, First Impressions".
Hope This Helps