Manual focus z mount lens needed

silure130

silure130

Suspended / Banned
Messages
869
Name
Rick
Edit My Images
No
Hi
I’ve built a camera trap setup using my Z7 & 24-70 F4. Unfortunately I didn’t realise that once you have obtained focus, when the camera goes into standby mode the lens resets to infinity. Im having to leave my camera on all the time, use a power supply, but this still doesn’t last long.
I’m looking for a third party z mount lens to use if anyone is using one.
Thanks
 
Should’ve mentioned. I use a couple 3rd party manual focus lenses on my Zf.
Voigtlander 40mm f1.2. & 50mm f2
Both superb.
 
silure130 said:
Hi
I’ve built a camera trap setup using my Z7 & 24-70 F4. Unfortunately I didn’t realise that once you have obtained focus, when the camera goes into standby mode the lens resets to infinity. Im having to leave my camera on all the time, use a power supply, but this still doesn’t last long.
I’m looking for a third party z mount lens to use if anyone is using one.
Thanks
Click to expand...
There is a save focus setting on the Z7II (I don't know if its on the Z7) which will restore focus when switching back on. There may well be a nuance to how this works making it unsuitable, but it sounds like a possible solution.

Save Focus Position

onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com

A cheap manual Nikon F to Nikon Z adapter plus an older Nikon F Ai/Ais lens would also be an option.
 
myotis said:
There is a save focus setting on the Z7II (I don't know if its on the Z7) which will restore focus when switching back on. There may well be a nuance to how this works making it unsuitable, but it sounds like a possible solution.

Save Focus Position

onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com onlinemanual.nikonimglib.com

A cheap manual Nikon F to Nikon Z adapter plus an older Nikon F Ai/Ais lens would also be an option.
Click to expand...
Still loses the focus position even with this setting. I’ll have a look at what you suggest with the adaptor
Thanks
 
silure130 said:
Still loses the focus position even with this setting. I’ll have a look at what you suggest with the adaptor
Thanks
Click to expand...
I've just tried (Z50Ii, which was to hand): manual focus switched on, save focus switched on, and focussing at 0.75m away. Switching the camera off and on, with a short wait, and it starts up with the same focus distance I left it at.

If the option is there, I'm puzzled why it doesn't work for you. Are both the body and lens running the latest firmware?
 
myotis said:
I've just tried (Z50Ii, which was to hand): manual focus switched on, save focus switched on, and focussing at 0.75m away. Switching the camera off and on, with a short wait, and it starts up with the same focus distance I left it at.

If the option is there, I'm puzzled why it doesn't work for you. Are both the body and lens running the latest firmware?
Click to expand...
Have you tried letting the camera go into standby mode via C3.
 
myotis said:
I have now :)

It works the same as switching it off. When I tap the release to come back from standby, focus is still at 0.75m.
Click to expand...
Thanks for trying it, can I ask what lens you used please.
 
This is what I was told.

  • Modern Z lenses are designed to move their internal elements to infinity when the camera is powered off as a default setting to "lock down the elements".
  • This is an intentional design, not a flaw, and there is no way to permanently disable this.
 
silure130 said:
Thanks for trying it, can I ask what lens you used please.
Click to expand...
It's the 50-250mm, but I've just tried with the 26mm f2.8 and it works as well.

However, I've now tried an F mount 24-120 with FTZ adapter, and the 26mm f2.8 on my Zf

AND, the 26mm f2.8 on my Z8.

Regardless of my save focus position settings (on or off) all these combinations remember the focussing distance after going into "standby"

Further experimentation with the Z8, I find that:

When I switch save focus position to "off" the focus distance is remembered when I go into standby, but forgotten when I switch the camera off.

When I switch the save focus position to "on" the focus distance is remembered when I go into standby, AND when I switch the camera off.

It would seem the default is to remember the focus distance when going into standby, but return to infinity when the camera is switched off.
 
silure130 said:
This is what I was told.

  • Modern Z lenses are designed to move their internal elements to infinity when the camera is powered off as a default setting to "lock down the elements".
  • This is an intentional design, not a flaw, and there is no way to permanently disable this.
Click to expand...
This doesn't match what Nikon say in their manual, nor what I am seeing in practice.

However, reading Thom Hogan's Z8 Manual, the return to focus position won't work with zoom lenses if you shift the zoom setting while the camera is off.
 
myotis said:
This doesn't match what Nikon say in their manual, nor what I am seeing in practice.

However, reading Thom Hogan's Z8 Manual, the return to focus position won't work with zoom lenses if you shift the zoom setting while the camera is off.
Click to expand...
Graham, I must thank you for taking the time to do these tests.

I’m missing a setting somewhere so I need to try again, it would be great if i can get it to work with my set up. I am away at the minute but will try as soon as I’m home.
 
silure130 said:
Graham, I must thank you for taking the time to do these tests.

I’m missing a setting somewhere so I need to try again, it would be great if i can get it to work with my set up. I am away at the minute but will try as soon as I’m home.
Click to expand...
The thing I would check first is whether the EXPEED 6 cameras (ie your Z7) work exactly the same as the EXPEED 7 models (all my cameras are EXPEED 7).
 
myotis said:
The thing I would check first is whether the EXPEED 6 cameras (ie your Z7) work exactly the same as the EXPEED 7 models (all my cameras are EXPEED 7).
Click to expand...
Sorry it’s typing error, I use the Z8 with this setup.
 
myotis said:
The thing I would check first is whether the EXPEED 6 cameras (ie your Z7) work exactly the same as the EXPEED 7 models (all my cameras are EXPEED 7).
Click to expand...
Hi
I’ve finally narrowed down the issue. It’s when I connect a power supply. Everything works fine, no focus loss in standby when on battery. As soon as I connect an external power supply it looses focus when awaking from standby. I’ll have to see how long it lasts on just the battery, I only used the power supply to extend the time before I had to go and swap the battery out.
 
Do you have a battery grip. Will two batteries give you enough time ??
 
silure130 said:
Hi
I’ve finally narrowed down the issue. It’s when I connect a power supply. Everything works fine, no focus loss in standby when on battery. As soon as I connect an external power supply it looses focus when awaking from standby. I’ll have to see how long it lasts on just the battery, I only used the power supply to extend the time before I had to go and swap the battery out.
Click to expand...
How bizarre. I hope you get something working. I assume you are up to date with firmware? Nikon often fix obscure issues with a firmware upgrade that aren't publicised.
 
myotis said:
How bizarre. I hope you get something working. I assume you are up to date with firmware? Nikon often fix obscure issues with a firmware upgrade that aren't publicised.
Click to expand...
Head in hands moment. You were correct on the firmware update, I hadn’t done the recent one and was still on V3.0. Just updated it and my issue is fixed. Thanks for everyone’s help.

  • - When power was supplied via USB, the camera failed to retain the focus position saved with [Save focus position] set to [ON] in the [SETUP MENU] after the standby timer had expired and reactivated.
 
silure130 said:
Head in hands moment. You were correct on the firmware update, I hadn’t done the recent one and was still on V3.0. Just updated it and my issue is fixed. Thanks for everyone’s help.

  • - When power was supplied via USB, the camera failed to retain the focus position saved with [Save focus position] set to [ON] in the [SETUP MENU] after the standby timer had expired and reactivated.
Click to expand...
Good to hear :-)
 
Is it set to try and continuously focus? If so then try setting it to focus only when a button is pressed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top