Anyone who owns a Nikon 50mm 1.8D Lens

[John Youngs Photography]

Just wondering for anyone who has a Nikon 50mm 1.8D Lens. I have just got one off eBay and although it works fine the focus ring seems a little loose to me. As said the camera seems to focus OK but the ring has a little vertical side to side play


Is this normal or should I be concerned

[silversnapper1]

The focus ring on mine is by no means stiff but there is no play at either end of the scale. There is, however, the slightest play on the aperture ring when locked.

[nikorman]

Hi i hae 2 one made in china it is loose and has a little play in the focus ring, but i dont think it is anything to worry about, the other one is made in japan and is a lot tighter and less play . they are one of the best bang for bucks, love mine..

[John Youngs Photography]

Thanks for the replies yeah mine just wobbles a tiny bit away from and back to the camera if that makes sense so opposite direction to the natural direction of the focus ring

Mine is also made in China

[Johan Smidt]

Hi John,

I'm with you in the same, but slightly diffrent, position. Went to the "big city" where there are "big camear shops" to buy the 50mm f1.8. I use this on a Nikon D80 - problem is that when lense is locked onto f22 all's OK, but when I change to another aperture, eg. f8, nothing at all is working, no autofocus, no chance to take a picture, just a flashing message saying" rEE". May I please put tis enquiry out thre as well for the wise men to lend us a helping hand ??

Johan Smidt.

[John Youngs Photography]

OK I did read that you need to switch the little red switch away from the mark then turn the aperture to F22 the turn the switch back to the red mark and then mount lens on camera

[James Blonde]

John S - yes, that is the way its supposed to work. My terminology might not be absolutely spot on, but on Automatic, the aperture ring is redundant as the camera controls the lens aperture - you don't do it manually. For the cameras automatic settings to control the lens on the F1.8 (and other lenses with a manual aperture ring), the lens needs to be set to the smallest aperture.

Otherwise if you want to use the aperture ring to set the aperture (rather than the camera) you need to change the lens from automatic to manual using the AF/M switch next to the lens (well there is one on the D90 anyway...!) I seem to think that maybe some cameras don't have this switch so you have to use the lens through the camera.

The Sigma 70-300 lens I have is the same, and can be a pain when you come to shoot and find the aperture ring isn't set properly!

[nikonian]

As with Canon, a 35mm prime lens is easy to manufacture. As with Canon compare it with the 35mm F1.4 lens there is a great improvement in the build quality. That is what you are paying for. The F1.8 lens are are good, but how long will they last.

[Mad as a fruitbat]

I picked one up at Jessops a couple of months ago and can't say I have noticed any movement at all. But I have noticed that my Sigma 50 - 500 has started a bit of movement when attached to my D80.