Nikkor ED 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 G IF

Anybody here own this lens?

Somewhere I read that the barrel of this lens has some wobble
(loose-feeling), and mine seems to be this way (UPS brought me mine today),
is this just a characteristic of this lens, are they all this way, or is
mine defective? Ken Rockwell gave this lens a very good review, especially
considering its' price (New $229.95) and it might've been his review that
mentioned this looseness, I'll go back and read it again, I just want to
make sure that mine isn't defective! I haven't shot any film with it yet.

Feedback?

Thanks!

"Steve Bosell" wrote

Somewhere I read that the barrel of this lens has some wobble
(loose-feeling)

All auto-focus lenses are 'looser' than the manual focus lenses.
The focusing mechanisms have to run dry so there is no viscous
drag on the mechanism that will interfere with the focusing motor.

Low end lenses use slippery plastics and a loose fit to lower
friction. High end lenses use ball bearings. Ideally the
looseness allows the lens to wobble but not to move in and out.

The wobble in the lens [if the lens if properly designed]
is around the primary focal node of the lens and so doesn't effect
the focus of the lens. The image may shift a very small
amount as the lens is wiggled but the amount is far less than
the cropping done by the printer or slide mount.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Darkroom Automation
http://www.nolindan.com/da/index.htm
n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com

Steve Bosell wrote:
Anybody here own this lens?

Somewhere I read that the barrel of this lens has some wobble
(loose-feeling), and mine seems to be this way (UPS brought me mine today),
is this just a characteristic of this lens, are they all this way, or is
mine defective? Ken Rockwell gave this lens a very good review, especially
considering its' price (New $229.95) and it might've been his review that
mentioned this looseness, I'll go back and read it again, I just want to
make sure that mine isn't defective! I haven't shot any film with it yet.

I use this lens on my F100 for all around generic use and I have not notice
any such wobble. In fact, it feels very much like my 18-70 and with less
barrel distortion too.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1