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AF Nikkor 28-85 3.5-4.5 Loose lens barrel Is this Normal

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Posted by Smity: Mon Aug 20th, 2012 23:52

1^st Post

Hello all

Just bought a used 28-85 af Nikkor off of Ebay.It is my first zoom AF lens.

The lens barrel is very sloppy and loose in the focus ring. It has about 1mm of in and out slop in it. It also has radial play in the barrel. It is so slopy that the focus changes when the lens is pointed down after focusing when it is level.Is this normal or is something coming apart or broken inside.

I understand that auto focus lens are very easy to turn so that they do not draw a lot of current. But this just doesn't seem right.

The lens seems to focus good.

Thanks

Posted by Robert: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 02:36

2^nd Post

Hi Smity, The MF version of this lens isn't very highly rated by Bj¸rn R¸rslett, I struggled to find a reference to the AF version. I eventually found the lens info here:

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#28-xx

It doesn't sound right to me. It's an old lens (last made in 1999) and it sounds like there is either something broken or badly worn inside. If it's been dropped the internals may be damaged. They can be very fragile.

I hope you didn't part with too many $$ for it.

I would try to return it. You may be able to stop the PayPal payment if you used PayPal. Cite not functioning as it should due to excessive wear in a precision optic?

Keep us posted on the outcome.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Dave Groen: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 09:04

3^rd Post

I have never had a lens that had any radial or axial play, so it sounds like your lens is worn. I think radial play would affect the alignment of the moving elements with the fixed elements and therefore affect image quality.

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Posted by Smity: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 19:27

4^th Post

It didnt look right to me either. I have contacted the seller and he will take it back.

It was only 80.00 dollars shipped.

I think I will try a 28-70 AF instead. The 28-85AF doesnt focus close enough for me.

If I need a sharp fast lens I still have all my old fixed lenses to use that work great on the D2X I have now. I still have the D1. The color is much better in the D2 and I can enter my lens data into it.

Thanks

Posted by Robert: Tue Aug 21st, 2012 19:53

5^th Post

Well that's good news!

Glad you have a result, even if it wasn't what you intended.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Wed Aug 22nd, 2012 04:00

6^th Post

Many of the old Nikon zoom lenses 'travelled' when poonted down so that part is not an issue.

Radial and side to side play is an issue.

Only VR lenses should have any wobble as this is how they provide the VR effect. That is another reason why I dont like VR lenses you are never sure what is in-spec wobble.

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